Bwakaw showing at Toronto filmfest

BREAKING NEWS! 

MANILA, Philippines - Jun Robles Lana’s first independent film, Bwakaw, is taking him to the Toronto International Film Festival which runs from Sept. 6 to 16.

This will be the international premiere of Bwakaw which will be screened in the Contemporary World Cinema.

Bwakaw won Best Actor for Eddie Garcia, Audience Choice and Netpac Awards in the Director’s Showcase at the recent Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

Bwakaw also stars Rez Cortez, Gardo Versoza, Alan Paule, Soxie Topacio, Joey Paras, Beverly Salviejo, Soliman Cruz, Bibeth Orteza, Luz Valdez, Jonathan Neri, May-I Fabros and Armida Siguion-Reyna in a very special role. Playing the lead role of Bwakaw is Princess, who is a mixture of AsPin (Asong Pinoy) and Golden Retriever.

The movie was line produced by Tonee Acejo, produced by Antonio Tuviera and this writer. The executive producers are direk Jun Robles Lana, Perci Intalan, Michael Tuviera, Rams David and Joselito Oconer.

Here’s a portion of what Steve Gravestock, associate programmer for TIFF, wrote for the festival catalogue.

Shot in a style and rhythm which recalls neo-realist classics like Umberto D, Bwakaw is, in part, about those people who have been left alone on the margins of society — but it’s also about self-discovery. A chance and ugly encounter with a cab driver blossoms into a friendship, and eventually desire. The experience changes Rene, putting him in touch with feelings he’s hidden for far too long, and softening his interactions with people. But, as Rene, discovers, the path he’s about to take comes with its own risks.

Eddie with his loyal friend Bwakaw.

Directed with welcome sensitivity by Lana (in his first independently produced film), Bwakaw is smartly structured with the narrative meandering in a manner that reflects real life — and, as an incidental yet deep pleasure, making it impossible to predict which way the story will unfold.

It’s made all the more memorable for the performance by Eddie Garcia as Rene (who won the Best Actor Award at the recent Cinemalaya festival). Other actors might have been tempted to make Rene more ingratiating, but Garcia – a veteran star and a celebrated director whose career began in 1949 -- wisely makes him problematic and complicated, delivering a courageous, modulated performance that captures Rene’s orneriness and his humanity exquisitely. Bwakaw is simultaneously heartbreaking and somehow invigorating.”

Bwakaw is produced by APT Entertainment, Cinemalaya Foundation and Octobertrain Films.