‘Ilo Ilo’ now ranked No. 7 in Indiewire’s Oscar predictions list for Best Foreign Language Film

Koh Jia Ler and Angeli Bayani in a scene from 'Ilo Ilo'.

After cracking the Top 10 of Indiewire, a reputable news site’s Oscar predictions for the Best Foreign Language Film category last month, Singapore’s “Ilo Ilo” has moved up three notches to claim the No. 7 spot.

In its latest update posted by writer Peter Knegt last November 7, Anthony Chen’s heartwarming drama about a Singaporean family’s relationship with their Filipina maid (played by indie actress Angeli Bayani) is now ranked behind Saudi Arabia’s “Wadjda” Denmark’s “The Hunt”, Chile’s “Gloria”, Iran’s “The Past”, Canada’s “Gabrielle” and Australia’s “The Rocket”.

Indiewire’s Top 6 foreign language films have also figured prominently in other Oscar predictions sites, including AwardsCircuit.com where they are also in its Top 10. “Ilo Ilo” is not included in AwardsCircuit.com’s Top 30 where the official Philippine entry “Transit” is currently ranked No. 22. The latter site, however, has yet to update its rankings in this particular category since its last post dated October 14.

“Ilo Ilo” will have its Philippine premiere at the Cinema One Originals film festival slated for this month. Director Anthony Chen will be in town to personally grace the premiere and promote his film in the country.

Chen’s feature film debut is also the first film from Singapore to win the Camera d’Or award at the 66th Cannes International Film Festival that took place last May. The film’s other awards include Best Feature Film and the NETPAC award at the 11th Pacific Meridian Vladivostok International Film Festival in Russia as well as the International Ecumenical Award at the Jameson Cinefest Miskolc International Film Festival in Hungary.

As posted on its website, “Ilo Ilo” continues to make the rounds of international film festivals. This month, the film is scheduled to be screened at Minsk International Film Festival “Listapad”, Five Flavours Film Festival (Poland), Stockholm International Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Starz Denver Film Festival, Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, St Louis International Film Festival, Malatya International Film Festival, Gijón International Film Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival and Tokyo Filmex Film Festival.

Theatrical runs are also scheduled in Hong Kong (November 21) and Taiwan (November 29) before it finally opens in Philippine cinemas nationwide on December 4. It will be distributed by Origins8 Media.

‘Ilo Ilo’ now ranked No. 7 in Indiewire’s Oscar predictions list for Best Foreign Language Film

Source: InterAksyon.com (November 06, 2013 at 10:28PM)

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