Jeffrey Jeturian is a Communication Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. He started as a production assistant for Marilou Diaz Abaya�s "Alyas Baby Tsina" (1984) before embarking on a career as a script supervisor, production designer, television director and finally, as film director. Jeturian's first foray into feature full-length films positioned him as one of the most important new directors in the Philippines. His first two films, "Sana Pag-ibig Na" (1998) and "Pila Balde" (1999) are not only critically acclaimed films but films that shows non-mainstream leanings.
"Pila Balde" (Fetch a Pail of Water) already won for Jeturian the Gold Prize for the 2000 Houston-Worldfest (Texas, USA) International Film Festival; and, the NETPAC Jury Prize at the 1999 Cinemanila International Film Festival. The same film was exhibited at the Lincoln Center in the United States as well as in other countries including Sweden, Germany, France, Bangladesh, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombia, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Italy.
His third film, "Tuhog" (Larger Than LIfe) has won for him more local awards including the Gawad URIAN for Best Picture and Best Director, an award given by the country's respected critics' group. "Tuhog" also toured the rounds of many film festivals in Asia, Europe and America.
His new film, "Bridal Shower", an entry in the always controversial Metro Manila Film Festival, will open in theaters all over the Philippines on January 1, 2004. The film starring Dina Bonnevie and Cherrie Pie Picache has already generated advance positive buzz from some of the important critics in the local arena.
Jeturian will be joining four others as eKsperim[E]nto's main international jury for 2004. What makes eKsperim[E]nto jury system unique is that the filmmakers believe in the goals and objectives of the festival which is why all of them do not get paid for their jury services - the festival being volunteer-based.
In just three years eKsperim[E]nto has proven that non-mainstream films (both shorts and full-lengths) have a potential for sharing the audiences of commercial films. The international juries have also awarded Grand Jury Prizes to films not yet recognized by international film festivals all over the world. This year's (2003) Grand Jury Prize winner for Best Short Fiction Film is Ireland's "Just a Little Bit of Love - A Tribute to Des Smith" by Peter Foott. This was the film's first award after its Asian Premiere at eKsperim[E]nto. Six months after it was shortlisted for the BBC New Talent Awards together with ten other films.
In 2004, new categories have been opened for eKsperim[E]nto stretching its main festival run to ten days as opposed to four days last year. eKsperim[E]nto Film and Video Festival is the first festival in the Philippines to have categories in new media, installation, interactive media and flash-based productions.
eKsperim[E]nto will announce complete set of jury on February 15, 2004 while it will unveil its official selections on February 1, 2004. For more information, visit its website at http://www.geocities.com/eksperimento [E] |
