DLS-CSB FILMMAKERS SHINE IN 2ND KLIMA FILMFEST

Student filmmakers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) secured a total of five awards from the Klima Film Festival (KFF), a competition which aims to spotlight the effects of climate change using short films written and produced by young Filipinos nationwide.

“Tanaw,” directed by Kaila Ysavl Bergonio of Playback Multimedia brought home four trophies along with P30,000 for winning second runner-up, P15,000 for Best Screenplay, P15,000 for Best Performance (Andrea Marie Bool), and P5,000 for snaring the Gender-Responsive Award.

On the other hand, “Modern Stray” by Rayshelle Lozada of Trianggulo Productions won the Audience Choice trophy and P5,000 and an additional P15,000 for being one of the four KFF finalists. The KFF trophies are made from recycled materials.

In “Tanaw,” Aira Mendoza (Bool) is a teenage student raised by her mother, a retired barangay captain and environmental activist. A school requirement brings her onsite in a quarry for a research project.

Bergonio’s debut film was made in collaboration with another Benildean filmmaker, Allynna Santiago, and people they met through Cine Sundays, an online film community formed by director Dan Villegas.

Meanwhile, in “Modern Stray,” Sunny De Vera (Fern Santos) has been called ill-mannered and materialistic. She devises a plan to showcase her roots in Batangas as she creates new content for her YouTube channel. In her province, she retraces her past with childhood friend Nanoy (Justine Jay Daanoy). Sunny’s realizations and reflections push her to a new path as an environmental advocate.

Aside from Santos and Daanoy, Lozada collaborated with co-writer Jhun Monterde, production designer, sound designer, and production manager Sophia Repuyan, co-production manager Darlene Cantos, cinematographers Terrence Santiago (who also edited the film) and Michael Musni (who also served as colorist), musical scorer Clio Gonzales, and voice actor Gabriel Buenabajo as Sunny’s father and reporter.

The short films were judged by science, gender, and film experts Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Liza Diño-Seguerra, Honey Castro, and Sari Dalena for their cinematic attributes and technical execution, story and content, impact, as well as gender considerations.

The finalists of the KFF’s past two editions may be viewed via iWantTFC until March 2023.