Lone Mindanaoan Sine Kabataan film ‘Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan’ showcases regional talent
Lone Mindanaoan Sine Kabataan film ‘Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan’ showcases regional talent
SINEGANG.ph published this press release as sponsored by Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan. No staff writer participated in writing this article.
Eighteen-year-old Nabunturanon filmmaker Von Jorge Actub steps into the national spotlight with Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan, the lone entry from Mindanao in this year’s Sine Kabataan 8.
The short film presents a meditative exploration of childhood faith, rural survival, and the quiet weight of inherited beliefs—all seen through the lens of Mindanaoan sensibilities.
Actub first made his mark with his debut short Himaya sa Inahan, which garnered recognition at local film festivals including the 22nd Mindanao Film Festival (MFF), Cinema Rehiyon 17, and the 21st CineMapúa Student Short Film Festival. With his latest work, Actub continues to champion stories rooted in Mindanaoan culture.
The film follows Batoy, a young boy who turns to rice as a source of ritual, remedy, and myth. In a home shadowed by fatigue and unspoken bruises, his small acts of faith collide with a reality far harsher than his innocence can comprehend.
What begins as a mimicry of inherited rituals transforms into a desperate attempt to mend the fractures of his world, a narrative that mirrors the struggles of Filipino farmers trapped in an unforgiving system.
“In this film, I wanted to explore the quiet tragedy of a child outgrowing magical thinking, not in a single shattering moment, but through small, imperceptible erosions,” said Actub. “It is, in many ways, a coming-of-age story that also reflects the unfortunate, harsh realities faced by our farmers.”
Produced by Juvy Ann Clarito, last year’s Sine Kabataan winner for Sa Ilalum sa Balabal sa Alitaptap (Beneath the Firefly Veil), Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan is further elevated by the visual mastery of acclaimed Mindanao filmmaker Bagane Fiola, who brings his signature eye for authentic landscapes to the cinematography, captured in the scenic fields of Maragusan, Nabunturan, Davao de Oro.
With painterly frames that breathe with life, the film positions the rice fields not as a mere backdrop but as a living presence: a witness to cycles of endurance and depletion, resilience and resignation.
This year’s festival becomes a stage for regional voices to take the spotlight, proving that powerful narratives thrive far beyond the capital.
Sa Tumoy sa Walay Kahumanan will premiere at the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ annual Sine Kabataan Film Festival, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of the youth and regional stories across the country. The festival runs from September 5 to 7.
