Pinoy film wins in Germany fest

One more Filipino film has won honors abroad. Here’s a report from Funfare contributor Meyor Sanchez:

Khavn´s latest work, Rugby Boyz, has just won in the 52nd Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, one of the oldest and most renowned film festivals in the world. It received the Special Mention Prize from the Jury of the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia last May 9.

The members of the jury were Theda Kluth from Düsseldorf, Agnes Meyer-Brandes from Köln, Michael Girke from Herford, Claudia Siefen from Köln, and Rainer Komers from Mülheim/Ruhr. The Jury gave this statement: "Rugby Boyz is a documentary about boys living in Philippine slums. With a unique colour and lighting design and a poetic narrative approach, the filmmaker manages to show the boys’ indomitable will to live and the fragility of their situation in life."

Aside from the International Competition section of Oberhausen, Rugby Boyz was also shown in the Kids And Youth programme, the only international Children’s and Youth Films Competition in Germany.

Rugby Boyz had its world premiere in Rotterdam International Film Festival early this year. Gertjan Zuilhof writes in the catalogue: "Slim and cheerful boys. They seem to be playing rugby without a care. Maybe because they don’t have anything to worry about. Just one of the slums in the Philippines. A documentary doesn’t need to be long. This one already says more than enough."

Rugby Boyz will also compete in the Busan Asian Short Film Festival (Korea), Hamburg International Short Film Festival (Germany), and Vila Do Conde International Short Film Festival (Portugal). It was also shown locally last March in the Ateneo Video Open and at the Kampo Sining Pambata, a summer camp for children from urban poor communities, held last May in Antipolo.

Rugby Boyz is about boys who know the dual essence of rugby: playing football and sniffing solvent. They tell vampire jokes, rap about river deaths, and dive like jack-knives into the murky water. The cruel irony of the hope these children bring.

Khavn is currently finishing a children’s full-length movie, Larombata, the first digital animation feature in the Philippines. Supported by Cinemalaya, Larombata is a musical fantasy about Philippine games and toys, featuring Niño Muhlach´s voice and footages from his early films.

Rugby Boyz is written and directed by Khavn. Cinematography by Albert Banzon. Assistant direction by Rayg Generoso. Editing by Caloy Carlos. English translation by Merv Espina. Produced by Filmless Films. Running time: eight minutes.

Rugby Boyz is included in the first volume DVD of Khavn’s short-film collection which is exclusively sold in Datelines Bookstore (Cubao Shoe Expo) and Mag:net (Katipunan, ABS-CBN, & Paseo).

nice! i wonder if u can order the dvd online?

Troll

Wow! I'm here in Germany and I didn't know that, pathetic me

Congrats to the crew who did it!

Congratulations!

Nice! I am glad the Philippines made it on top!

rugby boyz?
maybe cappelan is
in that movie....