MANILA, PHILIPPINES, OCTOBER 24, 2020 — Philippine Cinema is sure to be represented at this year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). With the festival’s 25th edition having kicked off this week, movie buffs from Korea now have the chance to watch several new films across different categories and genres including BIFF’s “A Window on Asian Cinema” and “Wide Angle” sections, both of which will be screening a select number of Filipino films. 

BIFF’s “A Window on Asian Cinema” is the festival’s program section highlighting the best of contemporary Asian cinema. The section provides a glimpse into the “various styles and visions within Asian cinema” by covering the best Asian films that made their premiere over the past year as well as screening films from established Asian filmmakers. 

Under this section, Karl Glenn Barit’s “Cleaners” made its international premiere on October 21 and Raya Martin’s “Death of Nintendo” will screen to BIFF’s audiences on October 27. Both are sure to entertain. “Death of Nintendo” director Martin was named “one of the 50 most important filmmakers under 50” by Cinema Scope with past films having screened at major film festivals around the world. His latest film tells the story of Paolo, a 13-year-old boy during the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. Nationwide blackouts follow the historic eruption and prevent Paolo from playing his Nintendo, thus kicking off the film’s narrative.

Martin’s 12th film, “Death of Nintendo” made its world premiere at the 70th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (widely known as Berlinale) held this year from February 20 to March 1. The film has since screened at other film festivals internationally including the 21st Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) and the 43rd Asian American International Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Barit’s full-length feature film debut “Cleaners” has been touted by CNN Philippines as “one of the best Filipino films of 2019.” Barit’s debut made its premiere at the 2019 QCinema International Film Festival upon which it won the festival’s Best Picture (Asian Next Wave Competition), Best Screenplay, and Audience Choice awards. It also received nominations at other festivals and award shows including the Gawad Urian Awards and Young Critics Circle Awards where Barit won the Best First Feature award.

“Cleaners” tells the stories of Catholic High School students facing the various conflicts and contradictions between their conservative education and their lived experiences. It zones in on a group of classmates assigned to be classroom cleaners and was shot at a school in Tuguegarao. Barit’s film has been recognized for its creative visual palette, having been described in a CNN article as a film “so deeply enriched by these visual textures” and the colors as “an exciting layer of the storytelling.” Barit’s film will also be screening at this year’s edition of FDCP’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino under the festival’s Premium Selection section. 

The 25th BIFF’s “Wide Angle” program, meanwhile, is dedicated to screening outstanding short and documentary films. Under this section, two short films from the Philippines will be screening: “How to Die Young in Manila” by Petersen Vargas and “Kids on Fire” by Kyle Nieva. Both films will compete in the program’s Asian Short Film Competition.

Vargas, who previously directed the 2016 film “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten,” will be premiering his “How to Die Young in Manila” at this year’s BIFF. The film tells the story of an introverted teenage boy who decides to meet a random guy he finds through a dating app. Meanwhile, Kyle Nieva, the producer of “Filipiñana” that won the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 2020 Berlinale, will be screening “Kids on Fire.” The short film tells the story of J.C., an adolescent boy who attends a religious camp and encounters contradictions between his emerging sexuality and his socially assigned roles.

This year’s BIFF kicked off on October 21 and will run for 10 days concluding on October 30. Due to the ongoing pandemic, BIFF will be holding limited on-site film screenings at the Busan Cinema Center with several BIFF programs, including the festival’s Asian Project Market, scheduled to take place online. 

To see the official schedule and learn more about BIFF, visit www.biff.kr/eng/

To watch “Cleaners” at PPP4: Sama All and for more PPP4 information, visit FDCPchannel.ph and facebook.com/FDCPPPP.