Push Admin

Yeng Constantino’s 1st film wins big in Osaka Film Festival

Article (news)

Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src="" alt="031714-yeng_main.jpg" width="400" height="290" align="left" border="0"/>Blessings are continuously pouring in for Pop Rock Princess Yeng Constantino as her first-ever film Shift received the Grand Prix Best Picture award in the recently-concluded Osaka Asian Film Festival.</div><div><br/></div><div>The singer shared about her latest feat on her Instagram account on Sunday where she gushed, “Wow!!! Our indie film SHIFT won Best Picture in Osaka Film Fest!!!!!!!!! :))) thank yoh (sic) Lord!!! So happy for my SHIFT Fam!!! @joe_alandy @siegeledesma.”</div><div><br/></div><div>The Cinema One Originals 2013 entry directed by Siege Ledesma bested 10 other entries from six other participating countries when it won the top plum in OAFF which ran from March 7 to 16.</div><div><br/></div><div>According to the film festival’s official website, the individuals behind the Best Picture winner will be receiving 500,000 yen or P220,428.</div><div><br/></div><div>Shift also stars Felix Roco who played the role of Trevor, Estela’s (Constantino) gay mentor with whom she had an “unconventional relationship” with while they’re working at a call center.</div><div><br/></div><div>Meanwhile, Filipino movie, Anita’s Last Cha-Cha, was also given a special mention in the same film festival. Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, the film follows the coming-of-age story of 12-year-old tomboy Anita, played by budding star Teri Malvar who got smitten with a 37-year-old woman named Pilar played by Angel Aquino who just returned to their village after being away for a decade.</div><div><br/></div><div>In statement posted on the festival’s official website, OAFF International Competition Jury member Eugene Domingo emphasized that the jury gave special merit to simplicity and honesty.</div><div><br/></div><div>“While all of us on the jury agree that this year the Korean films and the films from The Philippines are the ones that impressed us the most, the hard work all of you filmmakers did made our jobs watching so many movies in such short amount of time a whole lot easier. This year, we merit a film for its simplicity, honesty and its integrity for pushing boundaries,” said the award-winning actress.</div>

After being engaged last week, Yeng Constantino’s first big-screen project won Best Picture in Osaka Film Festival