'Pisay' wins 2 honors in the 14th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

Another digital indie film brought honors to the Philippines when it bagged two major awards in the recently concluded 14th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema (Festival des Cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul) held in France from January 29 to February 05, 2008.

Pisay (Philippine Science), a film by Aureaus Solito about 8 students in Philippine Science High School during the Martial Law in the 80s, bagged the Grand Prize of the International Jury (Grand Prix du Jury) and the Audience Prize (Prix du Public) beating 8 other contenders from Asian countries like China, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia.

The movie was awarded the Grand Jury Prize due to its very high positive energy level, confirming the authenticity of Filipino cinema style and for its remarkable performance of young actors.

It's the first time for the Philippine to win in the said prestigious event.

More popular cast of Pisay includes Eugene Domingo, Gammy Lopez, Carl John Barrameda, E.J. Jallorina, Bernardo Bernardo, Alfred Labatos, Arnold Reyes and Ama Quiambao.

Here's the complete list of winners for the 2008 Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema:

CYCLO D'OR D'HONNEUR (Golden Cyclo Honorary: Director Stanley Kwan (Hong Kong)
CYCLO D'OR (Golden Cyclo Award): THE OLD BARBER by Hasi Chaolu (China)
Grand Prix du Jury international (International Jury's Grand Prize): Winner - PISAY (PHILIPPINE SCIENCE) by Auraeus Solito (Philippines); Special Mention - AN SEH (THOSE THREE) by Naghi Nemati (Iran)
Prix du Jury NETPAC (NETPAC Jury Prize): Winner - THE OLD BARBER by Chaolu Hasi (China); Special Mention - THE RED AWN by Cai Shangjun (China)
Prix Emile Guimet (Emile Guimet Prize): Winner - BOZ SALKYN (PURE COOLNESS) by Ernest Abdyjaparov (Kyrgyzstan); Special Favourite - FROZEN by Shivajee Chandrabhusan (India)
Prix Langues' O (Langues' O Award): Winner - THE RED AWN by Cai Shangjun (China); Special favourite - THE OLD BARBER by Chaolu Hasi (China)
Prix du public (Audience's Award): PISAY (PHILIPPINE SCIENCE) by Auraeus Solito (Philippines)
Prix du public documentaires (Audience Award - Documentary): THE CRY OF THE HEART by Shinji Takahashi (Japan)
Prix Jury Jeunes (Young Jury Award): BANANA KIDS by Cheng Xiao-xing (France-China)
Prix Jury lycéen (lycéen Jury Prize): THE OLD BARBER by Chaolu Hasi (China)