Pinoy indie film competes in France

An award-winning advocacy film, Ang Araw sa Likod

Mo, written and directed by Dominic P. Nuesa, heads to France for the Nice International Film Festival, which, as the movie’s Facebook account pointed out, is just a train-ride away from the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.

The indie film is a gripping story of two brothers reunited despite being separated by conflicting beliefs, and the heroism of Filipino soldiers, in the thick of a four- decade war against terrorism. It stars a talented cast that includes Ping Medina, Bong Cabrera and Mike Liwag.

Cabrera is a Cebuano, who graduated from the University of the Philippines Cebu.

Nuesa has been nominated for Best Director while Liwag will compete in the Best Lead Actor category in Nice. Medina has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Javier Abola for Best Editing and Greg Rodriguez III for Best Sound.

Inspired by the real stories of Special Operations soldiers in the country known as the Philippine Scout Rangers, Ang

Araw sa Likod Mo is an intense film filled with raw action that introduces brothers Jamiluddin (Cabrera) and Omar (Liwag) along with Sgt. Benjie Calayan (Medina) within the terrorist infested island in Southern Philippines. It is notable in its research-based authenticity.

Ang Araw sa Likod Mo ( The Sun Behind You) is produced by Nuesa’s An Earth Below Productions. It has since gathered five international awards already: Best Film at the Auckland International Film Festival, Global Award Winner at the Europe-based ARFF (Around Films International Film Festival) and Awards of Recognition for Feature Length, Best Actor for Cabrera and Best Supporting Actor for Liwag at the Accolade Global Film Competition in the United States.

Opening nationwide this Wednesday, a major part of the proceeds from the box- office receipts of Ang Araw

sa Likod Mo will be donated to Help Educate and Rear Orphans ( Hero) Foundation Inc. The foundation aims to uplift the families of soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines who were killed or incapacitated in the line of duty by providing educational assistance to their children to obtain a college degree or vocational course. In return, this will help them have a wider range of opportunities in their future and our society.

By taking care of their children, Hero Foundation salutes the Filipino soldiers for their sacrifices.

An avid supporter of the foundation, Director Dominic Nuesa was inspired to tell their stories into film.