Transgender Filipino singer Jake Zyrus won the Gold Camera Award at the United States International Film and Video Festival.
The winning documentary “Jake and Charice” is based on the life story of Jake Zyrus who first became known to the world as the Billboard Top 10-hitmaker, Charice Pempengco.
“Jake and Charice”, which premiered in Japan in November 2019, bested other entries from all over the world under the social issues category.
The award-winning documentary is produced by Tokyo-based NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), Tokyo NHK, and Documentary Japan in Association with NHK Enterprises and co-produced by ABS-CBN.
The documentary’s synopsis on the US International Film and Video Festival website reads:
“The singer Charice was the first Asian artist to have a Billboard top-ten hit. Mentored by producer David Foster, she wowed the world with her incomparable talent. Seven years later, she came out as a transgender man, changed her name to Jake Zyrus, and made a fresh start without the renown or voice that he had established as Charice.
“Why did Charice choose to live as Jake? How did his family and other people dear to him react? NHK documented Jake’s life and new challenges, his joys and sorrows, and the journey he took to finding his own voice. We hope the documentary will be watched by a wide range of viewers’ including those who are not interested in gender issues.”
The Filipino artist announced the good news on June 10, 2020, on his Facebook page, and expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the documentary.
“Congratulations Jake Zyrus and to the whole team for winning the Gold Camera award in US INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL for his documentary aired in Japan last November 2019. Thanks to all the people behind the success. Our heart is beyond grateful,” Jake Zyrus said.
In 2018, GMA Network bagged three Gold Camera Awards from the US International Film and Video Festival.
The Kapuso Network’s Martial Law Special “Alaala” bannered by Asian Star Prize winner Alden Richards clinched a Gold Camera Award under the docudrama category.
The two more Gold Camera Awards were won by broadcast journalist Atom Araullo for his first GMA Network documentary special, Philippine Seas, and for an I-Witness documentary on Rohingya refugees titled “Silang Kinalimutan (The Forgotten).”
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to Jake Zyrus and ABS-CBN for winning the Gold Camera Award at the US International Film and Video Festival!
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