It came as a late announcement but we are happy to share that a Filipino-produced documentary won the silver award in this year’s United Nations Documentary Film Festival in Vera List Courtyard of The NewSchool, New York City.
“Burden of Gold,” a 16-minute video documentary on the plight of child miners in Camarines Norte received acclaim from the international jury as this year’s best “stories from the field” along with Gold winner “Invaders from the Sea,” produced by the International Maritime Organization.
“Burden of Gold” was shot in 2004 in Camarines Norte, Philippines where children in mining descend to the bowels of the earth to crawl through narrow, cramped, and poorly lit makeshift tunnels in search of gold to sell for a living. These children at such young age were exposed to working environment where the air is thick with dust. They constantly risk fatal accidents due to falling rock, explosions, collapse of mine walls,and the use of equipment designed for adults.
The said documentary served its purpose in alleviating cases of children in hazardous occupations. Most of the case studies presented in the story were given education scholarship and a more decent means of livelihood.
The documentary was noted for its topical relevance, artistic merit, and production values.
Burden of Gold was directed by Joseph Fortin, field produced by Baby Ruth Villarama, and executive produced by Gerard Carreron in collaboration with ILO-IPEC and UNICEF.
Out of 209 films submitted for this year’s crop, 31 works were chosen for the two-day screening before the festival jury.
The finalists and winners were selected by a screening committee of United Nations officials, representatives from Media Communication Association International, and New School faculty in New York where the festival was held.
According to the juror, “the key requirement for a film to be considered for screening at the Festival was that it reflects one or more of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals which pledge to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education and develop a global partnership for development.”
Paradise Philippine is proud of the Filipino talents. Mabuhay!
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