Just a few days after winning two awards in the 6th
International Pacific Meridian Film Festival in Russia, Brillante
Mendoza was once again honored in an international film fest. Brillante,
first-time filmmaker Francis Xavier Pasion, and John Torres were among the
directors who won in the recently concluded Bangkok International Film
Festival.
The Cinemalaya 2008 entry Jay, directed by Francis
Xavier Pasion, bagged the Special Mention Award in the main competition
category. Baron Geisler and Coco Martin appear in this film about a TV producer creating a documentary about a homosexual teacher.
John Torres' Years When I was A Child Outside won special mention in the
Southeast Asian competition. This 2007 Cinemanila International Film Festival
entry is also known for its alternative title is Taon noong ako'y anak sa
labas.
According to the official website of the Bangkok IFF, the Golden Kinnaree Award "symbolizes the creative spirit—looking to the future, while respecting the achievements and traditions of the past—flying between the worlds of reality and imagination." This award was won by Brillante Mendoza for Serbis.
The winners were chosen by a six-member jury panel, including Thailand-based, Lao-Australian-ethnic actor Ananda Everingham, Swedish festival artistic director Martial Knaebel and Singaporean director Eric Khoo. The Bangkok IFF has two divisions: the main competition and Southeast Asian competition, each featuring 10 films from the world and the region.
The Bangkok IFF screened around 80 films from over 40 countries during its week-long run.
