Feature from Tawi-Tawi is Moro Film Festival’s best short film

COTABATO CITY – After a long critiquing of the top 10 finalists, the short film'Manis Ma Pikilan' was recognized as theBest Short Filmduring the awards night of the 2018 Moro Film Festivaland Short Film Competition on Thursday, December 6, held at Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex here.‘Manis Ma Pikilan’captures the personal struggles of Pahad, a boy from a small coastal community in Tawi-Tawi. As competition grand winner, it received P300,000 in cash prize. This film would like to tell the people, especially those people outside the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), that Mindanao is not just about war… that people have their own personal struggles in life, said Bhas Abdulsamad, director of the film.‘White Flag’, a short film that depicts the story of Omaimah, a young lady who faced great challenges at an evacuation center in Marawi during the siege, bagged the Grand Jury Prize.‘White Flag’director Najib Alyhar Zacaria was emotional during the awards night. Hindi ko ma-explainang nararamdaman ko, ngunit ako ay napakasaya ngayon.This is for my Princess, he said.Princess was Zacaria's daughter who expired due to a disease while staying inside an evacuation center during the Marawi Siege. The Grand Jury Prize winner received a total of P150,000 in cash prize.Aside from'Manis Ma Pikilan'and'White Flag',the other features which comprise the competition’s top 10 finalists areand'Identity', 'Kyuga', 'Battle of Tampakan', 'Inged', 'The Last Kill', 'Juramentado', 'Khalil at Manuelito',and'Sarimanok'.Other awards and the corresponding prizes given during the culmination of the film festival areandandgt Audience choice award–‘Inged’(P100,000)andgt Best Director– Najib Alyhar Zacaria for‘White Flag’(P50,000)andgt Best Screenplay–‘White Flag’(P30,000)andgt Best Cinematography–‘Manis Ma Pikilan’(P30,000)andgt Best Editing–‘Manis Ma Pikilan’(P30,000)andgt Best Actor– Abraham Nupuran for'Manis Ma Pikilan'(P15,000)andgt Special Citation for Ensemble Acting–‘The Last Kill’(P15,000)The films were critiqued by renowned filmmakers from Mindanao including Bagane Fiola and Xeph Suarez who served as members of the jury.Award-winning Moro filmmaker and author Gutierrez 'Teng' Mangansakan II, who chaired the jury, said they were looking for films that tell the stories of Bangsamoro. A good story is something that comes from within, and these two movies,‘Manis Ma Pikilan’and‘White Flag’,were really able to surface this type of films, he added.ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman congratulated the finalists and winners noting, ngayon palang ay gumawa na kayo ng pelikula na itatama ang maling kwento ng nakaraan. Ito ang hamon sa lahat ng mgafilmmakers, manalo man kayo o hindi... ito ang hamon sa ating lahat. Anak Mindanao Executive Director Sitti Djalia Turabin Hataman and actor Robin Padilla graced the awards night.It is the first time for the ARMM to organize a competition that features short films highlighting the history, culture, and tradition of the Bangsamoro. It also showcased the talents of aspiring artists, actors and filmmakers in the region.The competition is part of the celebration of Pakaradjaan 2018. Public screenings of the top 10 films are scheduled on December 7, 8, and 9 at the Al Nor Cinema 2. (Bureau of Public Information)