Tara Illenberger’s “High Tide” won four major awards including Best Picture to lead all winners in the second ToFarm Film Festival awards night held at the Makati Shangri-La hotel.
The coming-of-age adventure drama also won Best Cinematography for T.M. Malones and Best Editing for Michael Bayan Canino and Illenberger herself.
“High Tide” also won a Jury Special Award for its child actors Forrest Kyle Buscado, Christine Mary Demaisip and Riena Christal Shin.
Partly inspired by the adverse effects of climate change, the film focuses on three kids living in a mainland coastal village who would look for clams along the shoreline when the tide is low.
Two other films won big at the agriculture-themed film festival.
Joseph Abello’s OFW drama “What Home Feels Like” took home seven awards: 2nd Best Picture, Best Director, Best Story, Best Screenplay, Best Actor for Bembol Roco in a tie with Roger “Soe” Gonzales for Vic Acedillo, Jr.’s “Kamunggai,” Best Actress for Irma Adlawan, and Best Music for Harold Nagai and Harold Andre Cruz Santos.
This is Roco’s second straight ToFarm Best Actor award. Last year, he also won the category in a tie with Gabby Cabalic of “Paglipay.”
Jason Paul Laxamana’s “rural cyberpunk” feature “Instalado” grabbed six awards: 3rd Best Picture, People’s Choice Award, Best Supporting Actor for Francis Magundayao, Best Supporting Actress for Barbara Miguel, Best Sound Design (Wildsound), Best Production Design for Mark Sabas.
Two other participating films, Topel Lee’s “Baklad” and Byron Bryant’s “Sinandomeng,” did not win any honors.
The winners were chosen by a distinguished jury composed of actor Christopher de Leon, actress-filmmaker Laurice Guillen, film critic Mario Hernando, theater and film composer Lutgardo Labad and film editor Jess Navarro.
Now on its second year, ToFarm is the only film festival that showcases “the lives, failures and successes of farmers and other stewards of agriculture and nature.”
The festival was spearheaded by ToFarm chief advocate and CEO of Universal Harvester, Inc., Dr. Milagros O. How, and festival director, Maryo J. delos Reyes, an acclaimed filmmaker himself.
ToFarm will run until Tuesday, July 18, at Robinsons Galleria, Gateway, Greenbelt 1, SM Manila and SM Megamall cinemas.