By Jameela Antoniette I. Mendoza
The second Silliman Film Open featured 14 original narrative short films and five music videos made by Sillimanian filmmakers last Feb. 27 at the Luce Auditorium.
“The House, the Dead, the Ugly” by Von Christian Colina won five awards, namely: Best Makeup Design, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Fiction Short Film, and Best Cinematography for the film’s cinematographer, Adrian Miraflor.
“The House, the Dead, the Ugly” is about two murderers who are stuck in an abandoned house with two detectives.
Colina said that the house they used in the film was a real abandoned house.
“The place was literally behind our house lang. If I were to total the number of hours of shooting, it would be three days,” said Colina.
Colina also said that he was inspired to make his own film for the Silliman Film Open because of the growing number of people in the university who are interested in films.
Another entry by Lurlyn Mae Carmona, “A State of Existence,” won four awards: Best Trailer, Best Screenplay, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Carmona, and the Special Jury Award for Best Narrative Short Film.
“A State of Existence” is about a girl who feels empty despite things going well in her life, so she plans to resort to doing something dangerous.
Carmona said in her acceptance speech: “I think the reason why I’m here is because the story was a very personal one, and it really did happen to me….”
Carmona also said that the film was produced within two weeks and was shot around Dumaguete, except for the opening and closing scenes which were shot in Tanjay.
Meanwhile, Leslie Batallones’ entry “Tugis” won the Best Musical Score for Mark Martinez, who played the lead role, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Joy Labrador, who played the mother of Martinez’s character.
“Tugis” is about a young man who wants to find his mother to convince her to come home.
In the acceptance speech for Labrador’s award, Batallones said, “Before the last week of our shoot, we found [Labrador], just like the same story of ‘Tugis,’ so we’re very happy to have her….”
Moreover, “Locked” by Mariana Varela won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Miguel Teves, and Best Sound Editing for Stanley Alcala.
Varela said that Teves, who played Samuel in the film, is her ten year old nephew, and that the film is a “family thing” since the lead actor is her cousin while the house they used for the film is their family’s ancestral house.
The Best Actor in a Leading Role was awarded to Duwic Medalla in Cindy Bonchita’s thriller film “Tadtad.”
“Primordial Witt” by Renz Christian Torres, a story of three players in a role-playing board game, won Best Production Design.
Mac Florendo’s “Dakop,” a film about a Badjao girl who contracts a sexually-transmitted disease, won Best Editing.
Ara Mina Amor’s poster for her comedy film “Finals” won Best Poster.
“Break Through” by Randolf Sayon in Michelle Osias’ “Relevé,” a film about a ballet teacher in an abusive relationship, won Best Original Song.
Other short films in the Second Silliman Film Open included: “White Rose” by Cheri Lian Ansale, “Sally” by Kristine Maria Ariken, “Fifi and the Fairy” by Malka Shaver, “Pier” by Prince Albert Villa, and “Kamera” by John Rey Villareal.
Morever, the original music videos were: “You Are to Blame” by Krizzel Canlas and Richmond Canete, “Never Say Goodbye” by Rhobie Ruaya, “Our Time” by Joanna Joyce Tubases, “It Gets Better” by Divina Mari Tubat, and “Kami Lagi” by Doreen Lumayag, which received a certificate of recognition.
Most of the films screened are the final requirement for Communication 61 or Film Appreciation under Ian Casocot, the coordinator of the Edilberto and Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center.
