Philippine cinema has made it internationally again. Jun Lana, director of Anino sa Likod ng Buwan (Shadow of the Moon) wins another international award, this time for Best Director at the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala in South India.
Just four months before, the film won four awards at the 13th Pacific Meridian Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries in Vladivostok, Russia, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Actress for LJ Reyes, and the NETPAC Award.
According to Lana on Facebook:
Overwhelmed and thankful for this early Christmas gift! It means so much to win Best Director in places like India and Russia for a film that is very Filipino. The response from the international audience has been very inspiring. I look forward to the opportunity to screen ‘Anino Sa Likod ng Buwan’ back home this January.
Anino sa Likod ng Buwan is a one-shot, two-hour political drama based on Lana’s experiences in Marag Valley. In the ’90s, the area was declared No Man’s Land during the peak of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign. Marag Valley was heavily bombed in an attempt to stop rebel forces, killing or wounding hundreds of residents.
The film stars Reyes and Luis Alandy.
The film premiered at the QCinema International Film Festival last October. It might be screened in mainstream cinemas in the Philippines in January.
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