Not content with taking majority of the awards in the 5th Mindanao FilmFest in 2009 for his film "Sandugo," Ronald Gary Bautista entered two films for the 6th Mindanao FilmFest. And once again, Bautista and his Studio Beta Productions took home four trophies. His film, Bakak gave Bautista his second Best Director trophy, the Best Guerilla Film Award, and the Best Film Award. According to the jury, composed of this writer, Teddy Co of the NCCA, and local artist Rudolph Alama, Bakak's technical excellence and innovative story-telling set the film apart and make it stand out from the other films of the festival. Bautista and his film represents the future of filmmaking in Mindanao, one that is creative, excellent, and deserving of accolades from both the critics and the viewing public. Bakak tells the mysterious events that happen when a teacher and his students enter an allegedly haunted building and not all of them survive the excursion. Through the use of a first person point of view in the story-telling, the viewer feels like he is involved in the film. While the film does not highlight Bautista's technical expertise, it shows how Bautista can excellently execute a film. The first…
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Ang Sipyat
I was fortunate to have been part of the jury of the 6th Mindanao Film Fest. And together with film historian Teddy Co of the NCCA and local filmmaker Rudolph Alama, I watched, critiqued, and chose the best among the field of contenders. It was an enjoyable task, but very much taxing. I liked one of the films very much. It was, in fact, my personal favorite. (Obviously, I was outvoted. Hehe!) The film is Director Ronald Gary Bautista's Ang Sipyat which he made in collaboration with his brother and student Leo Jeorge Bautista under the production outfit Studio Beta. The film won Best in Sound in the 6th MFF and was a strong contender in most categories. Ang Sipyat (The Error) is the story of a famed thief who made the mistake of victimizing a girl. His victim, it turns out, has two siblings who are skilled in martial arts. The story seems simple enough. Shallow, in fact. But upon watching the film, as cliche as it sounds, there is more to it than the summary says. The story has a slight but not off putting twist. Can't tell you more coz it would spoil the fun of watching…
Ateneo Human Knights Film Festival
I was invited to the press screening of the Ateneo de Davao Human Knights Film Festival. The Human Knights Film Fest is the public screening, competition, and awarding of the film projects of the Communications majors under AdDU Faculty member Ronald Gary Bengil Bautista. Gary Bautista is himself a multi-awarded indie filmmaker, having won numerous awards in the 5th Mindanao Film Festival for his film Sandugo. Bautista taught and mentored his students for a semester and the Human Knights Film Festival is the culmination of their class for the second semester of SY 2009 - 2010. First up was dramedy Tick Tock by JP Curay. Tick Tock is a Bisaya film by Cinesthesia Films, produced by Abby Araullo. It stars Jessa Mabasag as a girl with only 24 hours to live. The catch? She is young and a virgin. LOLS! The film is funny and a bit sexy peppered by of course, some drama. The second film was more serious and darker, Hatsu Tamo, a Japanese language film by Jap-Fil Hashiko Nagasaki. It is an emotional suspense movie. My favorite among the four films was Thy Will Be Done by Kristian Somera. It is produced by Carmelle Jumawan and stars…