Maguindanao massacre film '58th' wins in New Zealand's Oscar-qualifying docu festival

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MANILA, Philippines — Filipino animated documentary film "58th" won a prize in New Zealand's prestigious Doc Edge, an Oscar-qualifying festival for documentary features and shorts.

The rotoscope animation movie based on the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre and directed by Carl Joseph Papa won the "Facing the Edge" award in the Festival Category.

Only winners of the International and New Zealand competitions are eligible for Academy Award consideration, but the honor is a step forward for "58th" as it pushes for more festival screenings and recognitions.

Producer Nessa Valdellon, also GMA Pictures' Executive Vice President, was present at the awarding ceremony last July 1 to receive the honor, having also participated in the film festival as a Wayfinder or mentor at Doc Edge Pitch.

Filipina documentary director and Oscar voter in the Documentary category Baby Ruth Villarama was part of this year's Doc Edge jury panel.

Last year, Vilarrama's West Philippine Sea documentary "Food Delivery" won the "Tides of Change" award of the Festival Category.

Leading the New Zealand competition winners were Jon Earle's "featherStrength" for features and Loren Jalyn Kett's "Gloria" for shorts.

Related: '58th,' 'Filipiñana' to continue festival run before local releases

The International competition saw Hélène Lam Trong's "Inside Gaza" for features and Margaux Fournier's "If You Don't Like It, Look Away" for shorts earning the top prizes.

"58th" centers on Reynaldo "Bebot" Momay (Ricky Davao in his final role), the titular 58th victim of the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre whose body was never found.

The movie also stars Glaiza de Castro as Bebot's daughter Maria Reynafe "Nenen" Castillo, plus a supporting cast that includes Mikoy Morales, Marco Masa, Zyren dela Cruz, and Biboy Ramirez.

It made its world premiere at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands earlier this year and competed in the Contrechamp section of next week's Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.

Valdellon previously told Philstar.com that "58th" would continue making film festival rounds before a limited theatrical run in the Philippines sometime in September.

This as it continues to make a case to be the Philippines' entry to next year's Academy Awards under the International Feature Film category, as well as become eligible in other categories like Documentary and Animation.

RELATED: What it takes to make the cut: How the Philippines' Oscars entries are selected