• KEITH BRANDON CARI-AN
“Sa Pwesto ni Pistong (The Barber’s Chair)” by VinJo Ventuna is the Best Picture in the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival, with the Awards Night held Sept. 15 at SM Bacolod cinema 1.
The short film also bagged the Best Screenplay trophy while Ventuna won as Best Director.
Ventuna, in his acceptance speech, dedicated the accolades to the working class of Bacolod, Negros Occidental, and the Philippines, who continue to inspire him in creating films that “give voice to the voiceless.”
Set in the 1980s, the film explores the life of a barber and his relationship with his family, his patrons, and the events in the country.
The director, who graduated BA Film from the University of the Philippines Diliman, thanked Mayor Alfredo Benitez, Councilor Em Ang, festival director Seymour Sanchez, and the City of Bacolod for providing a platform for Bacolodnon storytellers and artists.
Joining Ventuna in the roster of winners were Dante Macam, who received Best Actor for his performance in “Laragway sang Karon”, and Rene Hinojales of “Puli Na, Diche Lesly”, Best Supporting Actor.
The Best Cinematography was clinched by Rosco Cofreros for “Aninaw”, while the duo of Xavier Nojas and Fahleen Fang secured the Best Editing for “Laragway sang Karon”.
“Chicken Inasal (Those Little Things)” reaped triple awards – Rolf Baynosa for Best Sound, Poli Gonzales for Best Special Effects, and Margaret Tecson-Baynosa for Best Production Design.
Khyle Zedrick Anasta for “A Flower a Day” secured the Best Musical Score. Alvin Belisario Diaz won Best Make-Up for his prosthetics in “Glub”.
Milton Dionzon, Reynaldo Dante Amaguin, and Louis Dormido, cast of “Aninaw”, also received the Jury’s Prize for Ensemble Acting.
Lala Sotto-Antonio, chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, congratulated Benitez and Sanchez for the successful mounting of the four-day festival.
Philip Cheah, Atty. Joji Alonso, film director Jose Javier Reyes, screenwriter Wanggo Gallaga, and Bacolodnon film director Lawrence Fajardo judged the 10 short film entries.
The 10 entries for the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival were “Manokan Country”, “Blind Date”, “The Mansion”, “Puli na, Diche Lesly”, “Aninaw”, “Sa Pwesto ni Pistong”, “Chicken Inasal (Those Little Things)”, “Laragway sang Karon”, “Glub”, and “A Flower a Day”. ||
