FEU Short Films to Vie for First ORMIN IFF Prize

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Four short films from the Far Eastern University Department of Communication will compete in the student division of the inaugural Oriental Mindoro International Film Festival from November 15 to 17.

Trisha Marie Antonio's "Dama" (Checkers), Angela Aguila's and One Carlo Diaz's "Kumari," Juan Pablo Pineda III's "Pua Iyam" (Coming Out) and Daryll Jameson Apaga's "Retrospektib" (Retrospective) will contend against other short films from the Philippines, Brazil, France, Iran and Russia.

"Joining this contest means a lot to me since Oriental Mindoro is my Mom's birthplace so the possibility of being given the privilege to visit the place after a decade away from it thrills me. Of course, the fact that our film has been shortlisted is another thing, more like an honor to my whole group and to the people behind it," Antonio shared.

"Dama," which tells the story of a father (Rolando Inocencio) who adopts a stray child (Kyle Kaizer Almenanza) to cope with his son's death in a crisis-ridden world, earlier bagged Best Production Design and Best Actor for Inocencio at the 15th annual DLSU Indie Un-Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Diaz, who also co-wrote "Kumari" with Aguila, said that it's a huge honor to have it shown on a bigger platform. "It's done with so much passion and hard work, so for every opportunity it gets outside university, I'd always feel very fulfilled and proud."

In "Kumari," Anna (Arjelyn Apolonio) comes from a family of ballet dancers and her mother (Fe Saligumba) is her avid supporter. Caught in the middle of tradition, fear, and love, she makes the biggest choice that she will ever make in her life.

In "Retrospektib," three activists try to escape the atrocities of the Narkos regime at the height of Martial Law. Jay (Julio Garcia) persuades Boyong (David Paul Farma) and Ramon (Renz Silverio) to travel in time with the help of a faith healer, Mang Jun (Kuya Bata). Little do they know that they are in for a big surprise in the present era. The satirical film previously won third prize at the Active Vista short film competition.

Finally, in "Pua Iyam" (Coming Out), a Filipino-Chinese student (Rowi Du) discovers his true identity and feelings for his childhood friend (Raphael Cruz). The film won at FEU’s Sinepiyu 2017, CineSB 7, Piling Obrang Vidyo XIV, CineMapúa 2018 and 9th Largabista, and was cited at the first Palawan International Film Festival.

The first ORMIN IFF, which will feature ecological, sociological, and anthropological films that are mainly focused on indigenous people and cultures, gender equality, and issues on environmental awareness, is being organized by Dr. Carl Balita Productions and the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education.

Lone PH Film in Competition at Asia's 2nd Biggest Shorts Fest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A short film about a teacher battling depression, who convinces an infatuated student to retrieve her baby, will vie at the 8th Kaohsiung Film Festival International Short Film Competition in Taiwan from October 19 to November 4.

After a four-month selection period involving more than 3,200 submissions from 93 countries, Christian Rae Villanueva's Ang Mga Turo ng Gabi (The Lessons of the Night) emerged as one of the 65 short films from 30 countries in the official selection.

Considered "the second largest short film festival in Asia and a unique platform for creative short films in Taiwan," KFF will be held at the Kaohsiung Film Archive with 24 short film programs and more than a hundred shorts in total.

"One of my dreams is to have an international premiere for my film," said Villanueva, who recently graduated from the Digital Filmmaking program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts.

His capstone project will vie with 45 other films previously selected by prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Rotterdam, Locarno, Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy, Tokyo's Short Shorts and Busan, among others. "It is an honor to be lined up to these films that won in Cannes, Busan and other major film festivals," he added.

The short film will also contend for the Asian New Wave Award against entries from China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. KFF introduced the award to encourage films with unique viewpoints inspired by the Asian context.

Starring Sheenly Vee Gener and Dylan Ray Talon, the film previously won Best Editing and Best Performance at Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival. It was shown as part of the Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle in Washington.

What Is Preventing Qatar Residents from Performing Hajj?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Contrary to the claims that Qatar has prohibited its citizens from performing Hajj, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has affirmed that it is merely a part of the ongoing campaign to exploit the religious ritual for political purposes.

The unfortunate increasing media campaigns surrounding these allegations contradict reality and that they appear to be a continuation of the campaign to exploit Hajj for political purposes.

Qatari citizens are prevented from entering territories of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain because of this phenomenon.

The Ministry confirmed that there has been recent communication between the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Qatar and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

"We explained all the obstacles and difficulties facing Qatari citizens and the residents of the State of Qatar. We demanded that the concerned authorities in Saudi Arabia remove these obstacles; there was no breakthrough in that regard" says the Ministry.

The Ministry added, "All the challenges continue to exist. The border crossing remains closed to Qatari and resident pilgrims with limited income or who cannot travel by plane. The prevention of planes from transporting pilgrims from Doha to Jeddah still exists, as is the case in all neighboring countries. Also, there is no clear mechanism for obtaining a Hajj visa for residents of Qatar."

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs stressed the following:

First: The same challenges and obstacles continue without any tangible progress, and Qatari Hajj companies remain banned from entering Saudi land. Also, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is not allowed to care for its pilgrim, as is the case with all GCC member states.

Second: Dozens of violations related to the rights of Qatari citizens and residents while performing Hajj and Umrah have been recorded over the recent period, and many of them were prevented from entering Saudi land; in some cases, people were returned after reaching Jeddah airport.

Such incidents show selective and ambiguous entrance policies that are sometimes subject to the whims of individuals.

Third: The continuation of inflammatory media discourse against Qatari citizens in systematic rhetoric that potentially represents a threat to their safety.

Such rhetoric prevented Qatari Hajj organizations from carrying out Hajj and Umrah trips for Qatari citizens and residents, like the rest of the GCC member states, based on the foundations of the Hajj agreement signed before 1438 Hajj season.

The Ministry stressed that the previous and their effects would be reflected negatively on the safety and security of Qatari pilgrims and residents and the seamless performance of the holy rituals. In addition to denying Muslims residing in the State of Qatar from performing one of the five pillars of Islam.

At the end of their statement, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs renewed its call on authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to separate religious matters from political decisions, in honor of the sanctity of religious rituals and their sacred site which made them responsible for the House of Allah.