'Tuli' bags LA Gay and Lesbian filmfest prize

Right from the heels of internationally acclaimed gay film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni (The Blossoming of) Maximo Oliveros," another gay independent film by director Auraeus Solito received international recognition after bagging a top film prize in the US, GMA News reported Tuesday. "Tuli" (Circumcision) bagged the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Narrative Feature at the Outfest 2007 or the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on Monday. The film, which centers on a group of young boys who had to undergo circumcision -- their 'right of passage' -- and eventually find themselves tangled in love's complications, beat out more than 200 films from 26 participating countries. Tuli earlier took home the Golden Zenith award from the Montreal Film Festival. It also copped the Best Local Film and Best Local Director awards at the 7th International Film Festival in Manila. The film stars Carlo Aquino, Desiree Del Valle, Amable Quiambao, Vanna Garcia, Bembol Rocco and Luis Alandy. Being the oldest continuous film festival in Los Angeles, Outfest has been, for 25 years, showcasing films that touch homosexual themes to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film images and artistry. - GMANews.TV