Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — A full-length movie and a short film featuring Gloria Sevilla, both directed by her daughter Suzette Ranillo, will have a special screening event at the San Diego Filipino Film Festival in October.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Final Word on Thursday, Ranillo said these were the last films of her mom before she passed away.
Ranillo, also an actress, said she directed the short film Nang Em (2020) during the pandemic, while her feature film Pagbalik (2019) starred her, Sevilla, and her nephew.
\”With Nang Em, it was COVID time… It was the height of the pandemic so I wanted to be busy and divert my attention from the anxiety and paranoia of the situation,\” she said.
Nang Em is about how an 85-year-old woman survived the pandemic, while Pagbalik revolves around a troubled overseas Filipino worker forced to return home and come to terms with the family she left behind.
\”Most of the scenes were actually real scenes and real experiences of her,\” Ranillo added.
Sevilla was named as \”Queen of Visayan Movies.\” She has been in the Filipino film industry for more than 70 years.
The veteran actress died last year in Oakland Hills, California at age 90.
She was known for her award-winning roles in \”Maestra,\” \”M: Mother’s Maiden Name,\” \”Madugong Paghihiganti,\” and \”Gimingaw Ako.\”
Sevilla will be honored after the screening event at the film festival and will receive a Lifetime Achievement and an Uliran Filipino Artist award.
Returning for its third year, the San Diego Filipino Film Festival will run from Oct. 3 to 8 at AMC Plaza Bonita and The Lot Liberty Station.
