Documentary film “Alon!” has been nominated for Best Foreign Language Documentary, Best Director of Foreign Language Documentary, and Science and Education Award at the London International Cinema Festival happening from Feb. 8 to 15. The film was directed by Gabby Fernandez and produced under De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) as part of its Center for Campus Art’s gallery exhibit on plastic pollution.
To set the spotlight on plastic waste’s impact to the country’s waters, the film is told through the stories of local surfers who have become eco-warriors in light of the constant presence of trash in the seas. “Alon!” documents how surfers, scientists, and environmentalists have acted upon the looming dangers plastic poses to the planet, and are calling on others to do their part. It shows scenes from the country’s surfing communities of Siargao, La Union, Baler, Mati in Davao, Gubat in Sorsogon, and Sabang Daguitan in Leyte where plastic packages and containers have greatly contaminated the waters.
While it follows the narrative of the surfers, the film still tackles heavier issues on mindless consumerism and its relation to the profusion of plastic waste. Single-use plastics and poor proper waste disposal are singled out as reasons for the environment’s gradual collapse.
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With the aim to remind everyone of the perils of plastic pollution, DLS-CSB went around the country to screen the film for the featured surfing communities and various Lasallian schools including the Jaime Hilario School-De La Salle Bataan, University of St. La Salle Bacolod, and De La Salle Lipa.
The London International Cinema Festival is an annual event that showcases independent films from around the world, and conducts workshops, seminars, and meetings with the goal of connecting filmmakers to potential investors.
The production team behind “Alon!” hopes that the film will continue to resonate among people of all generations outside the Philippines, and that it will inspire them to take on the challenge of caring for the Earth.
Header photo screengrabbed from “Alon!” trailer
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Writer: THEA TORRES
