AFTER CANNES PREMIERE, FILIPINO SHORT FILM 'AGAPITO' HONORED AT TIFF

Against a field of over 5,000 short film entries — narrowed down to 40 in official competition — a Filipino film rose to distinction at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

“Agapito,” directed by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero, and produced by Jon Galvez, Carlos Ortiz and Mick Quito with co-producers Kristine de Leon, Dominique Welinski and Alemberg Ang, was recognized as the Best International Short Film Honourable Mention.

In its citation, the jury praised the film for its “formal precision, command of a delicate tone, poetic awareness of space and movement, and deeply personal reflections on family,” also commending the “brilliantly nuanced and committed performances” of its young cast.

The short revolves around an old duckpin bowling alley and the pinsetters who work there. “The group’s manager, Mira, closes the duckpin alley early. The pinsetters practice a song-and-dance piece, awaiting the arrival of a special visitor,” the synopsis reads.

This recognition follows “Agapito's” world premiere at Cannes last May, where it competed under the Short Film Palme d’Or section.

Before heading to TIFF, which ran from Sept. 5 to 14, The STAR spoke with the filmmakers and producers, who expressed their excitement over the film’s latest “unexpected” milestone — its festival participation, which also marked its North American premiere.

“When ‘Agapito’ made it to Cannes, sobrang fulfilled na eh. And for us to have it in Toronto, which is just one of the biggest festivals, we were like (surprised), oh another one... Sobrang lutang pa,” said direk Arvin.