Director Carl Joseph Papa’s award-winning film Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing) won the Special Jury Mention – Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival (FIFF).
Serving as the first animated entry in the full-length film category of last year’s Cinemalaya, Iti Mapukpukaw revolves around the story of an animator who faces painful memories of the past after the death of a family member.
The jurors from the festival praised the film’s sensitive portrayal of the effects of trauma and the difficult journey toward healing. They also stated that it deserves to be seen by more people.
The film has taken home several accolades from award-giving bodies such as Best Picture, Best Sound, and Best Animation at the 47th Gawad Urian Awards, Best Editing at the 72nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards, and Best Feature Film at the 17th International Animated Film Festival (IAFF) Animator.
Starring Carlo Aquino, Dolly De Leon, and Gio Gahol, Iti Mapukpukaw was produced by Project 8 Projects and was supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through the CreatePHFilms funding program.
The 28th FIFF was held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from July 18 until Aug. 4.
