At the recent presentation of the seven official finalists of Tofarm FilmFest 2018 (Year 3), it was apparent to all that the ‘lucky seven’ were an unusual crop of filmmakers. They have diverse interests and styles, most of them award winners and some of them first-time directors.

Dubbed as the country’s “only advocacy-driven film festival, ToFarm is the brainchild of socio-entrepreneur Dr. Milagros How and the late filmmaker Maryo J. delos Reyes, who was its former festival director. For this third outing, director Bibeth Orteza takes on the reins with Joey Romero as managing director.

Dr. How, founder and lead advocator of ToFarm Film Festival 2018 (Year 3), believes that stories about farming, environment and agriculture in the Philippines should be given the spotlight, too. She is the president and CEO of Universal Harvester, Inc. and the executive producer of the festival.

“We had 119 submission all in all. We were really overwhelmed. We did not expect so many to submit. I would like to thank the selection committee for spending hours and hours sifting through the entries,” Dr. How said.

The selection committee included Raquel Villavicencio as chair, Krip Yuson and directors Mario Cornejo and Antoinette Jadaone.

“We were looking for mainly the story, of course, but I think we were also looking for the passion of the filmmaker or each proponent of the story. They pitched their stories to us, and we listened to what they had to say,” said Yuson.

Jadaone added that they were happy with the variety of the films they shortlisted.

The other members remarked on the freshness of the stories, the structure of the scripts and having a balance among the seven films that made it to the finals.

The theme this year is “A Tribute to Life: Parating Na,” highlighting the aspirations of the Filipino farmers and their journey to success.

“I think the bigger challenge now here is that there is a ToFarm festyival 4! And that can only happen if ToFarm 3 is successful,” said Orteza. “So, we are studying ways of marketing the films outside of just the theatrical. We are grateful that there is a festival that advocates the lives of the ordinary farmer, the ordinary planter. But we also want the movies to also make money to be able to get to the next year.”

Past ToFarm films and filmmakers have won in film festivals here and abroad. Orteza would, thus, like to maintain a consistency that would keep the ToFarm style or “tatak,” she said.

Slated for release on September 12 to 19 in select cinemas, the ToFarm Film Fest will feature the following [information below provided by ToFarm organizers]:

HUBERT TIBI, writer and director of 1957 (historical drama)

Film buffs will recognize his name as a regular short film winner in short film competitions either as director or director of photography.

Hubert Tibi is a producer, editor, cinematographer and director. A Fine Arts Advertising Major from the San Carlos University in Cebu and the Philippine Women’s University Manila, he founded the PWU Independent Film Group in October 2004, and organized an ongoing annual short film festival for student filmmakers. He teaches Video Production at the Asia Pacific College, in Makati.

KEITH SICAT, writer and director of Alimuom (science fiction)

Keith Sicat is an award-winning independent filmmaker in the Philippines and abroad. He began his professional career in New York City editing various documentaries before diving into narrative fiction.

He has a total of 12 feature films as director, writer or producer, including his award-winners Rigodon, Ka Oryang, The Guerrilla Is A Poet and Woman Of The Ruins, with subjects ranging from social realist documentaries to gothic science fiction.

Some of his works have screened in museums such as the Ayala Museum, Lopez Museum, Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, and the Museam of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City.

CHARLSON ONG, writer of Fasang (period romance), director to be confirmed

The screenplay writer of Chito Roño’s The Ghost Bride in 2017, Charlson Ong is an award-winning writer of such works as the An Embarrassment of Riches (PH Centennial Award, Novel), Woman Of Am-Kaw And Other Stories, Banyaga: A Song Of War and the biographies of Roberto Coyiuto, and coffee table books.

He was a Carlos Palanca Memorial Award winner for Literature and Short Fiction in 1985, ’87, ’90 and ’92; the Philippine Free Press Magazine Award for Fiction 1992, ’93 and ’94; the Philippine Graphic Magazine Award for Fiction 1990, ’91); Asiaweek Magazine Short Story Award, 1998; National Book Award for Short Fiction, 1990; Men of the East, Philippine Centennial Celebration Literary Award for the Novel in English (2nd) 1998; and the NVM Gonzalez Award for Short Fiction, 2000.

He is a senior lecturer at the Department of English and Comparative Literature, University of the Philippines. He is also acting chair of Pen International, Philippines.

ROSALIE MATILAC, writer of Isang Kuwento ng Gubat (The Leonard Co Story), directed by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil, Rosalie Matilac and Milo Paz (biopic)

Rosalie “Nanette” Matilac has over 20 years of experience as writer/ director and producer for print, broadcast television and documentary videos, recipient of awards and citations for creative writing, documentary features and broadcast media.

Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil is an award-winning director known for her Boses (2008), Mga Pusang Gala (2005), and Lakbay To Love (2016). She was Best First Feature Winner for Mga Pusang Gala in the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

EDUARDO ROY, JR., writer and director of Lola Igna (cultural drama)

Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Pamilya Ordinaryo won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Editing in Cinemalaya 2016. His international awards for Pamilya Ordinaryo, Quick Change (2013) and Bahay Bata (2011) include Special Mention, Vancouver International Film Festival in Canada; Grand Jury Award, Deauville Asian Film Festival 2012 in France; Blue Chameleon Award; Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival 2012 in Korea, and the Jose Rivera Award for Best Director at the 2012 Las Palmas Film Festival in Spain. His Quick Change had an international premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, won Best Film in Denmark and the NETPAC award in Taiwan.

JOHN CARLO PACALA, writer of Mga Anak Ng Kamote (futuristic drama), directed by Carlo Catu

John Carlo Pacala is also the writer of Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon, official entry of Cinemalaya 2018; the 1st Prize-winner, Maikling Kuwento in Filipino category of the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (2015), and various other writing contests.

Carlo Enciso Catu is a young film director first introduced to the world by the indie Kapampangan film Ari, My Life With a King, where he aimed to preserve the art of Capampangan poetry. He was chosen as Best New Talented Director at the London International Filmmakers Festival 2016 in France; All Lights India International Film Festival 2015, Best Debut Feature Film Director and Best Film winner at the Harlem International Film Festival 2015 in New York, USA.

He is also Ani ng Dangal Film and Director category recipient, Metro-Manila Film Festival New Wave Film winner in 2015, and a Manila Bulletin Best Feature Film winner.

ROMAN PEREZ, JR., writer and director of Sol Searching (dark comedy)

Roman Perez Jr. is a long-time Assistant Director who has worked under the tutelage of the best and the brightest, directors like Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes, Brillante Mendoza, Joel Lamangan, Michael Tuviera, Eric Quizon and Gina Alajar.

He has a Masters’ Degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, in Araling Pilipino, has directed and won awards for his music videos and short films. He has also directed plays.

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