Lav Diaz wins Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at Berlin Film Fest

The Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Berlin International Film Festival / Berlinale) has added another laurel to director Lav Diaz's collection, awarding him the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for his latest film, the 8-hour "Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" on February 20.

The award goes to a feature film that opens new perspectives.

Director Lav Diaz holds the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives for his film 'A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery' during the awards ceremony of the 66th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany February 20, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

"Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" opened to hot ticket sales in the Berlinale, but though praised for his vision, one review felt that it was "a step back" from "Mula sa Kung Ano Ang Noon."

The latter won the Golden Leopard from the Locarno Film Festival, a first for the Philippines.

"Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" lost to "Fuocoammare" (Fire at Sea) by Gianfranco Rosi (Italy) and Death in Sarajevo by Danis Tanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for the Golden and Silver (Juris Grand Prix) Bear Award respectively. — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News