Benilde short wins big at 2nd SineNanay filmfest

A short film made by students from the Digital Filmmaking program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde won four major awards at the second annual SineNanay Film Festival, held at the Philip­pine Women’s University (PWU) Concert Hall on Taft Avenue, Malate, Ma­nila, on December 16.

Uyayi, about a first-time mother trying to figure out how to become a caring mother, despite being placed in a dire situation, won prizes for director Alda Dalisay; cinematographers Francis Jimenez and Ernestine Joice Bay; production designers Elaiza Rivera, Robin Estargo and Neil Reyes; and sound.

The feature’s concept, which Dalisay, Bay and Rivera came up with, is one of 120 received by festival organizer Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation from 11 uni­versities and colleges in Metro Manila.

“While brainstorming, I wondered how mothers inside the prison take care of their child, especially those who lived on the streets, got pregnant early, and did not have an idea on how to take care of a baby,” Dalisay said.

The SineNanay Festival Committee, composed of Fes­tival Director Arnold Reyes, MYNP Managing Director and Festival Secretariat Head Bemz Benedito, and MYNP Admin­istrative Officer and Festival Coordinator Michelle Fabunan, trimmed down the entries to 27.

The selection committee, composed of ABS-CBN Creative Head Henry King Quitain, independent filmmakers Zig Dulay and Maricel Cariaga, and award-winning screen­writers Jerry Gracio and Rody Vera decided on the 10 finalists, who were then invited to undergo consultation sessions with Gawad CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines)-winning television and film director Nick Olanka.

Acclaimed filmmakers Hannah Espia and Mikhail Red, writer/producer Moira Lang, Cinema One Originals Channel Head Ronald Arguelles, TV and film director Mac Alejandre, editor/filmmaker Tara Illenberger, and award-winning actors Angeli Bayani and Sid Lucero made up the SineNanay festi­val jury.

Life in Videos, directed by Dawn Rae Nicole Capales of Angelicum College, won for best film, screenplay and ensem­ble performance. Silent Hope, another Benildean entry by Mul­timedia Arts students Raymond de Vera, Tristan Yapchiongco, Ellice Zheng, Wayne Garcia, and Julia Viray, won best actor for Jeremie Raizen. Tatay na si Nanay, by Errianne Rojo of the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman, garnered best ac­tress for Christine Calawod, while Paskil ni Inay by Royce Kim Listana of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) earned best supporting actor for Miguel Medenilla.

Benilde film student Martin Mayuga’s short musical Rosa at Linda also made it as a SineNanay finalist. Completing the list are Salamat, Mama by Czarina Rodriguez of St. Mary’s College-Quezon City; and Anak, Para sa ‘yo ‘to by Maiqui Mycel Tameta, Ang Ngiti ni Nay Glo by Nicole Algenio, and Pangarap by Ronalyn Fresno, all from Angelicum College, like Capales.

“The film festival is a tribute to all mothers and a celebra­tion of a child’s love for his/her mother,” Benedito said. SineNanay aims to encourage college students to ex­plore, interpret and capture images of the different aspects of motherhood. Students used their mobile phones and tablets to create films honoring mothers.

Television host Boy Abunda, also MYNP founder and chairman, firmly believes in the transformative role that mothers play in the society. He is inspired by his mother Lesing to come up with the foundation and its projects.

MYNP Council of Advisers member, APT Entertainment co-owner and executive, and TAPE Inc. President and CEO Antonio “Tony” Tuviera served as the festival’s patron.