Student docus on childhood memories
For Dokyumentado, the inaugural documentary film festival of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), which runs until Dec. 7 in FDCP cinematheques nationwide, student filmmakers focused on childhood experiences both good and bad.
FDCP chair and CEO Jose Javier Reyes stressed the importance of documentary filmmaking “most especially at a time of information overload and alternative truths. The FDCP emphasizes the significance of this genre especially among the young in order to bring about a generation rich with thought, courage and dedication to the value of truth.”
In “Ate Si Bunso,” filmmaker Raphaela “Rapha” Dominguez sums up the daily life, struggles, and joys of her family as they raise Andre, her eldest brother who has autism.
Produced as her undergraduate thesis at De La Salle University Manila in 2019, Dominguez’s major student project received the Outstanding Thesis Award during her recognition rites.
Mapúan filmmaker Angelica Llanera tells the story of her family’s experience in raising her brother who has Down Syndrome and how she took the role of being an older sister despite being the youngest in “Ate Bunso.” It won Best Documentary and Best Work on/by/for Children at the 35th Gawad Alternatibo Film Festival and was nominated for Best Short Film at the 47th Gawad Urian.
In “Nanay Tatay” directed by Antonio Agregado and produced by Angel Sampaga, four young adults probe into the absence of their parents while growing up.
In “Remnants of The Lost Childhood” directed by Belle Samson and produced by Yuan Amandy, three young people reminisce about their childhood and the community they were once part of. As they tell their stories, remnants of tragedy and trauma from their past are revealed.
“Nanay Tatay” was awarded Special Jury Mention while “Remnants of the Lost Childhood” bagged the Special Jury Prize and Best Cinematography award in two different editions of the TAM DokyuFest, the student documentary festival of the Far Eastern University Department of Communication.
A young girl reclaims her life after a year of rehabilitation, only to confront her past abusers in “Mariposa” directed by Melanie Faye and produced by Alecx Literal and Zairah Jimenez of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. “Mariposa” won Best Screenplay at the Las Vegas Filipino Short Film Festival and was a short film finalist of the recent Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Dokyumentado’s “Set B: Childhood Memories” will be shown in FDCP Cinematheque Centres on Nov. 27, 4:45 p.m. (plus talkback session with the filmmakers), Manila; Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 12:30 p.m., Negros; Nov. 29, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Iloilo; Nov. 29 and Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m., Nabunturan; and Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, 3 p.m., Davao.
