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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

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The brainchild of Socio-Entrepreneur Dr. Milagros O. How, President and CEO of Universal Harvester, Inc., ToFarm Film Festival is the only advocacy-driven film festival in the country today, with entries showcasing the lives, journeys, trials and triumphs of the Filipino farmer. 

Now on its third year, the grand kick-off ceremony was held at Novotel Manila in Quezon City on Monday. Dr. How reintroduced the festival’s lineup and announced that the awards night will be held this evening at the Rizal Ballroom, Makati Shangri-la and awards for the Feature Films and the Best Short Films (also collectively to be known as the Derek Maryo Awards), will be given out.

The official film entries are currently screening at the SM Megamall, SM Manila, Robinson’s 

Galleria, Trinoma, Greenbelt 1, and Gateway. There are also provincial screenings in Gaisano Davao, Robinson’s Legazpi and Robinson’s Naga (which only screens 1957, the one film shot in its entirety in Iriga).

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ToFarm, presented under the co-sponsorship of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, runs until Tuesday, Sept. 18. Here are the official entries:

1957

Written and directed by Hubert Tibi

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

A historical drama, 1957 tackles the struggle, hard work, and hope – even when the very reason for hope is all of a sudden gone. A group of farmers in Bicol are at the mercy of Don Jose, a strict and abusive landlord. 20-year-old Lucio, son of Carding, a former member of the Hukbalahap, their follow corn-growers and respective families, anticipate the arrival of President Ramon Magsaysay in their area, for genuine land reform to take place. But we all know what happened in 1957.

Alimuom

Written and directed by Keith Sicat

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

In the future, farming is banned on Earth due to the toxic environment. All agriculture is now done off-world, manned by Outerspace Filipino Workers. The children living under the Mega-Manila Bio Dome no longer know what the vegetables in the song “Bahay Kubo” look like… but some scientists and farmers resist; the seeds of rebellion are sown in the barren wastelands of the Philippines.

Mga Anak Ng Kamote

Written by John Carlo Pacala and directed by Carlo Catu

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

In fictional Philippines 2048, the humble sweet potato is “regularized” as a part of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. Those unable to control their appetite for the tuber hide off to the boondocks to plant and eat it out of sight of authorities. After being isolated in the mountain for years, a woman travels to the city to look for her husband who is held by the police for selling illegal kamote. The journey leads her to a discovery about the past that may or may not have happened.

Sol Searching

Written and directed by Roman Perez, Jr.

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

This is a story of Sol, a farmer-teacher in a public school near Nueva Ecija. Teacher Sol is dead and cannot be buried because there are no funds. How will the community come forward to put her to rest, this strict and no-nonsense teacher of grade school students and farmers who need to be taught scientific farming methods?

Kauyagan

Written and directed by Julienne llagan 

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

Piyo refuses to accept the responsibilities of being the only son of a Datu from the  Talaandig Tribe. He defies his destiny and runs away from home to pursue his dreams of freedom only to find himself behind bars when he is mistaken as a rebel. He finds contentment in anonymity in prison, no matter that the calls of his ancestors echo in his dreams. Back with his people, he discovers certain realities. Will he still be able to deny the destiny of his bloodline?

Tanabata’s Wife

Written by Charlson Ong, based on the short story of the same title by Sinai Hamada, directed by Ong and Lito Casaje

Bolder ToFarm Film Fest reels off

Early in the 20th century, La Trinidad Valley is home to Japanese immigrant farmers, among them is Tanabata-San. He falls in love with his young Bontok farmhand, Fasang. They marry and have a son, Kato. But Fasang falls for a distant cousin, Okdo. They elope and take Kato along. Tanabata loses his will to live, wishing only to see his wife and son one last time.

Okdo loses his job and abandons Fasang. She goes to the work camp to dig roads. Tanabata’s aide Tiago sees her and implores her to come home. Will true love find its way?

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