‘Blue Room’ is first Pinoy feature film winner at La Femme film fest

ANOTHER Filipino film made a historic mark in an international film festival.

Filmmaker Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan’s directorial debut film  “Blue Room” made history as the first Filipino feature film to win at the LA Femme International Film Festival (LAFIFF) on October 22 in Los Angeles.

“Blue Room” took home the Best Foreign Film award at the 19th edition of the annual film festival.

Established in 2005, the LAFIFF aims to highlight the films that are directed, produced, and written by women.

On a Facebook post, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) congratulated the Pampanga-born director and the people behind “Blue Room” for its “historic achievement.”

“Blue Room,” which was a recipient of CreatePHFilms’ Small Budget Production Fund in 2021, also announced its win in its Facebook page.

“Congratulations, director Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan, cast, and crew!!!” it said.

“Blue Room” was among the full-length films that competed in the 18th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

The 2022 film tells the story of an indie rock band called Rebel Rebel who got arrested for drug possession. The band members, composed of privileged teenagers, were brought to a “Blue Room” or a VIP detention area as they dealt with their case.

“Blue Room” features Elijah Canlas, Juan Karlos Labajo, Harvey Bautista, Nourijune, and Keoni Jin. They were joined by Soliman Cruz, Bombi Plata, Jericho Arceo, Bon Lentejas, and Richard Cepeda in the movie.

Labajo and Canlas are starring in the ongoing teen drama series “Senior High.”

Recognitions

“Blue Room” won big at last year’s Cinemalaya, taking home the Special Jury Prize, Best Direction (for Dagñalan), Best Cinematography (for Neil Daza), Best Supporting Actor (for Cruz), and Best Production Design (for Marxie Maolen Fadul) awards.

It recently got nominations at the sixth edition of The EDDYS for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Musical Score, Best Supporting Actor, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Theme Song, and Best Editing awards.

This year’s film event was initially slated in October but was postponed to November due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

“Blue Room” had its first theatrical run in June when it was screened at the Cinema ’76 Film Society in Quezon City.

The film can now be streamed on Netflix.