Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan's 'Blue Room' wins Best Foreign Film at LA Femme International Film Fest

"Filmmaking, just like any art, is important in relaying messages and educating individuals so use it responsibly and properly. Use it to expose the truth. So no to history revisionism, no to propaganda, and no to fake news," first-time director Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan said in her speech after her debut film, "Blue Room," won the Best Foreign Film Award at the 19th LA Femme International Film Festival which was held at the Regal Cinema in downtown Los Angeles.

She added, "'Blue Room' is about human rights and police brutality. Fact number one, I wrote the script in 2010 and what was happening 10 years ago is still happening today in the Philippines. Fact number two, this is my directorial debut and lastly, I would like to thank my family and my ever-supportive husband (Michael Angelo "Mike" Dagñalan) who is in the Philippines right now.

"I am lucky to have a very supportive and understanding husband. He was the one who encouraged me to study scriptwriting and cinematography. (The husband and wife have collaborated in the past for the films "Layang Bilanggo" and "Paglaya sa Tanikala.")

"I would also like to thank my mentors like Erik Matti, Ricky Lee and Armando Lao. I would also like to thank Cinemalaya, the cast and crew of 'Blue Room' who were all very supportive. And my producers Harlene Charmaine M. Bautista of Heaven's Best Entertainment, Wilfredo Manalang of FUSEE, EyePoppers, Ferdy Lapuz, co-producers Maylyn Enriquez and Carlo Obispo who is also our creative producer."

"Blue Room" Director Ma-an Asuncion-Dagnalan receives the film's award at the LA Femme International Film Festival. Photo by Janet Susan R. Nepales

The awards event, ably hosted by Kimleigh Smith, was attended by international filmmakers and talents.

Asuncion-Dagñalan is the only Filipina filmmaker featured in the festival where her "Blue Room" was screened yesterday October 21 at the Regal Cinema in downtown LA.

Present at the awards night to lend support to Asuncion-Dagñalan were her uncle Jojo Lansangan, the Logistics Manager of the Producing Team FUSEE Media Melissa Alviar, and Cindy Sison of Cinema Independent (the film's worldwide distributor).

Asked how she felt since this is the first international recognition for "Blue Room," Asuncion-Dagñalan confessed that she was ecstatic. "No words can describe my feelings when they announced the Best Foreign Award to 'Blue Room' and mentioned my name. I am so very happy. I actually submitted this film with no expectations. I just want people to watch it because of the message of the film."

She admitted that she was having separation anxiety at the moment because she would miss all the women filmmakers that she met during the festival and became friends with. "The women here are very friendly, supportive and encouraging of each other. I made a lot of friends here at LA Femme Film Fest that I want to join again next year," she said.

The festival, which was held from October 19 to 22, was founded by Leslie LaPage. It is geared towards women-created media for global audiences.

LA Femme Film Fest founder Leslie LaPage

Asked what it was about "Blue Room" that interested her, LaPage said, "It was the deep dive into the treatment of youth in the Philippines that stood out for me."

As for the number of Filipino films that join LA Femme Film Fest, LaPage informed us that they "have had Filipino films before but mostly shorts to my knowledge. No film from the Philippines has ever won the Best Foreign Feature Film category." So "Blue Room" is honored to be the first Philippine movie to win in this category in the festival.

"Blue Room," which made Asuncion-Dagñalan win Best Director in the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2022 and the 71st FAMAS, follows an indie progressive rock band called Rebel Rebel, whose members are composed of privileged teenagers who after getting their biggest break at a prestigious local music festival, enjoyed a celebratory drinking session.

Still from 'Blue Room' showing stars Elijah Canlas and Juan Karlos. Photo courtesy of Ma-an Asuncion-Dagnalan

The film is released theatrically by TBA Studios in the Philippines and Southeast Asia streaming rights is by Netflix.

Asked how she would sum up in one word her feelings about tonight, she said, "Hopeful."

The complete list of winners of LA Femme International Film Festival are as follows:

• Best Animated Short – "Oren's Way" by Keika Lee
• Best Webisode – "Work-Life Balance" by Danielle Swanson
• Best Music Video – "Ella Y No Conmigo" by Natalie Marmol
• Best Period Screenplay – "Mrs. Nicholls" by Christina Ajalat
• Best Screenplay – "Madam Wow" by Elaine Chang
• Best TV Pilot Script – "Sky Curse" by Janet Kravetz
• Best Short – "Dirty Rotten Tofu and the Gohan Girls" by June K. Inuzuka
• Best Documentary – "Gloria Gaynor" by Elizabeth Schechter
• Best Special Focus Documentary – "A World of 3 Zeros. Zero Net Carbon Emissions. Zero Poverty. Zero Unemployment." By Aine Clarke, Michel Van Der Veker
• Best Foreign Film – "Blue Room" by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan
• Best Foreign Producer – "Tibetan Hearts" by Lynn Tang
• Best Feature – "Cherry" by Sophie Galibert
• Best Feature Director – "Three Birthdays" by Jane Weinstock
• Best Foreign Short – "I Can't Go On" by Brenna Goodwin-McCabe

—MGP, GMA Integrated News