KATAGMAN’s Worldclass distinctions
UK
Ramon Tenoso BAGS CANNES WORLD FILM BEST DIRECTOR DOCUMENTARY SHORT AND A HOST OF INTERNATIONAL AWARDS BEST DIRECTOR DOCUMENTARY SHORT Cannes World Film Festival FRANCE
BEST DOCUMENTARY Best Shorts Competition U.S.A.
BEST DIRECTOR Gaw & DP Film Festival SCOTLAND
Best Soundtrack Gaw & DP Film Festival SCOTLAND
Best Production Design Tokyo Film Festival JAPAN
Best Short Documentary Sweden Film Awards SWEDEN
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY CINE PARIS FRANCE
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE CINE PARIS FRANCE
BEST SOUND DESIGN CINE PARIS FRANCE
6
Cover Story
V
eteran Filipino filmmakers, directors, actors, and actresses in recent years have been awarded and honoured at Cannes World Film Festival. This film season plucked an extraordinary Filipino playwright and artistic director who bagged multiple international awards, way more than an affirmation of the Filipino world class talent. UK-based Ilonggo/Ogtonganon screenwriter and film director Ramon Castillanes Tenoso wrote and co-directed the film “KATAGMAN” in celebration of the 450th year of the founding of Oton, a first-class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. Due to the pandemic, the yearly lively and colourful festival was cancelled and replaced with something that was never done before – a visual presentation in film. Founded in 1572, Oton is considered the oldest town in Panay Island. It is a rich colourful film showcasing the history of Oton through music, folk to
modern dances, the arts and theatre performances - from the death of Datu Paiburong and the golden mask, pagan beliefs, and rituals to the advent of Christianity and Babaylans’ resistance. KATAGMAN the movie, has everything for its audience to enjoy. Commendably, it is a film written, directed, performed, and filmed in Oton by Ogtonganons themselves. Ramon Castillanes Tenoso, playwright and artistic director Known as “Direk or Chie” to family and friends, Ramon is a British-Filipino playwright who started writing church and school plays at the age of 13. His film “CHAINED” won the Best Feature Film at the Falcon International Film Festival (November 2021). Most likely the only active and prolific “pinoy” playwright in Europe, Direk Ramon has written 28 unique and original plays and 2 adaptations (30 in total) ranging from drama, muRoots&Wings
