YOUNG BENGUET FILMMAKERS EYE PODIUM FINISH FOR HEROES WALL FILM IN ABRA FILMFEST

September 10, 2022 Provincial

Local young filmmakers from Benguet hope to make podium finish this Saturday as their short film “Heroes Wall” is one of the 22 films from five local government units including the Big City in the Sine Abreño 4th Abrenian Heritage Film Festival (AHFF) 2022. Macush Taynan and Jaime Alonzo Bernabe II are now
crossing their fingers as they hope their foray into filmmaking will make a big impact among the judges in the Abra filmfest that drew filmmakers from Abra, Ilocos Norte, Benguet, La Union and even the National
Capital Region.

The two echoed: “The film, Heroes Wall” had been submitted in the Sine Abreno organized by Mr. Dexter Macaraeg and is now being evaluated as one of the finalists.” Taynan, who executive produced the film and acted as co-director as well as director of photography, is the son of Clint Taynan, who is into different forms of arts including photography. Bernabe is the son and namesake of former DZWT news anchor Jimmy Bernabe.

Heroes Wall is a short film on the Heroes Wall of Fame mural project undertook by artists Gladys Labsan, Ged Alangui and Team Lakay’s Harold Banario. It is portraiture of 32 Cordillera athletes from the different sports discipline who excelled in international competition and brought home medals to country. The young team led by Taynan and Bernabe started filming as early as June this year and showed the three artists
during their stages of paintings the murals which was launched last June 29.

The young filmmakers tried to capture the aim of the paintings that is to inspire younger athletes to work
harder in the hope of being good enough to compete internationally and excel. The older Taynan said
that his wards hope to improve their skills as they also eye separate scholarship grants from the National Commission for Culture and Arts  Sub commission on the Arts for cinema. In fact, the two young film
makers already applied for the grant, said the older Taynan, who converted his office in La Trinidad as a studio.

He likewise thanked former Sun Star Baguio freelance photojournalist and now photo editor for New Jersey Journal Reena Sibayan for providing the funds to buy some of their equipment. The older Taynan said the kids have high hopes and have been honed by their apprenticeship in several film making seminars as well as in business as they showed resiliency during the filming of the Heroes Wall where they were able to come out with the film despite their meager resources.

The Heroes Wall as well as the 21 other films are now being shown at the UA/ASIST Social Hall Bangued Campus where the final judgement will be made. The winner of the filmfest will be declared Saturday, September 10, at the Oval Era Mall and Cinema also in Bangued.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN