Pinoy film wins audience favorite at China film fest

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino film "Bamboo Flowers" won the Audience Favorite award at the first Silk Road International Film Festival in the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, China.

Directed by Maryo Delos Reyes, the film revolves around the lives of people living in Bohol and how they cope with the changes around them.

"Bamboo Flowers" is one of the four Filipino films that made it to the finals of the festival. The other Filipino finalists were: “Anac Ti Pating” ("A Shark’s Child ”) by Martin Masadao; “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok” (“The Woman Behind the Tattoo Artist”) directed by Lauren Sevilla Faustino and  “Sonata,” directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) produced all four Filipino entries under its Sineng Pambansa Program. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing received the award in behalf of the FDCP.

Around 200 movies from all around the world participated in the competition of the festival, 41 of which became finalists that vied for the top awards. A number of 31 foreign movies entered the final round of the competition while the other 10 were Chinese productions.

A total of 144 films from 24 countries were screened during the festival, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The first-ever Silk Road International Film Festival was organized by the  State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China. The film festival consisted of five events: film panoramas, an award ceremony, the Silk Road cultural forum, a film market and film-themed concerts.

Watch "Bamboo Flowers" trailer here: