Students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) took home five of six top awards in the Animation category at the recently concluded 28th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video (Gawad Alternatibo).
Held alongside this year’s 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, the Gawad Alternatibo is considered to be the longest running independent film competition of its kind in the Asian region. Since 1987, it annually cites the best efforts of Filipino filmmakers in four categories, namely Animation, Experimental, Documentary and Short Feature.
The grand prize in the Animation category was won by University of the Philippines’ Jean Cheryl Tagyamon’s Lola Loleng, which tackles the idea of memory and forgetting.
DLS-CSB’s Renz Vincent Cruz and Hannah Darly Gayapa won second prize for their feature The Passage of Life, which deals with a mother-daughter conflict.
On the other hand, Kuenzang Dorji’s A Yeti Story, which talks about friendship and forgiving one’s enemies, received third place.
Three Bnildeans entries were likewise given honorable mentions. Chih-Chiang Wei’s Power Up tells the story of an astronaut who lives alone in a cold planet and his search for a star that would power his space ship. Erika Chelsea Oleta’s Sweet Victory follows a young boy’s obsession with a cupcake at a party and the turn of events that occurs. Patricia Camino’s Paper Cut discusses the struggle between ink and colored illustrations among three paper doll artists.
Aside from the main awards, special citations are also given out to the best work from the regions, as well as dedicated efforts on, for, and by children. Winners received cash prizes and certificates. Many of today’s outstanding filmmakers have participated in the past, and have continuously and constantly won throughout the years.