Mana wins big at Madrid film fest

Filipino indie film “Mana” movie poster (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Filipino indie film “Mana,” directed by Gabby Fernandez, wins big at the Madrid International Film Festival (MIFF) as it has been awarded the Best Feature Film over 14 other entries from around the world.

In MIFF’s brochure, it notes that the festival screened films that were ‘neither too traditional nor too sophisticated, a selection that is the most international in the world, open to all film types and yet never forgetting our over-riding passion- that of the love of film, a selection that is attentive to the arrival of new generations and which combines all the necessary conditions for the films to be hosted and honored in the great tradition of film makers around the world.’

According to the Philippine Star’s review on Mana, the casting of actors were perfect for the story of the film. With Fides Cuyugan Asencio playing the ailing matriarch and Cherie Gil, Mark Gil, Epi Quizon, Tetchie Agbayani, Jaime Fabregas and Ricky Davao portraying siblings raising the matter of inheritance – the film has a ‘superb ensemble of actors who blended with the mysterious story of the film.’

Ture to that, Mana’s lead actress, Cherie Gil, also wins Best Actress in the MIFF.

“Cherie brings such a level of sophistication and subtlety to her character and to her preparation that is unmatched… She doesn’t ‘go for the result’ — no stereotypical, over-the-top acting. Even when she is required to portray such roles, she does it with certain truthfulness. She never delivers caricatures or cardboard characters,” Fernandez said.

Gil bested nominees Carlotta Elektra Bosch, Ira Dubey, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Mary Krohnert, Susie Porter, Lily Rabe and Rachelo Hurd-Wood.

Mana is produced by the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Fernandez is a professor in the said school.