The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Boy Villasanta
BUCHEON CITY, SOUTH KOREA—It was a moment of victory for Filipino filmmaker Kenneth Dagatan when he won, not just one but two, significant awards at the recently concluded Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) of the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in this city.
During the awarding rites held at the Webtoon Convergence Hall, Kenneth was first called to receive the Blood Window Partnership Grant from the Ventana Sur Blood Window Film Festival in Argentina for his film project “Molder.”
“I consider BIFAN my home,” he exclaimed when he received the award.
It was again a defining moment for Dagatan who was also noticed in his film “In My Mother’s Skin” which was also a NAFF project in 2019.
Even the most awaited Bucheon Award, the highest plum of NAFF, was awarded to Kenneth.
“Thank you,” Dagatan repeatedly said in his acceptance speech.
Kenneth was onstage with his producer Bradley Liew of Epicmedia Productions.
“Thank you BIFAN for giving opportunities to emerging filmmakers,” said Bradley who is a Malaysian married to Filipino filmmaker Bianca Balbuena.
In a separate interview, Kenneth informed that “Molder” is a story of finding home in the middle of horrific occurrences.
It was one of the thirty-seven selections of “It Project,” a component of NAFF which supports selected projects in looking for international investors, producers, distributors and other stakeholders in carrying them out.
“It Project” is a game-changing and competitive section that promotes genre (horror, fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, thriller and the likes) film movement.
This year alone, according to Jongsuk Thomas Nam, Managing Director of NAFF, more than three hundred entries all over the world were submitted.
“Molder” is a co-production among Philippines, Italy and Singapore.