Syeda Amtul

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH —  "The Bit Player (Ekstra)," a Filipino feature film, was screened during the Philippine film night at the Consulate General of Indonesia on Friday.



The screening was part of the 8th Asian Consuls General Club (ACGC) Film Festival 2015, organized by the Asian Consuls General Club (ACGC).

Diplomats, film lovers and other foreign nationals, including the Filipino community attended the screening.



"Ekstra," starring Vilma Santos in the lead, was released in 2013. The 111-minute film revolves around a usual day in Loida Malabanan's life as she goes for shooting of a soap opera as an extra. As the film progress, one witnesses the world of production and how it exploits small actors.



The film, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, has received accolades on both national and international level for its story and remarkable performances. A short short documentary titled “Vigan: Houses of Memory” was also shown prior to the screening of "Ekstra."



Vigan is the capital city of Ilocos Sur province in the Northern Philippines; it was declared recently as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World.



The annual festival provided an opportunity for the Philippine Consulate to showcase recent advances in Philippine independent cinema while promoting its public and cultural diplomacy programs.



In his welcome remarks, Consul General Leo Tito L. Ausan Jr. said: "Candidly, I take great pride in this simple act of sharing because I have personally participated in the preparations and conduct of six festivals out of a total eight during my soon-to-end tour of duty in the Kingdom. I have seen with my own two eyes how we worked untiringly together in nurturing the film fest to grow and become what it is now; how much cultural interest and understanding it has generated in both the Saudi and expats, as the film fest patiently thrived in the face of usual challenges and hurdles...profuse thanks goes, of course, to our always supportive friends in the Saudi media... and how much it has significantly cultivated and promoted friendship and understanding among us Asians and our gracious hosts in this part of the world."



He added: "Aside from being just a moment of happiness and gratefulness, may I, thus, also point out that this should also be an apt occasion of well-deserved congratulations for all! Mabruk, ACGC!"