.MOV, UP CINEASTES' HOLD FIRST INDEO AWARDS

"Egg," an animation about the story of a chicken egg misplaced in a "balut" factory and ostracized for its unusual appearance, won Best Film at the Independent Short Film and Video Competition held at the UP Film Institute (formerly UP Film Center) last October 2. The UP Cineastes' Studio organized the INDEO Awards in cooperation with Filmless Films.

Ramon del Prado, a Communication Arts graduate from the De La Salle University - Taft, came just in time to receive the award. His undergraduate thesis was considered the first-ever attempt of a DLSU student at creating a two-dimensional computer-generated animated film.

Del Prado said that his entry was conceived out of his desire to come up with a film that will tackle the common problem of discrimination and at the same time interest children.

KC Ramirez brought home the Best Director award for "Mag-isa" while Ann Monzon's "Kuwatro Manos" received the Kodak Best Short Film prize. On the other hand, Sam Barbasa took the Best Screenplay honors for "Super Tonyo," another animated entry about a gay superhero, while May Victoria Solis captured the INDEO Audience Award for "Sulyap." All four entries came from the UP College of Mass Communication.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Quizon bagged the INDEO Acting Award for playing the role of a man struggling to keep his life in organized crime hidden from his unsuspecting wife (Julia Clarete) in "Quezon City," Marie Jamora's thesis at Columbia University.

Titam Rebueno and Nilo Alcala won Best in Visual Design and Best Sound Design, respectively, for "Flower Trail," the former's thesis at the UP College of Fine Arts.

Completing the 10 finalists are Rianne Hill Soriano's "Karsel," also from UP CMC, "203" from DLSU-Dasmariñas, and "Pressure Cooker" from San Sebastian College.

Internationally-acclaimed filmmaker and Makati Cinemanila International Film Festival director Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI chaired the board of jurors with .MOV Independent Digital Film Festival director and award-winning independent filmmaker Khavn De La Cruz and .MOV festival programmer and Indiefilipino.com <http://Indiefilipino.com>'s resident film critic Alexis Tioseco as members.

"Egg," "Quezon City," and "Flower Trail" were previously screened last July at Greenbelt Art Film as part of the Young Cinema Night program of the 6th Makati Cinemanila Int'l Filmfest.

Cineastes' initiated the competition in line with its aim to elevate the knowledge and craftsmanship in film and promote fellowship among film students in order to contribute to the development of mass media and Film and Audio Visual Communication in particular.

.MOV will screen the INDEO winners as part of the festival to be held at SM Cinemas in Cebu City from March 2 to 8.