Naomi and Rafael receiving their award

Alumna film wins Berlinale award

A film which alumna Naomi Pacifique (English and Creative Writing, 2015) produced was recently awarded a Silver Bear at the Berlinale International Film Festival.

The film, Filipiñana, was written and directed by Rafael Manuel at the London Film School and Naomi (also at the London Film School) was producer and assistant director.

Naomi said: “Filipiñana is Rafael’s graduation film and explores how the self-contained cosmos of the golf course reflects societal structures in the Philippines. Although new 'tee girl' Isabel still has to learn the rules, she's already looking for loopholes to subvert the system. 

“We shot on two different golf courses, one in Hacienda Luisita in the countryside, and one in Manila itself. The film had its World Premiere in the main Shorts Competition of the 70th Berlinale Film Festival where it was awarded the Shorts Silver Bear Jury Prize.

“Myself, Rafael and Xenia, the cinematographer, have spent the last nine months also working on after a room together, which is my own graduation film for London Film School as writer-director.

“In after a room myself and Rafael play ourselves and the film sees us rediscover our bedroom and personal histories over the course of one night. We explore in part how the personal issues which we deem to have been handed down to us by our parents are repeating themselves between us. We filmed in Amsterdam and are now going into post-production.”

Berlinale Shorts celebrate the artistic freedom and variety of the short form film. A three-member international jury determines the recipients of three prizes presented during the official Awards Ceremony: the Golden Bear, the Silver Bear and the Audi Short Film Award. In addition the jury nominates the Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards.

Date: 8 June 2020