Richard Soriano Legaspi elevates Filipino storytelling

Filipino filmmaker Richard Soriano Legaspi is once again capturing international attention with his compelling storytelling. His short film Bakit Ako Sinusundan ng Buwan? (Moon Under My Feet) has been officially selected to compete at the CAM International Festival for Documentary and Short Films in Egypt this December.

The film tells the story of a man (Jemuel Satumba) returning to his hometown after years of working abroad. As he attempts to reclaim lost dreams and recover what life has taken from him, he is confronted by the passage of time and the realization that life moved on in his absence.

Legaspi’s short documentary Maliliit na Hakbang (Small Steps) will also compete at the festival. The documentary follows the You-Kalele Kids of San Felipe, Zambales, a group of aspiring young musicians striving to pursue their dreams despite various personal challenges.

Bakit Ako Sinusundan ng Buwan? has already earned international recognition, winning Best Quest Film at Canada’s Family Film Festival last year. It also received nominations for Best Short Movie and Best Short Movie Director at the 38th Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Movies.

The film has screened at numerous festivals worldwide, including the Lumina Film Festival in Thailand, Ahmedabad International Film Festival in India, Jaffna International Cinema Festival in Sri Lanka, FerFILM International Film Festival in Kosovo, and the Filipino Independent Film Festival in the Netherlands, among others.

Produced by Red Room Media Productions under the Sine Halaga Film Festival and Educational Resources project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, in partnership with the Negros Cultural Foundation, the film features Riya Miranda, Ahlex Leyva, Jovi Dayrit, Jayden Zachary Sanchez, and the late Bobby Tamayo. Legaspi collaborated with a talented production team, including cinematographer Albert Banzon, editor John Lanbert Rafols, and musical scorer Jay-R Tabar.

Meanwhile, Maliliit na Hakbang has earned accolades of its own, including a Special Mention at the Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival in Malaysia, the Three Acts of Goodness award in Taiwan, and a Special Citation for Children at the 33rd Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video.

The CAM International Festival, organized by the Egyptian Arab Society for Culture, Media, and Arts, highlights the power of cinema to combat ignorance, violence, and poverty. Red Room Media has previously found success at this festival with Sanchez’s “Caretaker,” which placed second in the Short Fiction category in 2016.

Legaspi’s continued presence in international festivals underscores the global resonance of Filipino stories, proving that authentic narratives rooted in local experiences can shine brightly on the world stage.