Film producer Ferdinand Lapuz, winner of several Best Picture awards from local and international award-giving bodies, will hold a festival of his films to benefit poor students in his alma mater, Holy Angel University in Angeles City.
Four of Lapuz most recent films will be shown at the HAU Theatre on March 11-13, namely, Dementia, Ekstra, Barber's Tale and Bwakaw, whose directors and co-producers have all agreed to lend their films for Lapuz scholarship project.
Lapuz is the second high-profile alumnus who has responded to the University's invitation to donate to the scholarship fund by showcasing their works. The first was photographer Yen Baet, winner of several National Geographic awards, whose photo exhibit raised P225,000.00 which she donated to the HAU scholarship program.
"Holy Angel has done so much for me, and it is now my turn to do something for Holy Angel", Lapuz said.
Lapuz, who graduated BS in Business Management cum laude in 1987, won as best director in the University's first inter-college drama festival. Migrating to Canada in 1990, he volunteered as host and tour guide to Filipino filmmakers participating in the annual Toronto International Film Festival. Eventually he learned to market their films in other international film festivals, including Venice, Berlin, Locarno and Cannes.
"Lapuz deserves recognition for almost single-handedly marketing Filipino films during that long dry spell before the advent of indie films", said Robby Tantingco, the University's Vice President for External Affairs. "Through his efforts, our movies reached practically all the film festivals in the world, beyond Cannes and Berlin, which inspired local filmmakers and producers to make more world-class films."
When Magnifico, the film he took to Berlin in 2003, won best film in the children's films category, Lapuz decided to dedicate his life not just to promoting Filipino films but to actually producing them.
He co-produced and marketed the early films of his fellow Kapampangan Brillante Mendoza, including Masahista, Tirador, Siquijor, Serbis, Lola and Manoro, which HAU also co-produced. All their films won awards in film festivals abroad, but their crowning glory was Kinatay, which won for Mendoza the Best Director award in the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
Lapuz chose his four latest films to show to HAU and Kapampangan audiences for their cinematic quality and educational value. "Hopefully they're only the initial batch and I will make it an annual festival so I can continue helping HAU scholars", Lapuz said.
Dementia, directed by Perci Intalan and co-produced by Octobertrain Films, stars Nora Aunor, who recently won the Gawad Tanglaw for best actress. The film is the country's official entry to the Fantasporo International Film Festival in Portugal.
Ekstra, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and co-produced by Joji Alonso, stars Vilma Santos, who won best actress in the Dhaka International Film Festival, Gawad Tanglaw and Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The film also won the Cinemalaya special jury prize.
Bwakaw, directed by Jun Lana and co-produced by Antonio Acejo, stars Eddie Garcia, who won best actor in the Asian Film Awards, the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. Lana won best director in the Tokyo International Film Festival as well as Cinemalaya.
Barber's Tales, also directed by Jun Lana and co-produced by APT Entertainment, stars Eugene Domingo, who won best actress in the Tokyo International Film Festival.
For inquiries, contact Myra Lopez at tel. no. (045) 888-8691 local 1312 or mobile phone 0999 959 0601 or email kapampangancenter@gmail.com.
Source: http://www.hau.edu.ph/hau_alumnus_to_donate_film_proceeds_to_scholarship.php
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