Behind a great film is a visionary, innovative and ingenious director that pours his creativity into a visual masterpiece. They are not merely storytellers, but they are capturers of life stories of hope, resilience, and courage.
Proving another milestone in the film industry, Breech Asher Harani, a proud graduate of the Holy Cross of Davao College’s Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, brought home the ‘Cinemalaya Bente Special Jury Award for Short Film’ titled ‘Pamalandong sa Danow’ (Reflection in the Marsh).
The special award was handpicked by the Jury ‘for its compelling evocation of the glories of nature’. Harani claimed his award at the Ayala Malls, Manila Bay, last August 10, 2024, and brought home a Balanghai Trophy, P60,000 cash prize and lighting equipment from Aputure.
“It feels amazing because it is such an honor to be recognized by the jury of Cinemalaya, and also partly because I did not expect to win at all,” Harani said during an interview with the Cross Media Scholars, adding that it was a “beautiful surprise.”
Producing the film all by himself, he added that this was a recognition of his hard work and struggles in the creative realization of his work.
“This award means a lot. It is not only a form of creative validation as a Filipino filmmaker,” he expressed.
The film, he explained, is a documentary of three indigenous people who protect and preserve the Agusan Marsh. He added that the goal of the film is to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change and human incursions in Agusan Marsh.
“So many people are not aware about this problem, so I’m glad that my film is instrumental in educating and informing people about the stories of Manobong Agusanon people in Agusan Marsh,” he said.
Looking back on his excellence in the industry of filmmaking, Harani said that all his talent and skills stem from his training as a Mass Communication student in HCDC.
“My teachers in MassCom really shaped me and greatly contributed to the development of my skills in audio-visual arts and storytelling. I’m forever grateful to my teachers and the [Bachelor of Arts Program] arts institution of HCDC,” he expressed.
As a flashback, Harani also won the prestigious International Emmy Award after being selected by the JCSI Young Creative Awards in 2019.
Being a graduate of the AB in Mass Communication, the now BA in Communication program, Harani extended his reminder to the communication students to be firm in the struggles of the journey to become an aspiring filmmaker.
“To the communication students of HCDC, it’s going to be challenging, but so is life in general. So embrace the hardship, go through all the struggles, and one day you’ll see yourself emerge from it all,” he said.
As an expert in the industry of filmmaking, Harani continues to immerse himself in expressing his creative side through documenting real-life human experiences that become instrumental in delivering his advocacy to the public — a reflection of a visionary, innovative, and an ingenious director and a capturer of life.