The Nespresso Vertical Shorts 2018 was a great success, hitting its goal to bring to light the creative talent of a new generation of filmmakers and sharing with the world stories that champion one of our core values as Filipinos: pagmamalasakit. Premiered during the Cinemalaya Film Festival Season, the winning films hit home, as they highlighted empathy in their stories—whether for a loved one, for nature, or even for the dead.
“We wanted to create an avenue where the Filipino’s talent for storytelling can be celebrated and shared with everyone,” says Patrick Pesengco, Managing Director of Novateur Coffee Concepts Inc. “And these films, like a great cup of coffee, has become an all-sensory experience that allow you to reflect, think deep, and encourage others to do something different and amazing,” he continues.
A lot of amazing shorts were sent in, but three stood out. Kevin U. Tuason and Jonel Revistual, first and second runners up, respectively, and Brian Spencer Reyes who won the best film, each showcased their talent and passion in 3-minute vertical videos featuring compelling narratives that are close to their hearts; stories that touched everybody else’s.
“SLN” by Brian Spencer Reyes
Short for “SumalangitNawa,” which is often seen on tombstones, the film tells the story of Mila, a graveyard caretaker who stumbles upon a dead man’s framed photograph left lying on the ground not far from where he’s buried. She then begins to tend his grave, which seems to have been neglected a long time, and starts to talk to the picture, expressing her concern and empathy for the dead; because even they deserve the care and concern of the living, she says.
The concept began with two photos of Brian Spencer Reyes’ deceased grandfather—one of him looking rather serious, and one of him smiling. He built his story around it and used both photos to give his video quite a kick.
A wedding videographer by profession, Reyes has always been passionate about filmmaking and joins short film competitions when he has time to spare, but he admits being part of the Nespresso Vertical Shorts 2018 and winning Best Film no less, was definitely quite an experience. “I thought it was just going to be online, I didn’t expect there would be an actual screening, and at the Cinemalaya Film Festival at that. I’m really, really happy,” he says.
BRAVEHEART by Kevin Tuason
Kevin Tuason was a chef in Australia before he came back to the Philippines to pursue his passion for filmmaking. Nespresso Vertical Shorts 2018 is his first shot at dropping into the filmmaking scene, never having entered any other competitions before. His entry, which easily tugs at the heart, is inspired by a friend’s love for her mother and uses stop-motion technique featuring LEGO pieces to show love and death in the perspective of a little kid. “Honestly, for me, it was never about the competition,” says Tuason. “It has always been about sharing the story. Because more than filmmaking, my passion in life is to share the beautiful stories of people.”
Making it to Cinemalaya is definitely not a walk in the park, and while it has always been his goal, Tuason never imagined he would get to set foot on the Cinemalaya stage this soon. “I’m grateful to Nespresso because it created the bridge for me to experience the festival this way, opening a lot of possibilities and inspiring me to go on with the dream,” he says.
AKÒ by Jonel Revistual
Filmed by a group of nature lovers and advocates for the preservation and protection of the environment, “Akὸ,” draws attention to man’s deep connection to earth and other life forms that live in it, encouraging empathy and concern towards them. The title is meant to be interpreted in two ways: “Ako” as in “me” and “akὸ” as in “taking the responsibility.”
Inspiration hit Jonel Revistual and his team when they read an article about a forest in North America being granted the same legal rights as humans. It got the wheels turning and they found themselves filming the video at the La Mesa Eco Park less than 24 hours after they came up with the concept. “For us, it’s important that you believe in the message you’re trying to get across,” says Revistual. “It’s how you’re able to give your heart 100% to whatever project you’re working on.”
Revistual is no stranger to film festivals; as a matter of fact, the other two shorts he filmed also won awards from two different filmmaking competitions. But being part of the Nespresso Vertical Shorts 2018 and winning 2nd runner upare extra special, with it being connected to Cinemalaya, which is every Filipino filmmaker’s dream. “It’s a double win for us, being recognized both by Nespresso and Cinemalaya. It’s a great affirmation of our talent as independent filmmakers, and it feels good,” says Revistual. “We enter competitions where we feel we would grow,and joining Nespresso Vertical Shorts 2018 definitely proved to be a great decision.”
With its first ever film competition proving to be a big win, the brand hopes to go further with its initiative to foster Filipino talent in filmmaking and continue to run the Nespresso Vertical Shorts in the coming years.
Watch the winning films and the rest of the finalists of Nespresso Vertical Shorts at https://www.nespresso.ph/verticalshorts/winners/