IN PHOTOS: ASEAN Intl Film Fest and Awards opening night
INDIA MEETS THE PHILIPPINES. Bollywood actress Geeta Basra with Filipino actor Jericho Rosales. All photos by Kai Magsanoc
SARAWAK, Malaysia - It was an evening of great energy and happy people — filmmakers, actors, and film professionals from 13 countries getting together to celebrate film as a form of art and an extension of culture.
On March 28 at 6pm, the opening ceremony of the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards was held at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, Malaysia. Delegates from the participating countries (Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, USA, India, Russia, and Australia) came in their respective buses, each happy to meet kindred spirits from another country.
The languages and cultures may have been different, but the love and passion for film was one.
READ: Members of the Philippine delegation and Filipino films in the shortlist
The forest was the perfect venue for a program that was nothing short of organic. Delegates moved between 3 locations: enjoying cocktails in the first one, the Alam Persada longhouse; witnessing a fiery fluvial opening show in the second one, the lakeside; and celebrating the winners of the short film categories and the nominees for the major awards in the 3rd one, the Dewan Lagenda longhouse.
Screenings of over a hundred films submitted to AIFFA were simultaneously held in spots scattered around the cultural village, some of them in quaint huts where cineastes watched relaxed. The Cultural Village except for Dewan Lagenda was open to the public, and fans such as those of Filipino actor Jericho Rosales had more than enough time to be with their favorite actors before the program started.
Here are Rappler's photos:
'Etcetera' host Kim Jones with boyfriend, actor Jericho Rosales of 'Alagwa' at the Riverside Majestic Hotel lobby before heading to Sarawak Cultural Village
Cinematographer and Philippine delegation coordinator Rain Yamson and 'Ang Nawawala' actor Dominic Roco
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) COO Mark Lapid (second from left) with TIEZA corplan manager Jetro Lozada, technical assistant Fidel Arcenas, and actor-filmmaker Jess Lapid
Former Bb Pilipinas-World and now Pateros councilor Daisy Reyes with Mark Lapid at the entrance of the Cultural Village in Damai Beach Resort
Members of the welcoming committee. Instead of flowers, each delegate received a beaded necklace similar to what they are wearing in this photo.
Daisy Reyes with other members of the welcoming committee
Drummers add a Borneo touch to the traditional welcome of the delegates
Jericho Rosales surrounded by avid fans
Delegates on a wooden walkway around the forest, going from one location to another
One of the spots in the Cultural Village where a film was being screened
Kim and Echo try the Malaysian appetizers at Alam Persada
Dominic and Rain with fans from Sarawak
Bollywood actress Geeta Basra
Young filmmakers Paulo Reyes and Whammy Alcazaren with Indonesian actress Jajang Noer
AIFFA's Shah Sidek, Rain Yamson, Mell Navarro, Paul Sta Ana, Ian Lorenos, Dominic Roco, AIFFA director Livan Tajang, Paulo Reyes, and Whammy Alcazaren
AIFFA jury member Ricky Davao, AIFFA director Livan Tajak, Mark Lapid, and Rain Yamson
Sarawak Minister of Housing and Tourism Datuk Amar Abang Haji Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Abang Haji Openg (3rd from left) with members of the AIFFA organizing committee
A fire blower lights up the dark lake
Hats for sale at Dewan Lagenda
One of the cultural performances that opened the evening's main program
The souvenir program given to each delegate for use throughout the festival
Winners of the short films categories were announced in the first part of the program. They are:
Best Short Films - Students:
- 3rd place: PULAU UBIN - Singapore
- 2nd place: THE FATE OF CHING SAN YEN & MUARA TEBAS VILLAGE - Malaysia
- 1st place: GLORY OF MOUNTAIN - Malaysia
Best Short Films - Professionals:
- 3rd place - KOMODO VILLAGE - Indonesia
- 2nd place: CLOSER TO ME - Singapore
- 1st place: REN SHAO - Singapore
