Filipina Filmwriter Won the Highest Award at a Women’s Film Festival in Japan
A Filipina film writer who overcame the odds and reinvented herself as an adventurer, has now set her sights on a bigger challenge, after winning the highest award at a women’s film festival in Nagoya, Japan!
Being born to a poor family also meant limiting of choices and dreams. Ms. Cariaga never thought that she would be pursuing a career in writing,it was a dream beyond reach. But for her, dreams do really come true if you work hard for it.
IMAGE Maricel Cariaga
Pitong Kabang Palay’s very own director, Ms. Maricel Cariaga started writing when she was in high school. Back then, she wrote short stories, poems, and even composed songs, and continued writing poems in college.
Five years after her college graduation, she started writing scripts for short films and directed them as well, even with her limited knowledge about filmmaking back then. It was in the year 2014 when she decided to resign from teaching to pursue a course in Motion Picture Production at Asia Pacific Film Institute.
When asked what has been her motivation in film writing, she states that she is an emotional person but don’t easily confide to people. Most of the time, she keeps them to herself and write about how she feels but when she started to have a family of her own, she thought that her earnings as a teacher will not suffice their needs.
“My earnings were limited as well as my husband. I was thinking then that if I became a writer or a filmmaker, I can earn more for my family. The fact that I love to write and create films, justified my decision to pursue another career. My family was my motivation and thank God he guided me into this direction,” she adds.
IMAGE Maricel Cariaga
Ms. Cariaga is indeed happy to have represented our country in the recently concluded Aichi International Women’s Film Festival. “To be awarded the grand prize, which is the Golden Owl Award, I think is the first for the Philippines, and I am so honored to be that person and that film. Giving importance and venue for women directors is truly a job well done by the AIWFF,” says Maricel.
“Here, they not only empower women but also give them a fair share of the limelight. Women festivals are a good avenue to discuss certain causes and subject matters relating to women, not only in film but in general. I am so proud to have been part of this festival,” she added.
IMAGE Maricel Cariaga
Aside from winning the Golden Owl Award in the 22nd Aichi International Women’s Film Festival in Nagoya, Japan last September 10, 2017, Pitong Kabang Palay (Seven Sacks of Rice) has also been awarded the following:
- Best Children’s Film Citation at the 15th Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh (January 2017)
- 2nd Best Picture, Special Award for Outstanding Ensemble, and Best Screenplay at the 1st TOFarm Festival (2016)
Her advice for aspiring film writers is to write from their own experiences and try to be honest in every emotion they convey, as well as in every scene and dialogue they create. Also, they should listen a lot to people who share their stories. Because by listening, you see other people’s perspective on things.
Written By: Patricia Antoinette M. Nacianceno
All photos courtesy of Maricel Cariaga
