Filipino-Italian actor and director Ruben Soriquez with his feature documentary Pandemiocracy, has just represented the Philippines at the 18th Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival, one of the oldest and most widely internationally established festivals on Human Rights, that has taken place this December in Spain.
Soriquez’s work, shot in 2020 in Europe, Asia, including the Philippines and the United States, denounces the violation of human rights across the globe during the most difficult period of the pandemic.
Pandemiocracy, follows the journey of a young mother and her two children who leave Italy to join her husband in Manila. A journey that proves difficult amidst prohibitions, quarantine, restriction, and violation of human rights. Scientific contributions and touching stories of humanity and hope make this documentary a historical memory. Also, the interventions of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres make this documentary precious and relevant.
Soriquez says that he has always been sensitive to human rights issues. In fact, his multi-awarded film Of Sinners and Saints, is centered on human trafficking and violence against women and children.
The Official Selection of Pandemiocracy to the 18th Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival, comes after Soriquez›s work had already been awarded five times at international film festivals, with the last being the Best Documentary Award at the 7th Los Angeles International Film Festival and Awards.
Ruben Soriquez says that he is working on a series of films to be produced and distributed by the Hollywood company Leomark Studios, and that he is also working on a Philippine-Italian co-production in which he is going to play the lead role.
Pandemiocracy will be available in the Philippines starting January, in streaming on the platform iwatchmore.com.