Joseph Laban
Encyclopedia
Joseph Israel Laban is an award-winning Filipino
journalist and independent filmmaker. He worked for the Philippine television programs The Probe Team
and Reporter's Notebook
of GMA News and Public Affairs
. He directed the short film Antipo and the full-length feature film Cuchera .
and forgiveness through the ancient tradition of "antipo" or self-flagellation, was an Official Selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
Short Film Corner.
and it had its International Premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
(TIFF) .
TIFF film programmer Steve Gravestock described it as "One of the most shocking debuts in recent Filipino cinema... Cuchera may turn out to be a watershed in Filipino film history — directly linking the melodramatic ferocity of the politically charged works of veteran directors like Joel Lamangan
and Carlos Siguion-Reyna with the more intimate style of what some have dubbed the Filipino New Wave."
(SEAPA) in 2007, Laban was also a contributing writer of the book Wrongs Against Rights: Impunity Across Southeast Asia, where he wrote about the challenges faced by the fledgling East Timor press and the country’s quest to find justice to human rights violations under the 25 years of Indonesian occupation.
at Diliman. He also attended New York University
on a Fulbright Scholarship for his Master’s degree in Journalism with a concentration in News and Documentary.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
journalist and independent filmmaker. He worked for the Philippine television programs The Probe Team
Probe (Philippine TV series)
Probe Profiles was a Philippine public affairs program being aired on ABS-CBN and on its sister cable channel, the ANC...
and Reporter's Notebook
Reporter's Notebook
Reporter's Notebook is an investigative news magazine television show in the Philippines hosted by senior reporters Jiggy Manicad and Maki Pulido and broadcast journalist Rhea Santos...
of GMA News and Public Affairs
GMA News and Public Affairs
GMA News and Public Affairs is the news department of the Philippine broadcaster GMA Network and its sister network GMA News TV...
. He directed the short film Antipo and the full-length feature film Cuchera .
Awards
Laban produced the documentary Batang Kalakal which was awarded with the Gold World Medal for Best Human Interest Story by the 2008 New York Festivals for Television , a Silver Screen Award at the 2008 US International Film and Video Festival and an Ani ng Dangal Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).Antipo
His short film Antipo, about a young man who seeks absolutionAbsolution
Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This concept is found in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican churches, and most Lutheran churches....
and forgiveness through the ancient tradition of "antipo" or self-flagellation, was an Official Selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
Short Film Corner.
Cuchera
Cuchera is Laban's first feature film. It deals with the grim fate of low-rent drug mules and their recruiters. The film was a Finalist at the 7th Cinemalaya Independent Film FestivalCinemalaya Independent Film Festival
The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film festival in the Philippines held annually in the month of July at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Its aim is the development and promotion of Filipino independent film...
and it had its International Premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
2011 Toronto International Film Festival
The 36th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 8 and September 18, 2011.Buenos Aires, Argentina was selected to be showcased for the 2011 City to City programme. The opening film was From the Sky Down, a documentary film about the band...
(TIFF) .
TIFF film programmer Steve Gravestock described it as "One of the most shocking debuts in recent Filipino cinema... Cuchera may turn out to be a watershed in Filipino film history — directly linking the melodramatic ferocity of the politically charged works of veteran directors like Joel Lamangan
Joel Lamangan
Joel Lamangan is a Filipino film director, television director and actor. He rose to fame in the early 1990s as an auteur dramatic filmmaker. His award-winning films includes Sidhi, Deathrow, Hubog, Aishte Imasu 1941, Blue Moon and Mano Po.On August 19, 2008, Lamangan directed his first indie movie...
and Carlos Siguion-Reyna with the more intimate style of what some have dubbed the Filipino New Wave."
Literature
In 2002, Laban wrote a one-act play on domestic violence which received recognition from the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.Book
As a Fellow of the Southeast Asian Press AllianceSoutheast Asian Press Alliance
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance is the only regional organization focused on promoting and protecting press freedom and freedom of expression in Southeast Asia...
(SEAPA) in 2007, Laban was also a contributing writer of the book Wrongs Against Rights: Impunity Across Southeast Asia, where he wrote about the challenges faced by the fledgling East Timor press and the country’s quest to find justice to human rights violations under the 25 years of Indonesian occupation.
Education
Laban obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing from the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
at Diliman. He also attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
on a Fulbright Scholarship for his Master’s degree in Journalism with a concentration in News and Documentary.