Emilio Aguinaldo biopic 'El Presidente' wins award in New York film festival

“El Presidente,” the Emilio Aguinaldo biopic that stars Jeorge ER Estregan and megged by Mark Meilly, won the Best World Showcase Award at the recently concluded SoHo International Film Festival in Manhattan, celebrating independent filmmaking worldwide.

The Filipino indie bested finalists from Canada (“Assault on Wall Street”), Austria (“Body Complete”) and Germany (“Tim Sanders Goes To Hollywood”).

“We are thrilled to have broken so many records this year such as screening films from the most countries ever, as well as including the most women and young filmmakers,” said Sibyl Santiago, executive director.

“We also had more celebrities attending like Julia Stiles, who came in support of producer Julie Pacino’s film, “Billy Bates”; and beloved character actor Luis Guzman, who went undercover as a homeless person for his docudrama, “The NIMBY Experience,” part of a larger project that has celebrities going undercover to expose the underbelly of causes they are passionate about,” Santiago added.

Filipino actor Baron Gesler represented “El Presidente’s” cast.

He was accompanied by producers Arnold Vegafria and Maylyn Enriquez.

Sweden’s “En Hemlighet” by Dennis Petersen was adjudged Best World Short Film; “The Lepidoctor” by Jonathan Barenboim, Best Showcase Short Film; “The Silent Thief” by Jennifer Clary, Best Showcase Feature Film; “Running For Jim” by Dan Noyes and Robin Hauser Reynolds, Best Documentary; and “Concrete Jungle” by Steven Cartoccio, Best Animated Film.

“Wet Behind The Ears” by Sioan Copeland won the NYC Audience Award; “Junction” by Tony Glazer, Special Jury Award; and “West End” by Joe Basille, SoHo’s Pick for 2013. - Filipino Reporter