Pinoy film wins top prize in L-A filmfest
Posted on March 23rd, 2008 under Entertainment Success
Desiree del Valle in a scene from “Tuli”
Tuli (Circumcision), a film by internationally acclaimed Filipino director Auraeus Solito, won the grand jury award for international narrative feature Sunday evening in Outfest, one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian film festivals and the largest film festival in Southern California.
“Tuli” was one of the major winners in Outfest’s awards night gala held at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
“I’m so happy!” Solito said. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Outfest featured more than 200 films and videos from 26 countries. Outfest is the leading festival of its kind in the US and is the oldest running film festival in Los Angeles.
“Tuli,” Auraeus’ follow-up to his internationally well-received “Ang Pagdadalaga ni (The Blossoming of) Maximo Oliveros,” was featured in Sundance film festival’s Spectrum program last January.
“This is a victory for indie filmmaking in the Philippines,” added Solito.
“Tuli,” which links the summer ritual of circumcision among young boys and other traditions in the Philippines to a love story with a twist, stars Desiree del Valle, Carlo Aquino, Vanna Garcia, Bembol Roco, Amable Quiambao, and Eugene Domingo. Written by Jimmy Flores, the film shared the Netpac Award at this year’s Berlin Film festival.
After “Tuli,” Solito made “Pisay,” his entry in the ongoing Cinemalaya festival. A nostalgic look at his student days at Pisay, the alumni’s affectionate short name for Philippine Science High School, the film and Solito received a standing ovation at its recent premiere.