'Aswang' scores 4 Gawad Urian awards

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, October 22 ------ Alyx Ayn Carumpac's critically-acclaimed documentary on President Duterte's war on drugs wins Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Documentary. Alyx Ayn Carumpac's Aswang won big at the 44th Gawad Urian awards ceremony on Thursday, October 21, bagging Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Documentary.

The Aswang team announced the news in a Facebook post, thanking the organization for the recognition and sharing what an honor it was to receive it. "Para po ito sa lahat ng pinaslang, kinulong, at nawalan ng mahal sa buhay sa giyera kontra droga," the caption read. "Habang ginagawa namin ang Aswang, ilang beses din namin narinig ang linyang ito: 'Kung alam ko lang na papatayin nila ang kapatid/asawa/anak ko, hindi ko na sana siya binoto,'" they added.

"Sa susunod na taon, huwag sana nating sayangin ang ating mga boto sa mga kakandidatong lumabag ng mga karapatang pantao kung hindi man, sumuporta at kumunsinte sa pag-abuso nito," they continued. "Kailangan natin ng pinunong papanagutin sila, at papahalagahan ang ating buhay at dignidad bilang Pilipino. Sana sa nalalapit na panahon, wala nang kuwentong tulad ng mga nasa Aswang," they said.

The Aswang team ended their post by reminding everyone that there is only a week left until the end of voter registration for the 2022 elections. Aswang documents the Philippines’ war on drugs under President Rodrigo Duterte. The documentary reveals the human rights abuses and gruesome reality on the streets of Metro Manila, where killings, under the guise of the "war on drugs," pose a threat as night time comes. The critically-acclaimed documentary bagged the International Film Critics’ FIPRESCI award in Amsterdam in 2019.

Aswang will be available to stream on KTX.ph, Upstream PH, and Ticket 2 Me starting Friday, October 22.

Source: rappler.com