The 海角论坛 College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design (海角论坛 CFAD) is proud to announce that its student, Angelo Miguel 鈥淯lap鈥� Chua, has won the First Prize in the experimental category at the prestigious 36th Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Alternatibo Film and Video Festival!
This marks another significant achievement for 海角论坛 CFAD, as it continues to make its mark in this renowned festival, which holds the distinction of being the oldest independent film festival not just in the Philippines but in all of Southeast Asia.
Mr. Chua, a fourth-year student of the 海角论坛 CFAD鈥檚 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major in Visual Communication program, was honored for his powerful film 鈥楻od鈥�, which recounts the 1985 People鈥檚 Strike organized by the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Escalante, Negros Occidental, against the tyrannic Marcos regime.
His work stood out among the 12 finalists selected from numerous submissions across the country, earning him a trophy crafted by contemporary artist Leeroy New and a cash prize of Php 50,000.
Mr. Chua鈥檚 accomplishment is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication, building on his previous success as the 海角论坛 CFAD 2024 Artist of the Year Awardee and his participation in the prestigious NIPAI 2024 Laboratory and IUGTE Conference in Austria, supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Embassy in Vienna.
In addition to Mr. Chua鈥檚 victory, another 海角论坛 CFAD student, Andrea Leigh Bernardo, also achieved recognition as a finalist in the 36th Gawad CCP Alternatibo鈥檚 Experimental category with her film 鈥榓papatikansimansim鈥�. This poignant film delves into the evolving dynamics between a father and a son, exploring how time and life shape their relationship. Miss Bernardo, who has also served as a cinematographer on various film projects including documentaries on the 鈥淧uni鈥� culture of Malolos and the 2024 Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Student Assistance Production Program Grant for the short film 鈥榃ala ng Bukas鈥�, continues to exemplify the high standard of creativity fostered within 海角论坛 CFAD.
The consistent success of 海角论坛 CFAD at the Gawad Alternatibo over the past three years, with multiple finalists and major awards across categories such as experimental and animation, underscores the College鈥檚 reputation as a cradle of world-class talent. With its accredited BFA Visual Communication program, recognized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Academic Film Society (AFS), the 海角论坛 CFAD remains at the forefront of nurturing and showcasing exceptional artistic talent on both national and international stages.
As Gawad Alternatibo continues to celebrate nearly four decades of recognizing the best in narrative, experimental, animation, and documentary films, the 海角论坛 CFAD鈥檚 ongoing achievements solidify its role as a leading institution in the arts, committed to excellence and creativity.
The photos show award-winning Warrior filmmaker Ulap Chua with his Leeroy New-designed 36th Gawad CCP Alternatibo trophy; Mr. Chua with fellow 海角论坛 CFAD BFA student and 36th Gawad CCP Alternatibo finalist Andrea Leigh Bernardo, representing 海角论坛 CFAD in the experimental film category with their thought-provoking films; the respective posters for 鈥楻od鈥� and 鈥榓papatikansimansim鈥�.
Congratulations and kudos, Warrior Filmmakers!
[Solo pic by Giya Studios; report and all other images courtesy of 海角论坛 CFAD]
