Posted: March 12, 2019, 7:15 P.M.

Short film entries from Mapúa University won major awards in UP Cinema’s Piling Obrang Vidyo (POV) XV held at the UP Cine Adarna, University of the Philippines Diliman last January 26.

Digital Cinema alumni Celina Mae Medina and Tricia Sotaso bagged the Best Narrative Film and Best Cinematography awards in the Narrative category for “Ophelia,” a film depicting the struggles of a college student experiencing depression. The film “Gatilyo” by Harold Lance Pialda, a fourth year Digital Cinema student, took home three major awards in the same category, winning Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Production Design. Pialda’s film is about a soldier battling against post-traumatic stress disorder after surviving an ambushed attack during a failed military operation in Maguindanao.  

“Ang Mambabarang at Ang Mga Taong Pinatay sa Limot” by Gabrielle Lloyd Reyes, a third year Digital Cinema student, won the Best Experimental Film award in the Experimental category. Film shows a self-proclaimed messiah who moved into a town he deemed is in need of reformation. Blood then was shed a week after his arrival with citizens suffering out of the interests of a few town residents.

According to Dean Benigno B. Agapito Jr. of Mapúa University’s School of Media Studies, the various recognitions of Mapuans in local and intercollegiate film competitions are validations of their learnings and quality trainings in professional skills development and film production courses.

“This is a clear indication that Mapua’s media and film instructions are highly competitive and can earn due recognitions from other institutions,” said Dean Agapito. “It is our responsibility at Mapúa to enhance Mapúans’ awareness on the importance of film arts in the academe, community, and the world as a whole and at the same time to promote values through film production.” 

*Article courtesy of Mapúa Corporate Communications Office