Lav Diaz Ang Babaeng Humayo to open 3rd ASEAN filmfest
http://www.dlist.ph/2017/03/lav-diaz-ang-babaeng-humayo-to-open-3rd.html
Lav Diaz’s Ang Babaeng Humayo will open the 3RD ASEAN
International Film Festival & Awards 2017 (AIFFA). AIFFA was soft launched
on 16 February in Kuching, Malaysia and brought its roadshow to Manila in March
4 with a call to Filipino filmmakers to send in their very best, as the film
world continues its search for unique content from non-traditional storytelling
regions of the world. Filipino filmmaker
and festival organizer, Laurice Guillen has been selected to be part of the
awards jury.
The ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards is a
biennial competition for filmmakers from the 10 ASEAN countries. This film
festival is sanctioned by the ASEAN Secretariat as one of the joint activities
for the regional grouping. It was first organised in 2013 and is now in its
third edition. Known popularly as AIFFA, it is held in Kuching, Sarawak,
Malaysia. It is judged by International and ASEAN juries and offers awards in
16 categories covering all major aspects of the creative and technical areas of
filmmaking. It culminates in a three-day event in Kuching and is attended by
filmmakers from all over the world.
AIFFA Festival Director Livan Tajang acknowledged the
natural talent of Filipinos, as many had won international film awards. The
AIFFA 2015 Lifetime Achievement winner was Nora Aunor and Jaclyn Jose was Best
Actress at Cannes 2016 for Ma’ Rosa, directed by another award winner, the
director Brillante Mendoza.
Ms Tajang led the AIFFA crew at the roadshow in Manila on
4th March and proudly said that Filipinos have the natural talent in their DNA
has a further opportunity to be showcased at AIFFA, which is open to film
makers from all 10 ASEAN nations. She elaborated that for the first time more
financiers and producers have confirmed participation in AIFFA 2017, as the
business side of the ASEAN filmmaking industry is also taking notice of a
600-million population base to cater to.
Filipino filmmakers would also definitely benefit from
attending AIFFA in Kuching through a golden opportunity – the first AIFFA Biz
World, a collaboration between AIFFA and the Southeast Asian Audio-Visual
Association (SAVAA). It will allow filmmakers to tap SAVAA, which is the
region’s largest media investment network comprising creative producers, IP
owners, distributors and content financiers.
The AIFFA programme covers not just the three days of the
film fest, but also a series of events leading to the actual festival in May.
The first of these will be a 3-day Hollywood MasterClass Program in Kuala
Lumpur for young filmmakers, and media promotion in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
AIFFA 2017 will make its presence felt in Kuching, the state
capital of Sarawak, where it has become a signature event in the cultural life
of the city, as well as an attraction for tourists, as top film stars such as
Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, have attended previous editions. In April, there
will be free ASEAN films every weekend at the popular Godown Amphitheatre
Waterfront.
The 3-day AIFFA festivities over 4-6 May will include a
movie marathon of international and ASEAN films at selected cinemas around
Kuching, and an informative Café Crawl at three selected cafes with talks by film makers, open to AIFFA
delegates to learn, network and share.
AIFFA is also attempting to break the GUINESS WORLD RECORD
for the largest gathering of people in cat costume on the 4th of May during
AIFFA's opening night in Kuching. Kuching, anyway, is the Malay translation of
the word cat. AIFFA invites all Filipinos to attend AIFFA and to also come in
their best cat costumes too to join Kuchingites in breaking the world record!
The Gala Night on 6th of May will feature a black tie dinner
where winners will be announced and awards presented in 16 categories
recognizing the talents of directors, directors of photography, actors, writers
and editors. These awards also recognize the areas of Lifetime Achievement and
Inspiration.