MANILA, Philippines--Felix Roco, lead actor in Pepe Diokno?s ?Engkwentro,? was starstruck in Venice where the Cinemalaya film won two awards: the top prize in the Orizzonti section and the Luigi De Laurentiis honor.

During his six-day stay in the Italian city, Roco saw Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Matt Damon and Jared Leto on the red carpet.

?Surreal?

Roco recalled that when ?Engkwentro? won, ?we got the chance to march down the same red carpet where George Clooney walked...?

It was surreal, Roco said.

After the awards ceremony, he and the entire Filipino team had their photo taken with jury head and Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee. ?I couldn?t believe that I shook his hands ... Overwhelming.?

While there, Roco watched 20 movies. ?We hopped from one cinema to another,? he recounted. ?I saw Russian, Italian, Korean, Chinese films.?

He saw Leto in ?Mr. Nobody? and, of course, the other Filipino entry in Venice, Brillante Mendoza?s ?Lola.?

?It was very good. We didn?t expect that it was the surprise entry. Later, we also asked Dante [Brillante?s nickname] for a snapshot.?

Roco felt elated over the Europeans? warm reception for Filipino films.

?There was a lot of buzz about Filipino films. In every festival, foreigners say that our films are much-anticipated,? he said.

The media?s enthusiasm remained undiminished even though the movie had technical problems during a press preview. ?Some walked out, but the others were really interested in the film.?

The most common question thrown by the foreign press floored him. ?They asked if I were a real gangster. They really thought I was part of a gang. So when they saw me there in a suit, they were shocked.?

His stay in Venice fast-tracked his growth as an artist in a lot of ways.

?I saw with my own eyes what a big deal it is... I?m really glad to be part of world cinema. It?s an awesome feeling ... to know that people from different countries have watched our film. It?s indescribable.?

Now, he said, ?I appreciate my craft more. It inspires me to work harder.?

On a personal note, he also became more aware of the film?s advocacy: human rights.

?It opened my eyes. This is my way of helping people, to show them what?s really happening in our country,? he noted.

Like the small film called ?Engkwentro,? he has gone a long way.
Stinky shirt
In Venice, he was in a suit and stayed in a convent. While shooting ?Engkwentro? in a fake slum in Sta. Ana, he wore a sweaty white T-shirt.

All throughout the three month-shoot, the shirt remained unwashed. ?It was stinky. It kinda helped me get into character.?

Roco was ?intensely? committed to the part.

He dyed his hair and later shaved his head in scenes that were eventually cut from the film.

He even auditioned for the part, along with other GMA 7 artists.

?I really fought for it and GMA Artist Center helped fix my schedule,? he said.

Now, he?s back to work on the Kapuso series ?Daisy Siete.?

He had just wrapped up two indie films by Joel Lamangan, ?Dukot? and ?Sagrada Familia,? and joined the cast of the Metro Manila Film Fest entry ?Shake, Rattle & Roll 11,? the ?Lamang Lupa? episode, with twin brother Dominic.

?Engkwentro? will be screened starting Oct. 21 in the Cinemanila fest at Market! Market! in Taguig for the benefit of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng victims.

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