GIFF Co-Founders Invited to Judge 2011 Cinemanila Int’l. Film Festival in Philippines

HAGATÑA, GUAM, USA (November 4, 2011) – Chamorro filmmakers and brothers, Don and Kel Muña, have been invited to participate on the jury of the 2011 Cinemanila International Film Festival.

The Philippines’ longest running and largest international film festival, Cinemanila International Film Festival, celebrates its 2011 edition in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig from November 11-17, 2011. Founding festival director, Amable “Tikoy” Aguiluz VI, stated in an official letter to the brothers that their role in the jury “would lend it unparalleled legitimacy and prestige, and would make the selection of winners remarkable and significant.”

“It’s an extreme honor. I’ve always been a fan of the Philippines’ model of self-contained cinema and entertainment and now to be a part of it at this capacity is just unbelievable”, says Kel Muña. Muña also adds that the 2008 award-winning Guam film, “Shiro’s Head”, which was produced by the Muña brothers, has been invited to screen for exhibition at the festival by the Cinemanila Festival Program Director Joselito Acosta.

In previous editions of the festival, film luminaries such as iconic director Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill), Indonesian actress/producer & Cannes International Film Festival Jury member Christined Hakim, Filipino-American actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Tia Carrere, Academy Award-nominated Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles (City of God, Constant Gardener), have taken part in Cinemanila.

The Muña brothers are also the co-founders of the Guam International Film Festival (GIFF) which successfully launched in September drawing in crowds of thousands in the first year. Kel Muña adds “The success of the festival was due to the fact that it has a great team working behind the scenes.  And being a part of Cinemanila will be a wonderful opportunity to form some partnerships for the future of GIFF, Guam cinema and Pacific Asia cinema overall”.

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