Cebuano film wins Jeonju Special Jury Prize

CEBU, Philippines - Out of 12 different films from various countries around the world, the Cebuano full-length film “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” (The Dream of Eleuteria) was chosen to receive the Special Jury Prize Award in the International Competition Section of the Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea.

This was confirmed recently by its director Remton Siega Zuasola who informed that the Jury was composed of highly respected filmmakers, film scholars, and film critics who have shown their admiration for the said work through their citation.

“For the Special Jury Prize, our choice goes to a work which embodies with acute sensitivity, humor and compassion, the plight of a family faced with impossible choices; a film that through its spirit of formal and technical experimentation enables us to gain new awareness of the relationship between north and south, between the self and the collective, between the epic and naturalist’s storytelling.

For these reasons, we bestow the 2011 Jeonju International Film Festival JB Bank Awards Special Jury Prize to “The Dream of Eleuteria” by Remton Siega Zuasola,” the said citation read.

Jeonju International Film Festival or JIFF is now on its 12th year, Zuasola added. “It has continued to rise as one of the most important film festival in Asia that focuses on showcasing the works of the best filmmakers around the world.”

He mentioned that JIFF is his first-ever attendance on an international film festival. “They invited me to attend the festival for eight days with my airfare and accommodation all taken care of. It is also my first time to compete against other filmmakers in the international stage, so it was quite frightening at first but when I get to meet the other competing directors they are so friendly and very supportive too,” Zuasola shared.

“But I wouldn’t have survived the festival without the support of some Filipino directors who can be considered as veterans in international festivals who were also there exhibiting their works too. They gave me tips and tricks on how to give my best every time, and to always think of our country and make the people back home proud.”

Moreover, he shared that while in Jeonju, he has met a lot of Koreans who have been to Cebu or have long planned to spend their vacation here. “Honestly, I am flattered that they like Cebu and its people so much. Cebu is quite popular in Korea. Todo promote jud dayon ko sa mga other Koreans nga nagplano pa moari sa Cebu. Hitting many birds with one stone ba.”

With regards to the film, Zuasola said he is quite surprised that the Koreans laughed at most punchlines in the film. “They like the film so much. Daghan pud maka-relate didto daw. During question-and-answer portion, after each screening, daghan jud kaayo sila mga questions. I think it’s a good indication nga interested jud sila sa film.”

The next stop of “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” is the Gawad Urian Awards which is slated on May 17. “Sa tanang mga pelikula nga nominado karong tuiga, our film maoy pinakadaghan og nominations. Ni-total og 10 nominations all in all. I’m so overwhelmed kay naa pa jud pakapin - ang nomination sa “Ang Katapusang Bagting” nga ako pud ang director sa Best Short Film Category,” an obviously excited Zuasola further mentioned.

Awards night would be aired over Cinema One on cable TV.

JIFF’s link to its website is http://eng.jiff.or.kr/a10_jiff/05_awards01.asp.

The film with “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum” for a full title (about a mail-order bride) is originally written by poet/fictionist Maria Victoria “Bambi” Beltran in the Sinugbuwano (Cebuano) language but was translated by Jad Conde and edited by Cora Almerino.