A Singaporean movie titled “Ilo Ilo” featuring Filipino actress Angeli Bayani was declared as the top prize winner for the best first feature film competition at the British Film Institute’s (BFI) London Film Festival 2013. The BFI London Film Festival 2013 took place on October 9-20.
The highly-acclaimed award, “The Sutherland Award” was given to the movie, “Ilo Ilo” the award is presented to the director of the most original and imaginative feature debut in the festival.
The movie “Ilo Ilo” has been gathering momentum in the past few months, gaining positive feedback from Toronto to Cannes. The movie is written and directed by Singaporean’s Anthony Chen. The set of the movie is during the beginning of the Asian financial crisis in 1997, it follows the relationship of an affluent family in Singapore as they hire a new maid.
The maid was played by Filipino actress Angeli Bayani, who forms a striking friendship with the young boy in her care, the boy was played by Singaporean child actor, Koh Jia Ler.
The jury of the 2013 London Film Festival includes actress Emilia Fox, BAFTA award-winning director Susanna White, the Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Broadbent, and BAFTA and Tony-winning actor Stephen Dillane.
The movie “Ilo Ilo” is the official entry of Singapore in the highly-anticipated Academy Awards for “foreign language films.” Singapore’s “Ilo Ilo” will be released in major Philippine cinemas this coming December 4, 2013.
Watch the trailer of “Ilo Ilo” below: