August 31, 2014
http://www.mb.com.ph/hazel-orencio/
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL.
I think, by far, with the awards and the people we met, the friends we gained, the films we watched, the places we’ve been, overall, this is my most unforgettable festival experience. I think it’s also because we got to stay for the whole duration of the festival, which ran for more than a week, whereas in Cannes, I only got to stay for four days and only got to watch two films.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO ACTING?
I’ve been acting since I was a kid. In grade school, I regularly joined the oration contest. When I transferred to a new school in high school, I decided to momentarily forget about acting. But then in my senior year, we had to do a monologue in class. I had to do that or else I would fail. It had been my saving grace. In college, I took up Theater Arts at PUP. That’s when I felt I wanted to do this (theater and acting) forever. Then I went on to become a stage actress for Gantimpala Theater Foundation and Tanghalang Pilipino.
HOW DID YOU AND YOUR MOVIES MAKE IT TO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS?
Lav Diaz has a huge following abroad. They just know it when he has a new film or if he’s finishing a new one. They ask for a screener and then they invite him to their festivals. But it’s not always a guarantee that they invite him, contrary to what other filmmakers think. Lav experiences rejection as well, but it’s not his concern. His concern is always the work—how can he make it better.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR ITINERARY WHEN YOU GO TO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS. HOW DO YOU PREPARE?
Whenever we’re headed to a film festival, the first thing we do is to get the catalogue and program of the films we need to watch. We’re always on the lookout for new works as well as special screenings of restored films. In Locarno, we had a blast with the Titanus retrospective featuring old Italian films.
HER PERSONAL FILM FAVES
• Roman Diary by Michael Pilz
• Cavalero Dinheiro by Pedro Costa
• Like Father, Like Son by Kore-eda
• The Spirit of the Beehive and El Sur both by Victor Erice
• Le Havre by Aki Karusmaki
• The Day He Arrives by Hong Sang Soo
As the first Filipina to win the Locarno International Film Festival’s Boccalini D’Oro Best Actress Award this August, Hazel Orencio has brought unimaginable pride to the country. Lav Diaz’s obra maestra Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon also swept five awards, the most the country got from any film festival in the world.
SUITCASE ESSENTIALS
1. Catalogues - This is where you choose the films to watch.
2. Map - A catalogue usually comes with a festival map.
3. Camera - You never know who you’re going to bump into! In Locarno, we saw Agnes Varda, Mia Farrow, Alice Braga, and Rutger Hauer!
4. Canvas bag - Usually, festival accommodations give you only free breakfast provided by the hotel. So during breakfast, you can have fruits and yogurt with you and put them in the bag just in case you get hungry.
5. Scarf - I rarely leave the hotel without a scarf. You never know when it’s going to be cold whether inside or outside the movie house. The weather, especially in Cannes and in Locarno, can be so unpredictable. Sometimes it just drops and gets really, really cold. Or if it gets hot, you can just use it as a bandana.
TOP FOUR FILM FESTIVAL DESTINATIONS
1. Festival del Film Locarno
Even if we didn’t bring home an award (but thank God, we did!), this tops my list. I love their culture of viewing. People there watch serious cinema, not only the professionals but also the young ones. They take time off their work to watch. I also like how organized this festival is and the film selection as well.
2. International Film Festival Rotterdam
Again, what I love most here is the culture of viewing. People of all ages watch, no excuses and definitely not forced by their school curriculum. I also love the selection of films. On a side note, I love this festival because this is usually held in January when it’s winter in Rotterdam. Hello, snow!
3. Cannes Film Festival
Cannes is a lovely place! More than the red carpet glamor, you look forward to the film selections. Also, if you cannot get a seat, you can simply take a stroll on the beach or go to the flea market.
4. Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong is a lovely city with lovely food! You get to travel and have a great view of Hong Kong when going to and from different venues. I think that this is the best part of being in this festival.
CULTURE VULTURE
1. Locarno International Film Festival is one of the prestigious film festivals in the world held every August.
2. Rivellino Art Gallery, where the award was given to me, is where Leonardo da Vinci used to live.
3. Visconteo Castle is not a fully built castle. It’s a castle ruin but still lovely.
Around it is where they hold the tiangge part of the film festival. There are old, medieval castles all over Locarno—just pick one to fall in love with!
WHERE TO GO IN LOCARNO
1. Piazza Grande is the main attraction of Locarno Film Festival. It is three-storey-high and can hold up to 8,000 viewers every night during festivals. You haven’t been to Locarno if you haven’t watched a film at the Piazza Grande.
2. The pizza in Hotel Dell’Angelo is definitely the best and the cheapest in Locarno. People who troop there actually eat one whole pizza while we Filipinos can only eat two to three slices.
3. Lake Maggiore is the majestic lake in Locarno. It is absolutely serene, clean, and breathtaking. You can have a clear view of Italy from a distance as well.
4. Viso Di Dentro is quite far and unpopular among tourists, but it’s a haven for artists and nature lovers! And the best way to get there? A super picturesque cable car!
5. Rotonda del Festival has the best food! It’s the best tiangge during the festival.
No comments:
Post a Comment