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CLOSING FILMS

HENERAL RIZAL copy.jpg

OPENS JAN 26, 2022 / 8 PM PST / 7 AM ET

SA BALAY NI PAPANG copy.jpg

OPENS JAN 27, 2022 / 8 PM PST / 7 AM ET

BAKUNAWA Young Cinema 8 announces Closing Films
 

8th BAKUNAWA Young Cinema [Film & Art Festival] announces Chuck Gutierrez’s Heneral Rizal and Kurt Soberano’s Sa Balay ni Papang as Closing Films with Hopes to Inspire and Instigate Change

Bakunawa Young Cinema, a genre film festival named after a mythical dragon-like creature in Philippine mythology that devoured moons, will close its eight edition with two acclaimed Filipino shorts: Heneral Rizal (General Rizal) by Chuck Gutierrez and Sa Balay ni Papang (In My Father’s House) by Kurt Soberano.

Heneral Rizal is the story of Paciano, the elder brother of the Philippine’s national hero (Jose Rizal). History books have regarded Paciano Rizal as the ever-supportive brother of Jose; but unbeknownst to many, he was a general who had close relations with revolutionist leaders, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto, coordinating various military operations. His bravery was greatly exhibited when he led the forces that liberated Calamba.

“Heneral Rizal” is highly-charged and deeply emotional, thanks to a memorable performance by Gawad URIAN Best Actor winner and one of the country’s icon in theater, TV and film, Nanding Josef. The film chronicles the Philippine revolution in the lens of the noble general. Heneral Rizal is a hybrid creative documentary and monologue that reflects on the painful trajectory of the revolution and its tragic aftermath, raising unresolved issues with his younger brother, Jose. A call for action film, it sheds a whole new light on the Filipino’s understanding of nationalism and what it really means to be Filipino.

Shot during the pandemic year 2020, awardwinning filmmaker and editor Chuck Gutierrez hopes that his film will be able to remind viewers of the mistakes of the past and serve as compasses to what is ahead. He states: “In the age when social distancing makes very difficult to make films, I hope Heneral Rizal can inspire many of us to continue telling stories that can awaken and bring us together even if we are apart in space and time.” Gutierrez has edited many films by some of the country’s major directors and has won him a Gawad URIAN. He is also a producer and editor of documentary films like the MMFF winner “Sunday Beauty Queen” and “Jazz in Love” by Baby Ruth Villarama.

Another film to close this edition’s Bakunawa is Sa Balay ni Papang by Kurt Soberano. It is told from the perspective of a 14-year-old movie fanatic from an underprivileged family in the Municipality of Manapla, Negros Occidental who witnessed the production shoot of the film “Oro, Plata, Mata” in his hometown. He later on approached its director, the great Peque Gallaga, with the hope of landing a job. It was then that his life changed.

Inspiring and full of nostalgic scenes, painstakingly recreated by the production team, “Sa Balay ni Papang” is an ode to the preeminence of director Peque Gallaga, who has been instrumental in putting Negros and its talents into the national map and consciousness.

The film is one of the winners of Sine Halaga (Film Festival), getting a full grant and was recently named one of the Best Films at the 28th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival or FACINE 28 in San Francisco, USA, winning many other technical awards.

Its director, Kurt Soberano, hails from Bacolod City and is also an actor who appeared in films like Red (2014); Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2018) and Magikland (2020); and a TV host in regional shows by then ABS-CBN Bacolod. He was trained at the Negros Summer Workshop, Maskara Theater Ensemble, Bacolod Workshop, Repertory Philippines, Star Magic, American Conservatory Theater and the Moscow Art Theater.

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HENERAL RIZAL opens Jan. 26, 2022 (WED) 8 PM PST / 7 AM EST at the Bakunawa VOD Channel â–º https://vimeo.com/ondemand/heneralrizalbakunawa

* the film runs until Feb. 15, 2022

SA BALAY NI PAPANG opens Jan 27, 2022 (WED) 8 PM PST / 7 AM EST at the Bakunawa VOD Channel â–º https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sabalaynipapangbakunawa

* the film runs until Feb 16, 2022

Here are the 3 Easy Steps to watch BAKUNAWA 8 Films for FREE:

1. Log in to your VIMEO.COM account. Create one if you have no account yet. It’s FREE!

2. Click the film link posted in our FB page.

3. When you open the film’s page, click “RENT” and click “Apply Promo Code” button and encode BAKUNAWA8. Click “Apply” and “Watch Now”. ENJOY!

 

#bakunawa8 #bakunawayoungcinema8

#UnleashingCreativeDragonsandChallengingGenres
 

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