Filipino film ‘Lola’ at the Sydney Film Festival 2010

Western Union and Sinta are proud to share the news that Filipino film “Lola” by acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza has been selected from hundreds of entries to be in the running for the prestigious 2010 Sydney Film Festival Prize.

The award recognises cutting-edge filmmaking with the winner receiving a $60,000 cash prize – the largest cash award for film in Australia.

This is only the third year that the Sydney Film Festival (SFF) has sponsored such an award, placing Filipino film among the stars of the filmmaking industry. To put in context, this year’s SFF alone will feature 157 films from 47 countries, including entries from the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

LOLA UNLEASHED AT THE 2010 SYDNEY FILM FEST

Filipinos residing in Sydney are lending their full support to Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza as the award-winning director arrives in Sydney for the Australian premiere of ‘Lola’, one of 12 finalists for the coveted 2010 Sydney Film Festival Prize.

More than 120 Filipino-Australians and friends, including the press, community leaders and representatives of various community associations, are set to watch the film, according to Sinta, a group of Filipino volunteers who are helping the Sydney Film Festival organisers promote ‘Lola’ to the Filipino press and community.

“This has exceeded our expectations. We only had three weeks to inform the Filipino media and community associations about it so we thought if we can get the word out to at least 50 people then that would be a great outcome,” said Michelle Baltazar, communications and marketing director of Sinta.

“But here we are just a week before the premiere and more individuals and community associations are contacting us to find out how they can get tickets.”

Lola is a film that traces the stories of two grandmothers whose lives intersect because their respective grandsons are the victim and perpetrator of an act of violence.

Brillante Mendoza, who hails from Pampanga, said the film was inspired by two news items he read, which he then turned into a narrative for ‘Lola’ with the help of his writer.

Mendoza will be at the welcome reception, sponsored by Western Union, to be held at the Marble Bar, Hilton Hotel on June 6, from 6pm to 9pm.

“First of all, I’d like to thank the Philippine community for the welcome reception organised for me. I’m really looking forward to showing this film to them because we, as Filipinos, are very close to our families, especially with our grandmothers. I think they will relate to the story,” he said.

He added, “I’m really very happy and very glad that all over the world, Filipinos are becoming more aware and are participating in these film festivals.”

Lola is screening at the State Theatre, 49 Market Street (opposite Swissotel) on June 7 (6.30pm) and June 8 (10am).

The welcome reception is open to all Filipino press and invited community associations and friends to be held at the Marble Bar, Hilton (488 George Street) on June 6, from 6pm to 9pm.

Tickets can be purchased online for $15 on www.sinta.com.au or you can buy them direct through the Sydney Film Fest for $17 per ticket on www.sff.org.au.

Background notes for editors/journalists:

• More information can be found on www.sff.org.au under the Media and Awards section.

• Brillante Mendoza (born July 30, 1960) is a Filipino film director. He has directed nine films since 2005. He won the award for Best Director for his film Kinatay at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival while his latest film Lola won best film award at the 6th Dubai International Film Festival.

• The trailer of the film is on http://www.lolalefilm.over-blog.com/

• The Sydney Film Festival Prize, of which ‘Lola’ is a finalist, is awarded to recognise courageous, audacious and cutting-edge filmmaking. The award celebrates films that make the audience think and feel differently about cinema and the world.

The jury consists of five industry professionals, two Australian and three international, who determine the winning film. The Sydney Film Festival Prize is awarded on Closing Night.

The Official Competition is supported by Events NSW and the winner is awared a $60,000 cash prize.

• Sinta Group started its grassroots campaign to spread the news of a Filipino film on May 10. Over the course of the last few weeks, community associations such as the PCC-NSW, newly-formed APCO, Banag Banag and various community leaders have helped engage their members to support the film.

• Sinta Group is a collective of Filipino-Australians with the aim to increase national awareness of Filipino arts and culture in Australia (www.sinta.com.au).

Check out the Photos from the Launch party and RedCarpet Event.. Click Here