Recap of INTERNAL MEDICINE FILM FESTIVAL 2019 of SLMC-GC: Artful Advocacies

September 30, 2019

For the artistic program of the St. Luke's Medical Center Global City Dept. of Medicine celebration of Medicine Week this year, overall chairperson Dr. Ian Homer Cua (GI) decided to hold an "Internal Medicine Film Festival" for the first time. Consultants and residents of Internal Medicine and its various subspecialties served as the writers and actors of all these films. There was only one director for all the films in competition, Emir Kahn Bautista, who is noted for his wedding photos and videos. 

In ceremonies held at the Henry Sy Auditorium at the fifth floor of the SLMC-BGC, the film fest was formally inaugurated today at 12 noon when the bell was rung by Dr. Cua, Dr. Michael Villa (Endocrine, Chair of the Dept. of Medicine, SLMC-BGC), Dr. Deborah David-Ona (Cardio, VP for Medical Practice Group and Assistant Chief Medical Officer, SLMC-BGC) and Dr. Gina Nazareth (Nephro, current Phil. College of Physicians President). The emcees of the event were Dr. Vimar Luz (Nephro) and Dr. Helen Ong-Garcia (Cardio). 

IMFF Board of Jurors in the deliberation room

(Standing L-R: Yap, Hawson, Lo, Tobiano;

Seated L-R: Pascual, Cua, Sineneng, Arayata and Doctolero)

Judging will be based on message, originality, screenplay and acting. The members of the Board of Jurors: Marivin Arayata (GMA VP for Entertainment TV), Suzette Doctolero (GMA creative director), Pinky Pe Tobiano (philanthropist, chemist, businesswoman and consumer safety advocate), Ricardo Lo (showbiz writer Phil. Star), Keren Pascual (writer and PR maven), Darryl Yap (who just made his debut as a feature film director in the box office hit "#Jowable") and yours truly, Fred Hawson. The chairman of the Board of Jurors is Jerry Sineneng, veteran director of various films (like "Maybe This Time") and TV shows (like "Kadenang Ginto").

During this premiere showing event, after each film, the group representative called in some speakers to further talk about their respective advocacies. The most impactful speakers were those from the Mental Health group. Ms. Sheila Suntay is a mother who just lost her son to suicide last year. Since then, she had made it her mission to speak to groups of parents to be more sensitive to the mental condition of their kids. Actress Ms. Claudine Barretto also gave a brief talk about her bout with depression and battered wife syndrome.

The event is a fund-raiser for the benefit of SLMC GC Social Service patients and research activities of the Dept. of Medicine. Tickets cost P200 each to view all four films. There will be additional screenings on Oct 1 and 2, at 5:00-6:30 PM, and at 6:30-8:00 PM

The four short films in competition were:

1. MISS CONCEPCION

Written by: Dr. Vimar Luz
Blue Team
Advocacy: HIV-AIDS

Because of some suspicious findings in her blood and xray, Nicole Concepcion (Dr. Carmela Vistal) was requested by her doctor to have an HIV test. While her best friend Luis (Dr. Jolly Santos) remained very supportive, her husband Manuel (Dr. Rod Castro) was nowhere to be found. 

The three lead actors really poured on the heavy drama in their portrayal of three individuals caught up in the HIV web -- the promiscuous partner, the unsuspecting victim and the supportive friend -- with a twist. A fourth character was Nicole's imperious mother Felicity Alicante played with scene-stealing aplomb by cardiologist Dr. Mylene Cornel. Cameos by some big-shot consultants as a series of anonymous gay partners of one of the characters definitely surprised and amused those in the audience who recognized them. 

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2. NOT TODAY

Written by: RT Tipones, MD
Advocacy: Mental Health
Green Team

An aloof young lady doctor named Alex, cannot seem to get her miserable mind straight. Instead, over the days, she would drop her stuffed toys one by one out of the window down to the street below. One day, she just threw her last toy out. What's next? 

Of all the films in competition, this was the one that looked the most technically polished. From the very first scene of Alex walking towards the edge of a skyscraper rooftop, you would be impressed with the cinematography. The editing of scenes that flitted between reality and pathologic fantasy was also very clean. Dr. Marian Dimabuyu's face effectively projected the mental confusion of her character Alex. The performance of writer Dr. RT Tipones as Alex's spurned suitor Francis was remarkable, especially in the surprise epilogue.

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3. ANGHEL SA ALAPAAP

Written by: Eibbron Lu, MD
Advocacy: Illicit Drug Use
Yellow Team

The husband was a drug addict and wife-abuser. His wife eventually could not take all the beating and left him, taking their son Angel with her. On that one day that Angel visited his father, the police also decided to come to arrest him and his gang.

This film attempted to create the grit of those anti-drug films produced over the past two years as a result of the government's drug war -- bleak and no redemption. Pulmonologist Dr. Ronald Reodica was frighteningly intense as the abusive husband and father. Endocrinologist Dr. Joy Fontanilla nailed a most realistic performer as the aggrieved wife and mother. Cardiologist Dr. George Cordova played a tough-as-nails policeman, but also had a tender scene reminiscing about a bitter past tragedy. Unusual for a medical advocacy film though, it never touched the medical aspects of drug abuse, only the social aspects.

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4. MY ROMANTIC BABOY

Written by: Minnie San Juan, MD
Advocacy: Obesity
Red Team

Jennifer was a morbidly obese woman who had a constant craving for sweets. When it came to exercise, she would rather conveniently forget about it. However, one night just as she was about to go to a date, fate had other plans for her.

Of the four entries in this filmfest, this was the one with lightest, comic vibe, which made it stand out. This was practically a one-woman show for IM resident Dr. Marga Laconico as Jennifer, who huffed and puffed practically throughout the whole duration of the film in a cumbersome fat suit (which probably made her lose weight in real life). A very natural actress, Dr. Laconico had a strong and winsome screen presence which made us all root for her character to overcome her food addiction and weight problems, and become healthier and happier. 

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Winners for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress will be announced on Friday, October 5, 2019 during the Awards Night. The Audience Choice award, based on ticket votes in the respective drop boxes for each of the four films after the screening, will be also be announced. 

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UPDATE: OCTOBER 5, 2019

WINNERS LIST OF THE FIRST IMFF LUKAS AWARDS: JURORS CHOICE

BEST PICTURE: NOT TODAY
     2nd Best Picture: Miss Concepcion
     3rd Best Picture: My Romantic Baboy

BEST SCREENPLAY: NOT TODAY

BEST ACTOR: DR. JOLLY SANTOS (Miss Concepcion)

BEST ACTRESS: DR. MARIAN DIMABUYU (Not Today)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: DR. RT TIPONES (Not Today)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: DR. JOY FONTANILLA (Anghel sa Alapaap)

AUDIENCE CHOICE:
Best Picture: Miss Concepcion
Best Actor: Dr. Ronald Reodica (Anghel sa Alapaap)
Best Actress: Dr. Joy Fontanilla (Anghel sa Alapaap)
Best Supporting Actor: Dr. Jolly Santos ( Miss Concepcion)
Best Supporting Actress: Dr. Mylene Coronel (Miss Concepcion)