MANILA, Philippines - Aiko Melendez won Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language for Louie Ignacio’s Asintado (Between The Eyes) at the 7th International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in London, beating out eight other international actresses. Direk Louie and producer Ferdinand Lapuz received the trophy on Aiko’s behalf during the gala night held in West Ham United Hotel Friday night, Feb. 27.
In the movie, Aiko plays Julia, a mother of two sons — Tonio (played by Jake Vargas) who is involved in a drug ring and Etok (Miggs Cuaderno), an autistic who is gifted with a marksman talent that he can shoot a bird or a person between the eyes.
Asintado is a 2014 Cinemalaya entry where it won Best Poster Design. It will compete in the New York, Cleveland and Cairo filmfests this month. — Celso de Guzman Caparas