1st Sem

1st Sem is a 2016 Filipino independent coming of age comedy-drama film directed and written by Dexter Hemedez and Allan Ibanez in their feature-film directorial debut. The film stars Lotlot de Leon and newcomer Darwin Yu. It is an official entry to the 2nd CineFilipino Film Festival.[1][2][3][4]

1st Sem
Theatrical film poster
Directed by
  • Dexter Hemedez
  • Allan Ibanez
Produced by
  • Dexter Hemedez
  • Allan Ibanez
  • Gary Paglinawan
Written by
  • Dexter Hemedez
  • Allan Ibanez
Starring
Music byErnie Magtuto
CinematographyNeil Daza
Edited byAlec Figuracion
Production
company
Team Campry Entertainment
Release date
  • March 16, 2016 (2016-03-16) (Cinefilipino Film Festival)
  • April 26, 2017 (2017-04-26)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino
English

The film's teaser trailer was released at YouTube on January 20, 2016.[5] The film will be having its commercial release on April 26, 2017.

Plot

Maru Marasigan (Darwin Yu), a sixteen-year old incoming freshman from the province, leaves his hometown to study in one of the prestigious universities in Manila. He is accompanied by his mother Precy (Lotlot de Leon) as he goes to his dormitory.

But Precy cannot help but get emotional when she is about to leave him. Maru feels sad seeing his mother cry. This escalates after Maru spent his first night at the dorm feeling alone and very lonely. Maru then decides to pack his things and go back home. Precy is very shocked to see him in their kitchen early in the morning the following day.

Down on his knees, Maru pleads to Precy to allow him to study in a nearby college for he cannot afford to live miles away from his family. But Precy rejects Maru's request and tells him to go back to Manila instead. As Maru insists his decision and disobeys Precy, his relationship with his mother starts to fall apart.

Cast
  • Lotlot de Leon as Precy
  • Darwin Yu as Maru
  • Miguel Bagtas as Jairus
  • Allan Paule
  • Sebastian Vargas Jr.
  • Karen Romualdez
  • Teri Lacayanga
  • Maddie Martinez
  • Sachie Yu as Michelle

Critical reception

Oggs Cruz from Rappler states in his review that "At first, 1st Sem seems like it is all about jokes and punch lines. As soon as all the noise and artifice die down, what's left is a tender coming-of-age tale that has its heart in the right place."[6]

1st Sem won Best Debut Feature for directors Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez and Allan Michael Ibañez at the All Lights India International Film Festival. Lotlot de Leon, also won a special acting citation for her performance in the film.[7][8][9]

1st Sem also won Gold Remi Award from the 50th Worldfest Houston International Film Festival. Lotlot de Leon also won Best Supporting Actress for the film.

The film also won awards in South Korea and Canada.

Awards
YearOrganizationCategoryNominated WorkResult
2016 CineFilipino Film Festival[10] Best Picture Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Nominated
All Lights India International Film Festival[8][9] Best Debut Director's Film Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
Special Acting Citation Awardee Lotlot de Leon Won
2017 50th Worldfest Houston International Film Festival Gold Remi Award Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
Best Supporting Actress Lotlot de Leon Won
5th Seoul Guro Kids International Film Festival Culture Exchange Award Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
14th San Diego Kids International Film Festival Grand Jury Award, Best Feature Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
10th Angaelica Festival Best International Feature Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
12th Buffalo Niagara Film Festival Honorable Mention, Best Feature Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
13th Ellensburg Film Festival Audience Choice Award Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
8th Indie Bravo! Film Awards Honors for Film Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
2018 10th Harvest of Honors

(National Commission for Culture and the Arts)

 Honors for Film Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
Film Ambassadors Award

(Film Development Council of the Philippines)

 Honors for Film Dexter Hemedez

Allan Ibanez

Won
gollark: Freeish State of Gollarkia™ tax management systems are impartial and inevitable automated systems mostly immune to memetic assault.
gollark: Your antiantimemetics are untested and unlikely to work, and your drones just sound ridiculous.
gollark: <@319753218592866315> probably.
gollark: Which are no match for my ionic symphonic protonic antimemetic electronics.
gollark: Does it though? Does it really.

References
  1. "Guide-Cinefilipino Film Festival". CinemaBravo. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  2. "WATCH-1st Sem takes separation anxiety to the max". InterAksyon. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  3. "Mainstream, indie stars in CineFilipino 2016". Inquirer. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  4. "CineFilipino showcases the best stories told in a uniquely Filipino way". The Philippine Star. January 4, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  5. "1st Sem-Teaser Trailer". Youtube. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  6. "Movie reviews:All 9 CineFilipino 2016 feature length films". Rappler. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  7. "'1st Sem,' 'Laut' honored at Indian film festival, Lotlot de Leon cited". Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  8. "All Lights India International Film Festival | ALIIFF". aliiff.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  9. "Lotlot de Leon recognized at All Lights India International Film Festival 2016". Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  10. "1st Sem (2016) Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.