Philippine Film “Birdshot” Merits Special Mention at the Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival 2017
12 May 2017 BANGKOK — Philippine film “Birdshot” won a Special Mention award at the Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival (BAFF) 2017, which was organized by the Thai Ministry of Culture and the Thai National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Association. Thai Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat presided over the opening ceremony while Permanent Secretary Kritsayapong Siri of the Ministry of Culture led the awards night and closing ceremony on May 01.
The two major awards went to Indonesian political drama “Solo Solitude” as Best ASEAN Film, which was granted a cash prize of US$10,000 (Bt350,000), and Singapore-Thailand co-production “Pop-Aye”, which received the Jury Prize and a cash prize of US$5,000.
A total of 19 entries from the 10 ASEAN member countries joined the festival. The public was able to watch the films free of charge at the Siam Paragon Cinema and SF World Cinema of Central World Mall from 26 April to 01 May 2017. Entries included “Waris” from Brunei; “Turn Left Turn Right” and “Vikalcharety” from Cambodia; “Solo, Solitude” and “Senjakala Di Manado” from Indonesia; “Kwan Nang” and “Dearest Sister” from Laos; “Interchange” and “Temuan Takdir” from Malaysia; “By Coincidence” from Myanmar; “Pop Aye”, “A Yellow Bird” and “Ah Boys to Men 3: Frogmen” from Singapore; “By the Time It Gets Dark” and “In the Flesh” from Thailand; “Ho Chi Minh in Siam” and “Father and Son” from Vietnam. The other Philippine entry was the Malaysian-Philippines co-production “Singing in Graveyards”, which starred Philippine rock legend Pepe Smith.
Philippine Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Mary Anne A. Padua attended the awards night and extended her personal congratulations to “Birdshot” producer Pamela L. Reyes. Embassy officials and personnel, including their families, were able to watch the film during its scheduled screenings. According to them, “Birdshot” was the kind of film that lingered in one’s mind long after the reels have stopped. It was a film replete with meaning regarding Philippine society and conditions.
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“Birdshot” producer, Ms. Pamela L. Reyes, receiving the Special Mention Award from the Permanent Secretary Kritsayapong Siri of the Ministry of Culture.