A showcase of Pinoy filmmakers’ creativity, resilience
The creativity and resilience of aspiring and professional Filipino filmmakers were again celebrated and showcased at the recently concluded Nespresso Talents 2021 national category. Given the global health crisis, the participants carried on the tradition of capturing their milieu and mindset through vertical short films.
Jurors such as directors Jose “Joey” Javier Reyes and Quark Henares and actress Bela Padilla could attest to that as they narrowed the list of entries down from 71 to 10 finalists and then to Top 3. Also part of the jury were Novateur Coffee Concepts managing director Patrick Pesengco and Nespresso South East Asia regional business development manager Fabio de Gregorio.
“What is even more invigorating is to get a glimpse of all the new voices of the new filmmakers that we have in our country,” said director Joey in a virtual awarding ceremony-cum-media call, “and the variety of genres (they presented), the way they were able to interpret their stories in a span of two to three minutes.” He added that these short films tell narratives that are “distinctly Filipino and carrying the theme which is being demanded by the competition.” This year’s theme is “Doing Is Everything,” which was predicated on the idea that a small action could create an extraordinary positive change.
“We had such great fun watching everything,” shared director Quark, while Bela considered her experience an amazing ride and got herself a cinematic treat by watching Nespresso entries that offered new concepts and ideas. “There was such a wide range of topics this year,” she added.
Grand winner was Napamata Ako sa Sadit na Kinaban (I Woke Up On A Little Planet) by Arjanmar Rebeta.
According to direk Joey, the film is about “the ability of the individual to move on, most especially at the time when self-initiative, self-worth, but more so confidence and faith in the world are things that really matter.” Arjanmar’s Napamata Ako has successfully conveyed a message “which is not only for the here and now but carries a certain degree of timelessness in bringing about the value of humanity and mankind,” added he.
Arjanmar said in a statement that his film somehow reflects his story during these trying times. “As your world gets smaller, the feeling of emptiness gets bigger,” added he. “There are some who go through depression, anxiety. But our eagerness to forge ahead will always prevail.” With or without pandemic, Napamata Ako sa Sadit na Kinaban reminds viewers about the importance of moving forward.
Second place was Ma, by Dexter Paul de Jesus, who was able to use the vertical framing the best way possible and to display his creativity, said Bela. “(He) mixed reality and fiction in the best way I know possible,” added she. “He made us feel emotions that we forgot to tap during the pandemic ‘coz we’re so focused on fighting this global pandemic that I think we forgot about our personal issues.” The film’s focal point revolves around a son’s longing and care for a medical frontliner-mother.
Completing the Top 3 was Special Delivery of Gerald Foliente, which got the jurors’ approval for “it’s very timely,” said direk Quark. The way it captured the pandemic was done “in a very unique and ingenious way,” added he. “Even the concept itself was pretty cool and unique… The last frame (was) so powerful… every additional shot just kind of made it a stronger film.” As its title suggests, the film sees a delivery man, who meets a minor accident but doesn’t falter to fulfill his work and family responsibilities.
Doing vertical short films is like getting out of one’s comfort zone, said direk Quark, who, like most filmmakers, have been trained to make narratives through the horizontal format. He commended the Nespresso Talents 2021 entries’ technical innovation.
Theme-wise, “Doing Is Everything” was well integrated in the films, said Bela. “When I say doing is everything, I mean they did everything to shoot vertically and maximize the frame that they had,” she added. “They also did everything to make me feel and understand what the pandemic experience was like to them… There were also so many recurring themes. I saw a lot of community pantry stories. I saw a lot of documentaries about the pandemic.”
As for the local submission’s production value, direk Joey said, “It (was) really astounding considering the conditions they had to live with, the manner by which they had to produce these films.” Since they filmed their works in the midst of the pandemic, the directors followed health and safety protocols.
Aside from their talent, the filmmakers were also acknowledged for their courage “to say things about what is happening in the here and now using the vertical format,” direk Joey added, “using the experimental form but more so capturing the heart of the Filipino. That, for me, is also important, the Filipino-ness and the universality of the message.”
The other finalists were Mr. Everything by Romel Cabuguang; PR 3953, Now Boarding by John Thomas Trinidad; Waves by Ian Palomar; Para Uma (Farmer) by John Kenneth Paclibar; Saka Na (Someday) by Cheska Marfori; Bahay-bahayan (Playhouse) by Xyron Parapara; and 150+ Heads by Bennel Canlas. (To watch the films, visit via http://www.nespresso.com/talents.)
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