The RIO DE JANEIRO INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL – CURTA CINEMA - is a competitive festival for 16mm and 35mm films and digital videos which takes place annually in the months of November/December in at least three venues in Rio de Janeiro. The CURTA CINEMA is the main forum in Rio de Janeiro for the exhibition and discussion of the importance of shorts in the film industry, with the intention of showing to the audience the international production of films in this format.

Best Documentary Short Film:
International Title: RUGBY BOYZ
Portuguese Title: MENINOS DO RÚGBI
by Khavn, Philippines

Eduardo Cerveira, Programming Coordinator, Rio De Janeiro International Short Film Festival

One of the jury members, Beth Sá Freire, International Programmer, Sao Paulo International Short Film Festival:
"Rugby Boyz had already captivated me while seeing it at our selection in Sao Paulo. It's true, simple, raw, fun sometimes... exactly as the Boyz' lives. It's very short, objective and catches us at once. Similar realities with Brazil I guess."

AWARDS

• Best Documentary, Curtacinema, Rio De Janeiro International Short Film Festival, Brazil, 2006
• Special Mention Documentary Prize, Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival, Canada, 2006
• Special Mention Jury Prize, Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, 2006

FESTIVALS

• Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival, Czech Republic, 2006
• 7th Lucania Film Festival, Italy, 2006
• 13th L'Alternativa Barcelona Independent Film Festival., 2006
• Amsterdam Film Experience, The Netherlands, 2006
• Shoot Me Film Festival, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2006
• Sao Paulo International Short Film Festival, Brazil, 2006
• Hamburg International Short Film Festival, Germany, 2006
• Vila Do Conde International Short Film Festival, 2006
• Busan Asian Short Film Festival, 2006
• Politically Incorrect Film Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2006
• 35th Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2006

TORONTO

Khavn's "Rugby Boyz" (Philippines) has just won in the 10th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival held last November 15-19, 2006. Khavn received the

Special Mention Award for Documentary, presented by the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada. The jury was composed of Cameron Bailey (writer, broadcaster and film programmer), Ann Marie Fleming (filmmaker, writer and artist), and Brenda Longfellow (filmmaker, writer and film theorist).

"Rugby Boyz" begins with Filipino boys playing a game of rugby football in the slums. Running, laughing and tackling, these boys demonstrate that even in the most desperate of conditions, youth will find the will to live. Taking us through their day, the filmmaker reveals more of their adventures. Watching them at the karaoke bar and swimming hole, we can only begin to realize the complexity of their situations.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. Works include films and videos by East and Southeast Asian artist in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world. Reel Asian has been named Toronto’s Best Small Festival by NOW Magazine: “(Reel Asian) strikes the best balance between cutting edge and community. Strong programming and deep roots attract a super-hyphenated tribe.”

Khavn´s latest work, Rugby Boyz, has just won in the 52nd Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, one of the oldest and most renowned film festivals in the world. It received the Special Mention Prize from the Jury of the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia last May 9.

The members of the jury were Theda Kluth from Düsseldorf, Agnes Meyer-Brandes from Köln, Michael Girke from Herford, Claudia Siefen from Köln, and Rainer Komers from Mülheim/Ruhr. The Jury gave this statement: "Rugby Boyz is a documentary about boys living in Philippine slums. With a unique colour and lighting design and a poetic narrative approach, the filmmaker manages to show the boys’ indomitable will to live and the fragility of their situation in life."

Aside from the International Competition section of Oberhausen, Rugby Boyz was also shown in the Kids And Youth programme, the only international Children’s and Youth Films Competition in Germany.

Rugby Boyz had its world premiere in Rotterdam International Film Festival early this year. Gertjan Zuilhof writes in the catalogue: "Slim and cheerful boys. They seem to be playing rugby without a care. Maybe because they don’t have anything to worry about. Just one of the slums in the Philippines. A documentary doesn’t need to be long. This one already says more than enough."

It has been shown locally at the Cine Veritas Human Rights Film Festival in the UP Film Center, at the Ateneo Video Open, and at the Kampo Sining Pambata, a summer camp for children from urban poor communities, held last May in Antipolo.

Rugby Boyz is about boys who know the dual essence of rugby: playing football and sniffing solvent. They tell vampire jokes, rap about river deaths, and dive like jack-knives into the murky water. The cruel irony of the hope these children bring.

Rugby Boyz is directed, written, and produced by Khavn. Cinematography by Albert Banzon. Assistant direction by Rayg Generoso. Editing by Caloy Carlos. English translation by Merv Espina. Produced by Filmless Films. Running time: eight minutes.

Rugby Boyz is included in the first volume DVD of Khavn’s short-film collection which is exclusively sold in Datelines Bookstore (Cubao Shoe Expo) and Mag:net (Katipunan, ABS-CBN, & Paseo).

For more info, go to Khavn's website: www.kamiasroad.com.