Cover image via Seymour Barros Sanchez
The short film "Caretaker" recently won second place in the Short Fiction category of the 6th [CAM International Festival] (https://www.facebook.com/camfestival.net/) for short films in Cairo, Egypt
Image via Seymour Barros Sanchez
The film tells the story of a newly hired custodian of a vacation house who finds the gruesome conclusion of a fraternity's initiation rites too much to handle.
Directed by advocacy filmmaker Seymour Barros Sanchez and produced by [Red Room Media Productions] (https://www.facebook.com/RedRoomMediaProd/), the film was co-written by Kristine Camille Sulit and Sanchez
Rolando Inocencio (*Thy Womb*, *Thelma*) plays the title role with John Paul Duray, Raymond Rinoza, Jomari Angeles, Luis Ruiz, Ryan Sy, Vince Rillon and Ron Nacianceno providing support.
Jahzeel Abihail Cruz with the award for 'Caretaker' flanked by Alaa Nasr and presentor.
Image via Seymour Barros Sanchez
The film festival, organized annually by the [Egyptian Arab Society for Culture, Media and Arts] (http://www.arabmediasociety.com), aims to promote cinema as a means of combating ignorance, terrorism and poverty
"Plankton" by Russian filmmaker Giovana Olmos edged "Caretaker" for the top prize in the short fiction category while "Jasmenco" by Syrian director Wathec Salman placed third.
"The Daughters of Mother India" by Indian filmmaker Vibha Bakshi topped the documentary category while "Sintel" by American animator Colin Levy, "Bear Story" by Gabriel Osorio Vargas of Chile and "Empsillnes" by Jakub Grygier of Poland led the entries in the animation category.
The comedic film "Ave Maria" by British-Palestinian director Basil Khalil bagged the Jury Prize. Meanwhile, Morocco's entry "Houkak" directed by Younes Yousfi was hailed Best Arabic Film.
Image via Seymour Barros Sanchez
Image via Seymour Barros Sanchez
Arab Film TV School director and cinematographer Dr. Mona El Sabban headed the CAM film festival jury comprised of members Dr. Nagwa Mahrous and actress Nada Bassiouny from Egypt, film critic Yusuf Shayeb from Palestine and Dr. Bou Shoaib El Masoudi from Morocco.
Jahzeel Abihail Cruz, Third Secretary and Vice Consul of the Embassy of the Philippines in Cairo, received the second prize trophy and certificate from CAM film festival director and chairman Alaa Nasr on behalf of the "Caretaker" team during the awarding ceremonies last 13 October.
"Caretaker" has also been selected as one of the ten finalists in the [Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival] (https://www.facebook.com/ActiveVista/) short film competition currently being organized by the DAKILA artist collective
The film previously won the Golden Philippine Eagle award and Best Actor trophy for Inocencio at the 3rd [Singkuwento International Film Festival] (https://www.facebook.com/5kuwento/) co-organized by the [National Commission for Culture and the Arts] (http://ncca.gov.ph) last February.
It was also shown at the 22nd annual Filipino International Cine Festival ([FACINE] (http://www.facine.org)) at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, California and the [International Film Festival Manhattan] (http://www.iffmnyc.com) at the Producers Club in New York City.
Image via Seymour Barros Sanchez
