Awards

For allowing the audience to see the wastage of war through the playful but fragile perspective of innocent children, creating a powerful parable of how humanity in the time of crisis is capable of both destruction and salvation.

Portrays a bold and daring metafictive imagination that draws upon the poetic and visceral resources of cinema to decry historical and social injustice, lament human tragedy, and memorialize Filipino resilience.

Through poignantly modest arrangements for a variety of instruments, Khavn captures the loss of innocence and independence that allows Balangiga: Howling Wilderness to exhibit a sweetness beneath its tragedy.

Old school poverty punk aesthetics blown up to operatic lo-fi sci-fic extremes, a vibrant din of color and energy and re-purposed junk that's appropriately excessive and appropriately bombastic.

Song: "Katurog na" - The supple balm of Lolita's voice buoys this gorgeous lullaby, sung not to a baby, but to the carabao that reminds them of home and delivers them from war

For its solid vision, with sensitive performances paired with strong visual, aural and poetic narrative, it is an elegy to the tragic history of the Philippines as seen through the eyes of a boy that is both a celebration and a lamentation of humanity.

(2nd place)