Cheyenne Suarez

Laurice Guillen, Jay Altarejos honored at Ahmedabad Int’l Film Festival

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746165958895image0 (8).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Director Jay Altarejos and actress Laurice Guillen of the 2024 film &quot;Guardia de Honor&quot; about familial and systemic abuse were recently recognized at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival in Gujarat, India. </p><p>Altarejos was named Best Director in the Foreign Feature Film category, and Guillen won Best Actress. Both the filmmaker and the actress were unable to attend the ceremony owing to prior commitments.</p><p>The trophies were accepted on their behalf by Art Cruz and Ruiz Cruz, the film&#x27;s executive producers, who expressed pride in Filipino talent and storytelling. They also expressed gratitude to the film festival, which honors global cinema that is artistically daring, socially involved, and emotionally compelling.</p><p>&quot;Guardia de Honor,&quot; a timely and poignant film written and directed by Altarejos, tells the narrative of a mother&#x27;s bravery in making the ultimate sacrifice to restore her family&#x27;s dignity, following a tragedy in which her son, a police officer, kills a mother and child on the morning of a presidential inauguration.</p><p>When asked about his recent win as a filmmaker, Altarejos told ABS-CBN News, “I am deeply honored to receive the Best Director Award for ‘Guardia de Honor’ at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival in Gujarat, India. I also share this recognition with the legendary Ms. Laurice Guillen, who was awarded Best Actress in a Foreign Feature Film for her moving performance.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746166027372image1 (4).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Altarejos went on to share the movie&#x27;s upcoming plans, saying, “Following its World Premiere at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival, ‘Guardia de Honor’ continues to travel—competing in Da Nang, Rome, Barcelona, and winning the Special Audience Award at the Dhaka International Film Festival last January.”</p><p>The filmmaker also discussed issues such as generational abuse and police violence, which he believes resonate strongly with South Asian audiences.</p><p>“It is especially heartening that a film like ‘Guardia de Honor,’ which confronts generational abuse and police brutality, resonates deeply with our South Asian brothers. It speaks to collective traumas and truths we often try to silence,” he said. </p><p>Altarejos, who has worked in the film industry for years, writing scripts, directing, and winning awards, also shared with ABS-CBN News that his goal as a director is to create films that question and empower.</p><p>“As a filmmaker, my work is grounded in the Cinema of Social Consciousness—where storytelling is a means to interrogate, reflect, and empower. I am especially excited to bring &#x27;Guardia de Honor&#x27; home to our fellow Filipinos in the regions as we present it at Cinema Rehiyon 2025, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, this coming May 20–24 in Butuan City, during the Balangay Festival,” he said.</p><p>&quot;Guardia de Honor&quot; also stars Sunshine Cruz, Therese Malvar, and Allen Dizon. It is produced by ADCC Productions in collaboration with 2076 Kolektib, with support from CreatePH and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.</p><p>It made its global premiere at the 46th Moscow International Film Festival in April 2024.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ny65Aiq6XOM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Director Jay Altarejos and actress Laurice Guillen of the 2024 film ';Guardia de Honor' were recently recognized at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival in Gujarat, India.</p>

Director Jay Altarejos and actress Laurice Guillen of the 2024 film ';Guardia de Honor' were recently recognized at the Ahmedabad International Film Festival in Gujarat, India.