“Leonor Will Never Die” by Martika Ramirez Escobar earns nomination for Best International Film from the indie filmmakers governing body Spirit Awards
Critically- acclaimed Filipino film “Leonor Will Never Die” has been recognized internationally anew as it earned the nomination for Best International Film at the 2023 Spirit Awards.
The Spirit Awards is an award-giving, non-profit organization in the United States that recognizes indie filmmakers of low and mid-budget movies.
Spirit Awards refers to itself as the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round programs, “which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and promote diversity and inclusion within the filmed entertainment industry,” according to Inquirer.
The awards ceremony is set to happen on March 5, 2023 at the Santa Monica Pier in California where winners will be chosen exclusively by current Film Independent members and will receive full voting benefits such as access to nominee screeners.
“Leonor Will Never Die” is up against four other foreign films including “Corsage” by Marie Kreutzer, “Joyland” by Saim Sadiq, “Return to Seoul” by Davy Chou, and “Saint Omer” by Alice Diop, Rappler reported.
The film, directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar, follows a retired but once successful screenwriter, Leonor Reyes as played by Sheila Francisco, who finds herself comatose after her son’s death and losing grip of her own life as her bills are starting to pile up.
Just before falling into a coma, Leonor finds herself revisiting an unfinished script about a gangster trying to revenge for his brother’s murder, where she magically transported, her level of consciousness was altered and became part of her own script.
“Leonor” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2022 where Martika was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit and was also awarded the Amplify Voices Award at the Toronto International Film Festival as reported by NME.
Additionally, the film was acquired by Music Box Films for distribution in North America last February and It made its North American premiere at the 41st Hawaiʻi International Film Festival last November 8, and will be shown at the Metrograph in New York on November 25.
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