Awang, an experimental-mystery short film by Awanggan Studios, which is composed of Bachelor of Arts in Communication students of the UE College of Arts and Sciences-Caloocan, bagged the second highest award, the Juryβs Honorable Mention Award, at the recently concluded 3 Shots Film Festival!
Organized by MUD Studios, in association with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Cinematheque Center, the 3 Shots Film Festival is a showcase of compelling stories unveiled through just three shots or cuts, and which is visioned to create a vibrant community of filmmakers, professional and amateur alike.
The first and only three-shot film festival in the Philippines is juried by local and foreign award-winning film directors and personalities, including Chief Executive Officer of Fire and Ice Media, actress, and former FDCP Chairperson Liza DiΓ±o; Los Angeles-based director Peter Mackie; Arvin βKadiboyβ Belarmino, who is a 75th Cannes Film Festival CNC Pitch Awardee this year for his film project Ria; Arjanmar βAstronoyβ Rebeta, who is βHarvest of Honorsβ Awardee for Cinema by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; and Emmanuel βIbonmanβ Dela Cruz, Director of the MontaΓ±osa Film Festival and founder of UFO Workshops Manila.
In its second year, the competition opened its call for submissions by early August 2022, attracting over 100 entries nationwide from amateur and professional filmmakers alike. The Film Festival formally announced its final winners at its award night held last December 14 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila.
Fourth-year UE BA Comm student Ruth Nicole Modina, Awangβs writer-director, exclaimed that she never saw it coming. βWe were hoping and praying to receive the award but we were not expecting it,β Miss Modina said. βWhen (director-jury member βIbonmanβ Dela Cruz) finally announced the winner, I felt like I was lost in a trance.β
Awang, which is five minutes and 41 seconds long, depicts a dark metaphorical story about aiming for power and victory.
In the same competition last year, the UE-based production team was among the top 20 finalists for their earlier film Living, which was written and directed by Mark Jhon Villanueva. That film was also exhibited in Baguioβs MontaΓ±osa Film Festival last March 2022.
Aside from Miss Modina, the award-winning UE/Awang team consists of UE BA Comm students Mark Jhon Villanueva, (Cinematographer), Mary Louise Dery (Casting Director), Hazel Grace Juaton (Music Scorer), Joan Nicole Lazaro (Production Manager), May Ann Kaye Aniano (Actress, Editor) and Glaiza Macadangdang (Motion Graphic Artist). All are in their fourth year as UE college students save for Miss Macadangdang, who is in her third year.
The whole production extends their gratitude to all, especially in the UE Caloocan community, who provided and expressed warm, all-out support all throughout their filmmaking journey.
The photo shows (from left) Miss Lazaro, Miss Aniano, Miss Modina, Mr. Villanueva, Miss Macadangdang, Miss Dery and Miss Juaton.
Congratulations and kudos, Award-winning Warrior Filmmakers!
[Photo and info by/courtesy of Joan Nicole Lazaro]