GOVPH

20 September 2017, Ottawa – Ambassador Petronila Garcia welcomed colleagues from the ASEAN Committee in Ottawa (ACO) and the Filipino Community, as well as family and friends of the Embassy of the Philippine in Ottawa at the screening of Sonata by Directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes at the Ottawa Public Library on 19 September 2017.  The film screening is part of the first ASEAN Film Festival in Ottawa, organized by the ASEAN Committee in Ottawa (ACO), which opened on 12 September 2017.  

Prior to the film screening, the Philippine Embassy raffled off some souvenirs from the Philippines while the guests were enjoying light refreshments.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Garcia noted Filipino’s talent in film and television production.  The Ambassador mentioned some of the Filipino films that recently won international recognition such as The Woman Who Left by Director Lav Diaz, Die Beautiful by Jun Lana, Ma Orosa by Brillante Mendoza, and Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis also by Lav Diaz.

The feature film, Sonata, is about a former opera diva who lost her voice and subsequently her career.  Ms. Cherrie Gil, the lead cast in the film, won the Best Actress Award at the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards in April 2015 in Kuching, Malaysia.  The film won prizes from various award-giving bodies in the Philippines, including the Gawad Urian Awards, Golden Screen Awards, and Star Awards among others.

Seven other highly acclaimed films from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam are being featured in the ASEAN Film Festival in Ottawa on various dates from 12 to 26 September at the Ottawa Public Library in Metcalfe St. and in Mayfair Theater in Bank St.

The ASEAN Committee in Ottawa is composed of the Heads of Mission of the Embassies of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam in Ottawa.  END.