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South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival is marking its 20th anniversary with its own list of Asia’s 100 best movies and — no surprise — four Filipino titles made it to the list. Among those four, two were made by the late Lino Brocka. The remaining two were by Mike de Leon and Lav Diaz.
The list, based on the recommendations by distinguished Asian filmmakers and international critics of their top 10 Asian movies, will be updated every five years “to act as a guide for the aesthetic value and history of cinema and to discover hidden masterpieces and directors of Asia,” says BIFF organizers.
Brocka’s Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag was the most highly regarded Filipino movie at number 30, while his Insiang, de Leon’s Batch ‘81, and Lav Diaz’s Melancholia tied at number 66. The Singaporean movie, about a family’s touching relationship with their Filipino nanny, was at number 66 as well. It was the only Singaporea-directed movie that made it to the list.
The festival’s 100 Best Asian Filmmakers list also features Lino Brocka at number 16, tying with Korea’s Lee Chang-Dong.
Also included were Lav Diaz (26), Gerardo De Leon (32), Brillante Mendoza and Ishmael Bernal (40). Mike de Leon, Lamberto V. Avellana, Mario O’ Hara, and Kidlat Tahimik all tied with other Asian directors at number 62.
