Congratulations to UPFI Alumna, Bianca Balbuena for bagging the Producer of the Year award of the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF). Bianca is the first Filipino (and the youngest!) to receive this award.

 

Balbuena is the CEO and co-founder of Epicmedia Productions. In 2009, She began her career as one of the writers and producers of Pepe Diokno’s acclaimed debut feature “Engkuwentro” where she also played a supporting role. The film won two awards at the Venice Film Festival including the Venice Horizons Award.

In addition to producing and writing, Balbuena has also worked as assistant director and occasionally acted in several films as well.

Balbuena, who is best known for producing Lav Diaz’s Berlin-winning epic “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” and Bradley Liew’s debut film “Singing in Graveyards,” has also worked on box-office hits like Antoinette Jadaone’s “That Thing Called Tadhana” and Victor Villanueva’s “Patay na si Hesus” (which recently won best narrative feature at the Seattle Queer Film Festival). (Source: Inquirer)

In her interview with Inquirer, she said, “I’m only 30, but I feel I’ve exhausted myself fighting for cinema which is, most of the time, not very commercial.” She also added, “I don’t get paid, although I have stakes in the films.”

Up next for the indefatigable producer is Lav Diaz’s upcoming musical feature, “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw (Season of the Devil)” set to premiere early next year and Bradley Liew’s “Motel Acacia, which was part of the 2017 Jerusalem Sam Spiegel International Film Lab and has been supported by BiFan’s NAFF IT Project and EAVE Ties That Bind. (Source: Interaksyon)

 


Sources:

Producer Bianca Balbuena to be feted for achievements in Asia Pacific film industry

PH producer wins int’l honor