The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
Before representing the film “Espantaho” in two separate international movie events, its producer Atty. Joji Alonso had thought of farming out its representatives Lorna Tolentino and Janice de Belen with Alonso in tow and Judy Ann Santos in the 2nd Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California and Judy Ann Santos at the 45th Oporto International Film Festival–Fantasporto in Portugal, respectively.
According to Joji, she had to split the delegation for equal treatment.
“We had to split the team to be able to be present for both commitments,” she said.
Both representations gave honor and dignity not only to the local creatives and filmmakers but the Philippines as well.
While Joji, Lorna and Janice shared Filipino filmmaking pride with film professionals and aficionados, Judy Ann as the Philippine rep garnered international recognition of her feat.
Santos romped away with the Best Actress plum for the film while American actor Brendan Bradley bagged the Best Actor award for the Russian film “Succubus.”
“This year, the four juries of the 45th edition of the OPORTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL- FANTASPORTO have given us a truly astonishing list of winners, which only goes to show the quality of the event’s program. Asian and North American cinema were clear winners of the festival,” wrote Atty. Alonso in his Facebook wall.
“Espantaho,” directed by the maverick director Chito S. Rono and narrated a supernatural tale of a mother and daughter after their patriarch died was co-produced by Cineko Productions, Quantum Films and Purple Bunny Productions.