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“Tumandokβ is the biggest winner for this yearβs Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival that centered on the struggle of the Ati indigenous people to reclaim their ancestral domain in Iloilo.
The film received five awards including Best Full Length Film, Felipe Ganancial as Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Original Music Score, and Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) full-length feature award.
Tumandok, which means “The Nativeβ, featured an all-Ati non-professional acting ensemble speaking in their own language and showed the struggle of the Ati tribe, a Negrito ethnic group in Western Visayas.
Directors Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay said that the film seeks to support the community in securing their ancestral domain who have faced several threats to their lives and territory.
The film centers on En-en (Jenaica Sangher), the daughter of the chieftain who does the task of processing their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). The tribe needs Php500,000 to Php1 million to fast-track the CADT processing.
It won Best Film βfor its focus on a marginalized sector of Philippine society; for its nearly epic sweep of the life and landscape of a people disempowered by the wealthy and the powerful and victimized by government neglect and corruption; for its highly convincing characters and effective ensemble acting by a cast of non-professional actors; and for its highly effective filmmaking in defense of the rights of indigenous people to their ancestral domainβ.
It won Best Original Music Score βfor their highly effective use of ancient songs and ethnic instrumentation to complement its powerful depiction of an indigenous peopleβs fight for its ancestral domainβ.
Felipe Ganancial won Best Supporting Actor βfor his very impressive performance as elder and chieftain trying to keep his people together in their steadfast but non-violent fight to keep their ancestral land despite violence and intimidation by the wealthy and the powerfulβ.
It won the NETPAC Award βfor its strong inner community voice of loving their land, and admirable representation of a strong young woman character who becomes a leader behind the menβ.
The film won Best Screenplay βfor taking as its subject matter a sector thatβs relegated to the margins of society, and its powerful tale of an indigenous peopleβs resolve to keep their ancestral land in the face of corruption and violenceβ.
Writer Arden Rod Condez is also the director of the “John Denver Trending” which was the biggest winner in 2019, including Best Film, Best Actor for Jansen Magpusao, Best Original Music Score, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and the NETPAC Award.
Tumandok is followed by Kono Basho with four awards in the Full Length Film category: Gabby Padilla as Best Actress, Jaime Pacena II as Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design.
Padilla won the Best Actress βfor her sensitive and very moving portrayal of a young woman navigating the cultural complexities of a foreign funeral while coming to terms with personal loss and family griefβ.
Marian Rivera of Balota also won as Best Actress βfor her spirited portrayal of a public school teacher risking life and limb to protect the sanctity of the ballotβ.
Fifteen-year old Enzo Osorio of βThe Hearingβ won as Best Actor βfor his sensitive and very convincing portrayal of a boy who refuses to be silent and to be silenced about his abuseβ.
Osorio joins the ranks of Cinemalayaβs Best Actor winners at a young age. The youngest was Noel Comia, Jr. for Kiko Boksingero (2017) when he was then 13 years old followed by 15-year old Jansen Magpusao for John Denver Trending (2019). Migs Cuaderno was ten years old when he won as Best Supporting Actor for Children’sβ Show (2014).
Sue Prado of Kantil won Best Supporting Actress βfor her effective portrayal as community leader of a coastal village of informal settlers trying to keep their unity while fighting off evictionβ.
“Alipato at Muog” won the Special Jury Award βfor its effective use of the resources of documentary cinema to shed light on an actual case of enforced disappearance and reveal dark truths about human rights in the Philippinesβ.
The film centered on peasant activist Jonas Burgos as a βDesaparecidoβ who was abducted on April 28, 2007 in a crowded mall in Quezon City. The military has repeatedly denied any role in his disappearance.
Other winners in the Full Length Category include: “An Errand” for Best Editing and Best Sound Design; and βGulay Lang Manongβ for Audience Choice.
The winners in the Short Film Category are: “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” for Best Film with Sam Manacsa as Best Director; “Primetime Mother” for Best Screenplay and Audience Choice; βPamalandong Sa Danow” for Special Jury Awardβ, and, βAbogbaybayβ for the NETPAC Award.
Cinemalaya celebrated its 20th year with the theme βLoob, Lalim, Lakasβ and was held August 2 to 11, 2024 at selected Ayala Cinemas due to the ongoing renovation of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
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