By Mark Vincent A. Durano

TAM DokyuFest (TDF) 2024 Best Documentary ‘Pitik ng Paglaya (Portraits of Freedom)’ urged to uphold journalists’ rights and protection while resisting media censorship at the awarding ceremony held at the FEUture Center Auditorium last May 13.

The winning film also claimed the award for Best Sound while director Zedrich Xylak Madrid of Eksena Noventa won as Best Director.

‘Pitik ng Paglaya’ follows the stories of media suppression experienced by Ed Gerlock and Romeo Mariano during the Martial Law era and Donn Jessie De Guzman in the present.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Madrid shared the documentary’s goals to defend press freedom and amplify the relevance of journalism in current events.

“Dagdag ko na rin kung ano ‘yung mga naranasan ng mga mamamahayag sa Estado na ito and gusto ko sana ‘yung goals ko na ito is ma-promote na bigyang pansin ang mga mamamahayag at dapat pahalagahan ang mamamahayag (I will also add what journalists experience in this State and I want my goals to promote giving attention to journalists and that journalists should be valued),” he said.

Madrid also expressed his aim to amplify the truth spoken by journalists and emphasized to not demean their work.

“Being a photojournalist serves as [an] extension of the truth. With a camera, we prove that there's authenticity in providing news, saying that we are there,” he added.

The Best Director recipient also stated he came up with the production’s idea from his experiences as a student journalist.

“I am a photojournalist, ilang year na rin simula nung high school and naging calling sa akin ‘to na parang ‘Ah gagawan ko ng dokyu ‘to’ (I am a photojournalist for how many years since high school and this became a calling for to like ‘Ah I will make a documentary about this’),” Madrid recalled.

Moreover, ‘Remnants of the Lost Childhood’ by Belle Samson followed as Special Jury Prize (2nd Best Documentary) and bagged Best Cinematography.

‘A Bad Name’ by Robbie Capio won both Special Jury Mention (3rd Best Documentary) and Best Editing.

The event also awarded ‘Recto Records’ by Jego Rafael as Audience Choice, ‘Hanap Patay (Deadlihood)’ by Cathleen Cajucom as Best Teaser, and ‘Si Quali Hindu Pa Tempe Reket: An Eldest's Odyssey’ by Ryqua Galvan as Best Poster.

Meanwhile, Far Eastern University Department of Communication spearheaded live viewings of the 14 finalist entries at the Arts Building Cinema Room last May 6.

The festival qualifiers were also available for free viewing via Cinemata from May 3 to 14.

Now in its second installation, TDF is a documentary film festival participated by third-year Communication students.

(Photo by Mark Vincent A. Durano/FEU Advocate)