...the Cannes films awardee

Film with Pinay actress wins at Cannes

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

05/27/2013

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine delegation to this year’s Cannes Film Festival are not exactly returning home empty-handed after a film starring a Filipino actress won the prestigious Camera d'Or prize on Sunday.

Singapore’s Anthony Chen won the Camera d'Or for his debut feature “Ilo Ilo” -- the first time that a Singaporean feature has won at Cannes.

The movie, which stars Yeo Yann Yann, Chen Tianwen, newcomer Koh Jia Ler and Filipino film and stage actress Angeli Bayani, is set during the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and explores the lives of Singapore's workaholic, ambitious middle classes and the domestic help on which they depend.

It tells the tale of a Singaporean family and their Filipina maid, who befriends the family's troubled son.

"The director's intelligence and sensitivity bring forth very important issues -- childhood, immigration, class struggles and the economic crisis," said the jury citation.

According to the Singapore Straits Times, the 29-year-old Chen was "very shocked" at the good news and was, in fact, about to leave Cannes on Sunday afternoon to join his wife in London when he got a call from organizers telling him to attend the closing ceremony later in the evening.

“Ilo Ilo” was one of two films starring Bayani that premiered at the prestigious film festival.

Bayani, whose past works include the award-winning indie film “Ka Oryang,” the stage musical “Caredivas” and the ABS-CBN series “Angelito: Batang Ama,” also appeared in “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” by acclaimed filmmaker Lav Diaz.

“Norte” competed in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section along with “Death March,” director Adolfo Alix Jr.’s film about one of the worst atrocities in World War II starring Kapamilya actors Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo.

The two Filipino films lost to French-Cambodian director Rithy Panh's "The Missing Picture," an autobiographical documentary that uses clay figures.

Another Filipino film had its world premiere at Cannes -- “On the Job,” starring Kapamilya stars Piolo Pascual and Gerald Anderson. The crime thriller, directed by Erik Matti, was part of the Director’s Fortnight.

But while “On the Job” was shown out of competition, it did pick a different kind of prize. Even before its screening, independent distributor Well Go USA announced that it has acquired all North American rights to “On the Job,” a co-production of Reality Entertainment and Star Cinema. -- With report from Reuters