Queen of Indie Film Festival Cataleya Surio would like to believe that when it rains, it pours.
Cataleya felt she had a lucky 2021 because she won Best Actress for the film “Paano Bihisan ang Isang Ina” directed by Tim Rone Villanueva at the 1st Radfest held online among the competing actresses from twenty narrative shorts.
It’s an honor for Surio to have bested veterans like Susan Africa who won Best Supporting Actress for the film “Noontime Drama.”
“Nagtapos ang taon na masuwerte ako (The year ended that I was lucky),” exclaimed Kat.
According to Cataleya, being part of the no-nonsense full-length films “40 Days” by Neal “Buboy” Tan; “The Brokers” and “Kandidato” both by Daniel Palacio and “Pula” by Brillante Ma. Mendoza is priceless.
“Mga respetadong direktor ang mga ‘yan (They’re respected directors),” qualified Surio.
Among the films, “The Brokers” was the only screened project last year at the Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan, the rest are waiting for their right play dates.
“40 Days” stars James Blanco, Ina Alegre and Michelle Vito; “The Brokers” top bills JC de Vera; “Kandidato” features Blanco and Janna Victoria while “Pula” teams up Coco Martin and Julia Montes with Raymart Santiago.
Although short films, “Serbidora” by Zig Dulay and a short feature by Mendoza for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) are also quality projects, assured Kat.
Surio emphasized she dedicated her Radfest Best Actress award to the late Orestes Ojeda. “Siya ang aking leading man at mula sa langit, alam ko pong buo puso kayong nakangiti (He was may leading man and from above, I know that you, Tito Orestes is smiling for my victory),” she quipped.
The other winners in the 2021 Radfest were: “Noontime Drama.” Best Short Film; Michael Deo Macaraig, Best Actor (“17:14”); Neil Suarez, Best Supporting Actor (“KIko”); Andrew Legados Figueroa, Best Child Performer (“Kiko”) and Kim Timan and Sam Villareal, Best Directors (“Noontime Drama”).
“Sana, mas masuwerte ang 2022 (I hope 2022 is luckier),” Cataleya prayed.