Igorot movie 'Dad-aan Na' nominated as Best Short Film in 44th Gawad Urian

Photo Courtesy || Julius Lumigued

Cordillera - The film "Dad-aan Na" (Her Walks) by Igorot director Julius Lumigued has been nominated in the 44th Gawad Urian as Best Short Film. 

The film is all about an Igorot woman who bravely went out from her house during a military-rebel conflict just to search her son. 

Lumigued's film was chosen by the DILG for its advocacy which is in line with the department's call for an end to the armed conflict in the region. 

The film was shot entirely in Besao, Mt. Province - the home province of Direk Julius Lumigued. 

Recently, the film was among the 12 finalists for this year's CineMarya Women's Film Festival which is an initiative of the FDCP in partnership with the Philippine Commission on Women, Quezon City Film Development, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 

The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines held since 1977. 

It is given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP, "the Filipino Film Critics") and is currently regarded as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.

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Cordilleran Short Film "Dayas: Official Selection for the International Film Festival Manhattan New York

Cordillera - The Digital Festive Season is ON for the Short Film “Dayas” as it passed the strict judgement of the juries in the 11th International Film festival Manhattan (IFFM) held annually in New York City. The IFFM offers a quality selection of world-class films which are showcased in theaters in Manhattan New York City, USA. Categories are of different genres like Narrative features, documentaries, student films and short films where “Dayas” is one of the official selections.

“Dayas” a film produced by Be Unrivaled Productions through Direk Jianlin, a proud Igorot Director who has entered the official selections of several International Film Festivals like First-Time Filmmaker Online Sessions in UK and Noble International Film Festival and Awards in India.

Through this platforms, Direk Jianlin and Direk Pete Mariano aims to showcase the beautiful culture of the Cordilleras, its people, belief and tradition.

This narrative short film focuses on the lives of 2 Igorot miners from the mountains of Itogon, Benguet in the Philippines. “Hakob” represent a good looking, pure blooded Igorot from the Municipality of Itogon whose grandmother is a “balitok” (gold) buyer and an In-Ina: a respected mother of the town. In contrast, Bantay of family Bundad was played by Jeyrick “the Carrotman of the Philippines“Sigmaton, father of Sam-sam, whose wife died due to chemical poisoning in the mines.

The short film “Dayas” is an advocacy film that helps local talents and film makers. It also provides education and entertainment during this crisis.

Through this film, our OFWs who are longing for their love ones made an avenue to get rid of homesickness. It made the people behind this film realize the importance of entertainment in the lives of everyone.

Today we are grateful to share to you how far this film has come. We have shown the world how diverse our culture is and how good we are in film making. We share this good news in support to our local directors, talents and producers. We can do more if we support locals. We are resilient individuals. We are proud of our culture because we are Cordilleran.

A film by: Direk Jennylyn “Jianlin” De Los Santos Floresca

Assistant Director: Direk Pete Mariano

Production: Be Unrivaled Productions and Sine Cordillera

Producer: Jennylyn De Los Santos Floreca

There will be 2 Awards Night which will be Online this year on March (Spring) and October (Autumn) 2021

IFFM will also award the promo / trailer that gets the highest views on Youtube as the Most Popular Film in IFFM. All IFFM promos should be posted on Youtube (only). The counting of the views starts on September 20, 2021 and ends on October 6, 2021 at 9PM NY time. Sine Cordillera will send the Youtube link once voting started.

Featured Writer: Elmer Diga

Script Editor: Justine Nicole Arenas

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Igorot movie 'Salidumay' officially selected in the 11th International Film Festival Manhattan

Photo Courtesy || Dexter Macaraeg

Cordillera - An Igorot short movie 'Salidumay' was officially selected in the 11th International Film Festival in New York City to be held on 14th-17th October 2021.

Directed by Abrenean Filmmaker Dexter Macaraeg, 'Salidumay' is a short film that features how courtship and marriage  are performed in Cordilleran culture. 

Award-winning Igorota actress Mai Fanglayan took the role of "Ayo, a Tingguian from Abra with an Ibaloi blood, who goes on her first date with a former Seminarian "Franz", performed by Kenneth Jhayve Bautista.

Franz (Kenneth Jhayve Bautista), a former seminarian who grew up in Abra but moved to Baguio City, can't seem to find love through dating apps, he decides to use his culture's methods to arrange a marriage. 

Their differences leads to a small collision of expectation and perspectives, but what it opens up in the tension offers a glimmer of hope for the would-be couple.

'Salidumay' creative team are all from Benguet Province, namely Shem Padua, Jonnie Lyn Dasalla, Romnick Bayeng, JC Patnao, Julius Legoen Lumiqued, Ellen Castro Herrera and Melinda Ocan Castro, with some Baguio-based talents. Theme song by Sherylene Bagayao.

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