Filipino filmmaker Dwein Baltazar’s “Oda sa Wala” joins the diverse selection of outstanding films in competition at the 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), making it the only competing Filipino film in the prestigious film festival for 2019.

Established in 1946, the KVIFF is the largest film festival in the Czech Republic, the leading film event across Central and Eastern Europe, and one of the oldest film festivals in the world. The KVIFF shares the same category as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, San Sebastian, Moscow, Montreal, Shanghai, and Tokyo as one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the country’s film agency, champions diversity and gender inclusivity in the film industry. “Having ‘Oda sa Wala’ compete in one of the top-tier film festivals in the world is an important achievement in Philippine cinema. Aside from being the only competing Filipino film in Karlovy Vary this year, this also makes Dwein Baltazar the first Filipino female director who will be competing in an A-list film festival in Europe. As a Filipino and as a woman, her representation in the film industry is something we should celebrate,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

On a Facebook post, producer Bianca Balbuena shared the good news and reminisced about talking to KVIFF’s Festival Director Karel Och about “Oda sa Wala.” She said, “Karel messaged me, ‘We are intrigued by the film and can imagine it on the list of candidates for the Main Competition to be discussed in April. But it is simply too early for us to make the decision now.’ So I closed my eyes and jumped the cliff. I said no to the other fests and decided to wait. I knew the blame will be on me if KVIFF ends up not choosing it and we missed our big chances. But I took the risk because I know that Dwein gave her heart and soul to this film and it is quite special and she deserves nothing less.”

Dwein Baltazar makes a repeat appearance in the KVIFF this year. In 2012, her debut feature film “Mamay Umeng” made its run in various major international film festivals, including the KVIFF.

“Oda sa Wala” is set to have its North American premiere and will be competing under the Camera Lucida section of the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec happening from July 11 to August 1, 2019.

The 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival runs from June 28 to July 6, 2019 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

A scene from "Oda sa Wala