Independent film actress Hazel Orencio, 26, has just won a best actress award at the 67th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.
The Boccalino D ‘Oro Independent Critics’ Awards cited her for her role in Lav Diaz’s latest movie, Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon, set in 1972 Philippines and loosely based on real events and characters.
The black and white film runs for five hours and occurs in the same period as Martial Law during the time of Ferdinand Marcos.
“Mysterious things are happening in a remote barrio. Wails are heard from the forest, cows are hacked to death, a man is found bleeding to death at the crossroad and houses are burned,” according to the film notes.
It was shot in Abulog and Claveria in Cagayan Valley, San Ysiro in Antipolo, and Sampaloc in Quezon, and took nine months to produce.
Mula Sa Kung Ano Ang Noon is the first Philippine entry to the main competition of this year’s Locarno Film Festival.
The movie has already been shown twice to a sold-out audience, and an extra screening has been scheduled before the festival ends today.
The film also stars Perry Dizon, Roeder Camañag, Angelina Kanapi, Karenina Haniel and Joel Saracho.
The official Locarno International Film Festival awards night is on Aug 17, 3am, Philippine time.
Florencio also starred in Florentina Hubaldo, CTE, a movie Diaz directed in 2012. This is her first international acting award.
