19-year-old Elijah Canlas bagged the Best Actor award in the 2020 Asian Film Festival for his titular role “Kalel, 15.”
The IdeaFirst Company took to social media to congratulate the young actor.
Canlas, through his Instagram story, also said that he is “forever grateful” to the company, as well as other figures “for believing in me!”
“Kalel, 15” is a 2019 film directed by Jun Robles Lana and produced by Cignal Entertainment and The IdeaFirst Company. The film is about 15-year-old Kalel, a Catholic boy, son of a priest, who tested positive for HIV.
Jaclyn Jose and late veteran Eddie Garcia starred with Canlas.
It is one of the Philippines’ eight films screened in Rome, Italy, under the First Live Festival.
The Asian Film Festival was launched in 2003, showcasing some of the best films from 13 countries that include the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The other seven films were “Edward” by Thop Nazareno, “Jesusa” by Ronaldo Carballo, “Kaputol” by Mac Alejandre, “Latay (Battered Husband)” by Ralston Jover, “The Halt” by Lav Diaz, “Watch Me Kill” by Thyrone Acierto, and “Lola Igna” by Eduardo Roy, Jr.
Currently, Canlas is starring as Cairo Lazaro, the main character of the boys love (BL) Youtube series “GameBoys” which is under The IdeaFirst Company as well.