With different genres and styles of films made by different students from the AB Digital Filmmaking degree program, Benildeans filmmakers bagged awards one after the other from February to March in three notable competitions.
From the Piling Obrang Vidyo to CineMapúa and the Manila Short Film Festival, these student filmmakers proved their creative prowess in different categories, bringing home multiple wins for the College.
Piling Obrang Vidyo’s Multiple Benildean Winners
After an online screening from March 14 to 23, and a final in-theater screening and awarding night on March 24 at the UPFI Film Center-Cine Adarna, Benildean filmmakers celebrated their many wins from the University of the Philippines Cinema’s Piling Obrang Vidyo (POV).
With seven official entries from Benildeans, four films were awarded in different categories including the Piling Obrang Vidyo XIX or Best Film for ID 118 AB Digital Filmmaking student Diokko Manuel Dionisio’s Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas. The film won the most awards that night with four wins including the awards for Best Narrative, Best Production Design, and Best Screenplay.
ID 119 Digital Filmmaking student Vahn Leinard Pascual’s Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig bagged three awards including Best Direction, Best Music or Original Score, and the Cinemaster’s Choice. While Balde at Brotsa by ID 118 AB Digital Filmmaking student Josh Mutia won the Best Documentary award and The Secret Band of Thebes by ID 118 AB Digital Filmmaking student Augustine won the Special Citation for Animation award as well.
The Benildeans brought home nine of the 16 awards that night.
Benildean winners at CineMapúa
The 20th CineMapúa International Student Short Film Festival concluded on March 16, with an Awards Night held at the Mapúa University Gymnasium. Five Benildean entries made it to the final nominees for awarding, with three Benildean films winning big in the Collegiate Category.
Saan Aabot ang Dapithapon? by ID 116 AB Digital Filmmaking graduate Trixie Vertera and ID 118 AB Digital Filmmaking graduate Carissa Sierras, won the Cardinal Golden Film Award. The film also won Best Performance of an Actress, awarded to Celeste Legaspi, Best Production Design, awarded to AB Production Design graduate Paurine Shibata, and Best Sound Design, awarded to Orion Flynn.
Meanwhile, Pig’s Game by ID 120 Digital Filmmaking student CM Bautista won the Cardinal Silver Film Award. The film also won Best Performance of an Actor, awarded to James Ramada, and Best Screenplay, awarded to Bautista and co-writer Tristan Aguilar.
Vahn Leinard Pascual’s Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig also made waves in CineMapúa clinched the Best Original Music award, along with the Cardinal Audience Choice Award.
The Benildeans won nine out of the 15 collegiate awards.
Benilde’s Fourth Year of Dominance in the Manila Short Film Festival
A four-year winning streak for the College started by former Benilde FIlm student Aki Red’s Lilipad Na Si Birdie in the festival three years ago has been kept alive by Benildean student filmmakers Vahn Leinard Pascual and ID 121 AB Digital Filmmaking student Ryan Miguel Capili who secured top awards in this year’s Manila Short Film Festival (MSFF). The awarding ceremony was held at the International School Manila (ISM) Fine Arts Theater in February 2023.
Four other Benildean films made it to the festival, but it was Capili's Damgo sa Kahitas-an that was awarded Best Film in the 19-22 age group and Pascual's Ang Mga Sisiw sa Kagubatan that claimed Best Animation.
We continue to celebrate the different Benildean winners and support them in their future projects. Each achievement shines a brighter light on the community, inspiring those who wish to reach for similar heights even more.
