HEADLINES
Lone Phl, SE Asian entry vies for Venice short film honors
‘Cross My Heart and Hope to Die’ chronicles the story of a woman named Mila who remains unpaid at work. She finds comfort in her love interest’s constant phone calls. But that promise of hope may lead to tragedy and sad love songs
Sam Manacsa's sophomore film Cross My Heart and Hope to Die, the only entry from the Philippines and Southeast Asia, vies to win the Orizzonti Short Film Competition at this year's Venice Film Festival.
Produced by Chad Angelic Cabigon and Carlo Francisco Manatad, Cross My Heart and Hope to Die tells the story of a girl named Mila who remains unpaid at work. She finds comfort in her love interest's constant phone calls. But that promise of hope may lead to tragedy and sad love songs.
"There are dire consequences in a culture devoid of empathy and morality. But who will be there to witness it and suffer? This chronicles a woman in her struggles, of oppression that stems from a semblance of entitlement and the depths of desperation where it leads to, grasping onto anything that may provide solace," Manacsa said in a statement.
On 30 August, the Consulate General of the Philippines in Milan and some members of the Filipino community attended the film's world premiere at the prestigious film festival held at Lido de Venezia.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Die will go against Marina Alberti's Aitana, Leila Basma's Sea Salt, Erenik Beqiri's A Short Trip, Wissam Charaf's Et Si Soleil Plongeait Dans L'Ocean De Nues, Nina Gantz's Wander to Wonder, Margherita Giusti's The Meatseller, Aldo Luliano's Dive, Iggy London's Area Boy, Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani's Dar Saaye Sarv (In The Shadow of the Cypress), Esteban Pedraza's Bogota Story, Xandra Popsecu's Sentimental Stories and Wu Lang's Duan Pian Gushi (Short Story).
Manacsa helmed Kung Wala Nang Tulad Natin in 2016. She also served as art director for Whether the Weather is Fine (2021), Sila-Sila (2019) and Never Tear Us Apart (2018).
Winners of different categories in the film festival will be announced on 9 September.