‘Tribu’ is only non-European film to win at Paris fest
By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:49:00 07/12/2008
MANILA, Philippines—“Tribu” has won the Pari de l’Avenir award, or Youth Jury Prize, at the Sixth Paris Cinema International Film Festival, which ends this Saturday.
“To be recognized in the city where cinema was born is immensely satisfying,” said its director, Jim Libiran.
He said the Pari de l’Avenir was given by a “jury of students and a film reviewer from the film magazine Positif.”
As part of the prize, “Tribu” will be promoted for possible distribution in France, Liberan said.
Pari de l’Avenir means “Bet of the Future,” Libiran said. The award is one of three given in the competition for feature films. The other awards are Pari du Jury and Pari du Public.
It is the only non-European film to win in the festival. Stephen Walker’s “Young @ Heart” won the Jury and Audience awards.
“Tribu” competed with films from France, Japan, China, Haiti, Mexico, Great Britain and Hungary-Germany.
It is a digital movie that chronicles the violent lives and deaths of rapper gangs in Manila’s Tondo district.
Last year, “Tribu” won Best Film in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Upon receiving this latest award for his film, Libiran told the Philippine Daily Inquirer via SMS: “Tondo kids yearn for respect and recognition for their talents. They yearn to show the world how gifted Filipinos are.”
The French festival featured a special program that showcased 47 Philippine films.
‘Slowly exporting love and care’
Wearing a black barong Tagalog designed by his cousin Francis Libiran, the director paid homage to overseas Filipino workers in his speech: “I come from a country where, for decades, people have been leaving for greener pastures. It’s heartbreaking, but we didn’t know that by doing so, we were slowly exporting love and care. Now, we are exporting our culture and arts.”
The Paris Cinema witnessed the biggest participation of the Philippines in any festival—with over 50 Filipino filmmakers, actors, producers, scriptwriters and journalists attending the two-week event.
Libiran said in his speech: “In front of me and behind me is a whole army of Filipino talents. As you have seen here ... Filipinos can fill your movie houses. We are a potent, profitable force. Let us continue appreciating and supporting each other’s culture.”
He added, “This award holds a special significance ... through this recognition, Filipinos are invisible no more.”
Charlotte Rampling
Libiran said he was thrilled to relate that his acceptance speech was translated by the acclaimed actress Charlotte Rampling, who is president of the Paris Cinema International Film Festival.
“The award ceremony was held at the MK2 Cinema, Bibliotheque National François Mitterrand where most of the festival screenings took place,” he said.
Next stop for “Tribu” is the 10th Osian’s-Cinefan Festival of Arab and Asian Cinema in New Delhi, India, where it will compete, along with another entry from the Philippines, Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto’s “Confessional.”
The 10th Osian’s-Cinefan ends on July 20. With editing by INQUIRER.net
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