Filipino film “Oda sa Wala” is joining the selection of films competing at the 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic.
The Filipino film directed by Dwein Baltazar is the representative of the Philippines in the prestigious film festival which will run from June 28 to July 6.
“Oda sa Wala” tells the story of spinster Sonya (played by Marietta Subong, more popularly known as comedian Pokwang) who is tired with her life. Sonya’s life changes after she meets a corpse at her family-owned funeral parlor.
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Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) CEO and Chairperson Mary Liza Diño said the inclusion of “Oda sa Wala” in the list of the participating films in KVIFF is a milestone for the Philippine film industry.
“Having ‘Oda sa Wala’ compete in one of the top-tier film festivals in the world is an important achievement in Philippine cinema,” Diño stated.
The participation of “Oda sa Wala” also makes film director Dwein Baltazar the first Filipino female director to compete in an A-list film festival in Europe.
“As a Filipino and as a woman, her representation in the film industry is something we should celebrate,” FDCP Chairperson and CEO Diño added.
This is the second time for director Dwein Baltazar to join the KVIFF after her debut screening of the feature film “Mamay Umeng” in 2012. But this year is her first time to join the competition of the largest Czech film festival.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is the leading film festival in Central and Eastern Europe. It is one of the oldest film fests in the world after it was established in 1946. KVIFF is considered one of the world’s most prestigious alongside other festivals held in Berlin, Cannes, Montreal, Moscow, San Sebastian, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Venice.
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“Oda sa Wala” is also set to compete in the Camera Lucida section of the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, Canada from July 11 to August 1.
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