Inherited Adventures: ::hawaii film fest pics + update::

Ang Pamana: The Inheritance made its international premiere at the 26th annual Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival this October 2006. In attendance were director Romeo Candido, producer/cast Caroline Mangosing, cast members Phoemela Baranda, Darrel Gamotin, Nicco Lorenzo Garcia, along with myself (Christine), Jun Mangosing, and Catherine Mangosing.

Both screenings played to a full house at the Regal Dole Cannery Theatre in Honolulu. Because of the late hour of the first screening, the Q + A with the director, producer and cast occured before the show and comprised mainly of short introductions and brief comments from each person regarding their experience working on the film. After the show, the audience sustained their applause until the very last credit rolled on the screen. Many audience members stayed behind to greet the cast + crew personally -- both Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike expressing the ways in which they related and/or were affected by the film.

Despite the second screening's coinciding time slot with the festival's awards ceremony, the theatre was packed once again. As with the first screening the film's rapid shifts between drama, comedy and suspense elicited laughter, surprised gasps and shrill screams from the audience in all the right spots. Most of the audience remained for the Q + A, which, this time, occcured after the screening. Questions from the audience included inquiries about where the soundtrack could be purchased, whether the film will be distributed in theatres or DVD and where, and on a humorous note, a query about whether the actor who played the character "Tommy" was "crazy" in real-life. Despite generating laughter from the cast + crew and the audience (actor Nicco Lorenzo Garcia was not present at this screening), this question was a huge compliment to Nicco for his convincing portrayal of a mentally-handicapped man. Comments included one from a non-Filipino man who was greatly enthused by the film and declared how sure he was that the film would be a succesful hit. Another comment, this time from a Filipino mother, observed how accurately Darrel Gamotin's character captured the culture shock experienced by 1st and 2nd generation Filipino-American/Canadian youth upon visiting their parents' homeland for the first time. She went on to remark that she would definitely recommend the movie to her children, whom she was sure could relate to the film.

After the Q + A, again, audience members were lined up to greet the cast + crew -- snapping photos, requesting autographs and sending congratulations all around.

Apart from the screenings, myself and the rest of the Inheritance crew took full advantage of our time in Hawaii (as evidenced in the photos below) -- in the sun, on the beach, at the endless profusion of bars and restaurants lining the shore of Waikiki beach, and at the numerous parties hosted by the film festival at various locations throughout Waikiki and Honolulu. The festival was attended by a host of talented Asian filmmakers from all around the world and the festival parties served as prime "get-to-know-each-other" venues where valuable connections were gained.

All in all, the festival was an immensely positive experience and Hawaii a most hospitable, not to mention, BEAUTIFUL back-drop for a film festival.

Nicco Lorenzo Garcia + Darrel Gamotin outside the theatre, the night of the film's premiere:

Cast + crew during the Q + A:

Director Romeo Candido at one of the festival's many parties:

Direk Romeo Candido, R+B/Soul singer Johann Michael, cast members Nicco Lorenzo Garcia, and Darrel Gamotin, David Magdael of Los Angeles's VC Asian Film Festival, and Montreal music producer Vance: