An experimental video and an animated film from the University of the East (UE) College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Design will compete under the student category of the Pagwanawanan Film Festival on Oct. 5-7 at PUÓN/Alfredo F. Tadiar Library along Ortega Highway in San Fernando, La Union.
Marangle (Farm) by Angeline Tabilog and Maling Akala: Ang Misteryo ng Unamuno (Misconception: The Mystery of Unamuno) by Elvin Jay Macanlalay and Arvileen Yongzon will vie for the top prize along with three other student films, Halal by Dahren Tagtag (Cebu), Layag by Romsky Chelle Dela Cruz (Pangasinan) and Si Kokak at Ako by Ralph Santos, Vince Basa and Winstone Arradaza (La Union).
The nine-minute film Marangle, which was entirely shot in San Simon, Pampanga, tackles the life of a farmer who risks everything, including his land, just to have an opportunity to work abroad and provide a better future for his family.
A final project for the video production subject under Prof. Richard Legaspi, it competed with other experimental films at Sinepiyu 2017 and was exhibited as part of the Cinebalu program of the 17th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival in Borneo. It also competed at the 28th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video or Gawad Alternatibo independent film and video festival of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Tabilog got the support of director of photography Isabelo Bucao, assistant director Rhuva Patiag, writer Gerard Halabaso, production manager Aldric Matthew Manapat, production designer Chelsea Mae Natividad, costume designer Erica Balaan and production staff Cyrill Mustera, Jayson Torres and Kent Santos.
Maling Akala, on the other hand, takes on a legendary Philippine mythical creature and a mischievous child as they journey through the woods after a calamity hit their village, Unamuno. Their paths cross and they go on an adventure together. Produced by Piko Productions as a requirement for Prof. Ronwell Bacani’s class, the five-minute animated film was selected as one of the finalists at the Animahenasyon: 11th Philippine Animation Festival, Gawad Alternatibo in 2017 and Recoletos Film Festival last February.
Meanwhile, Maling Akala will also be exhibited as part of the open-air film screenings at Nabifilmex 6 in Compostela Valley along with two UE CFAD documentaries, How the Beasts Got Hyped by Macanlalay, Bryan Marticio and Mars Sanchez and Yero (Corrugated Galvanized Iron) by John Lanbert Rafols, John Nico Nunag and Jay Condeno. They will be shown along with other selected entries at the Nabunturan Municipal Plaza.
How the Beasts Got Hyped focuses on the daily routine of hypebeasts, which share a mutual interest for street-style fashion, providing a sense of community for its followers, while Yero shows the life and daily struggles of two factory workers, Armando Bucog and Rowil Galicia, inside a corrugated iron factory. Both documentaries, which were also produced under Legaspi’s video production class like Marangle, previously competed this year at the 30th Gawad Alternatibo.
