MANILA, Philippines – The Brillante Mendoza film "Thy Womb" is set to join yet another international film festival.
Starring veteran actress Nora Aunor, the movie which is alternately titled “Sinapupunan” will compete in the Muhr Asia Africa Feature category in the upcoming Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).
The prestigious film fest is set to run from December 9 to 16.
“Thy Womb” bagged nominations in the Best Film, Special Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress categories of the DIFF.
The internationally acclaimed movie tells the story of a Badjao midwife (Aunor) coping with her own infertility. It is about "a childless couple eking out a hardscrabble existence on a remote island makes a fateful decision in order to obtain the child they yearn for."
Prior to the DIFF, the film was also screened at the Toronto and Venice International Film Festivals.
At Venice, Aunor was handed the Bisato d' Oro Award for her portrayal in the film. The trophy was conferred on the veteran actress by the Premio Della Critica Indipendente, a jury of independent film critics.
Mendoza, for his part, won the La Navicella Venezia Cinema Award, a recognition given to a film director "particularly relevant for the affirmation of human values." The award was given by the Rivista del Cinematografo or Journal of Cinema.
"Thy Womb" also won the P. Nazareno Taddei Award (Special Mention), which is given to films that "express authentic human values."
The movie will also be screened at the Metro Manila Film Festival in December after it was originally snubbed.