Pinoy filmmaker wins 2 international awards with horror-drama short film 'UMBRA'

“Every story has its darkness,” says the tagline of “UMBRA,” a low-budget short film directed by up-and-coming indie filmmaker Jeremiah Palma.

And indeed, the Latin word “umbra” translates to darkness. The film follows characters who are plagued by a demon-like creature named Incubus.

Direk Jeremiah conceptualized the horror-drama and released it under his company MAYA Film Production.

It earned him the Best Director award at the Roshani International Film Festival and the Venus International Film Festival, both in India.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on Wednesday, Jeremiah said he has been making short films before this, but “UMBRA” is the first one he submitted to international film fests.

“Hindi naman namin inaasahan na magkakaroon ng ganitong awards ang ‘UMBRA’ kasi low budget lang talaga siya eh,” he said.

He added that they had to improvise and hire freelance artists. In fact, some of the actors also helped behind the scenes, such as assisting with lights and wardrobe.

They shot the film in over two days in an ancestral house in Balayan, Batangas.

Jeremiah explained that the short film actually has three stories.

“Ang concept namin sa film na ‘to, ginawa namin siyang trilogy. Every part ng story, [may] end na siya. Pero yung third story, that’s the revelation of the whole thing. Dun nila malalaman na yung Part 1 and Part 2, nandun siya sa Part 3 ng story,” he said.

The short is still competing in other countries, but Jeremiah plans on holding screenings when it is allowed.

In the meantime, you can check out the short’s trailer and behind-the-scenes footage on YouTube. —JCB, GMA News