Muro Ami is a Filipino film

Cinema of the Philippines

Cinema of the Philippines started with the introduction of the first moving pictures to the country on January 1, 1897 at the Salón de Pertierra in Manila. The following year, local scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniard, Antonio Ramos, using the Lumiere Cinematograph...

 that depicts one of the worst forms of child labor

Child labor

Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...

 in the illegal fishing system. Fredo is the ruthless captain of 150 Muro Ami divers. The illegal fishing is done by pounding and crushing corals underwater to scare the fishes and drive them towards the nets. With a high quota to meet, Fredo forces the divers, who consist mostly of children, to accomplish at least eight dives a day to meet their goal before the millennium. Tired and harassed after the burdensome task being given to them, the children have to make do in subhuman conditions in the Muro Ami boat, The Aurora. They sleep in rat-infested bunks and are fed only twice a day. Life above the water in the boat is much worse than the suffering the children encounter beneath the sea. For every dive, a child's life is perilously in danger.

On January 22, 2008, filmmaker Nick Deocampo, Director

Executive director

Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...

 of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) announced the holding of a Ricardo Lee Film Festival from February 4 to 10, 2008 - the World Arts Festival under Mayor Tito Sarion, in Daet city, Camarines Norte

Camarines Norte

Camarines Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Daet and the province borders Quezon to the west and Camarines Sur to the south.-Demographics:...

. Lee’s scripts became Philippine cinema

Film

A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 classics

Classics

Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...

 of Philippine cinema, which made the 2nd golden age of 1980 Filipino movies. 5 films will be shown in the festival: Gina Alajar

Gina Alajar

Regina Alatiit also known as Gina Alajar was born on in Manila, she is a FAMAS and Gaward Urian Award winning Filipino film actress and television director.-Present Career and Issue:...

's "Salome

Salome

Salome , the Daughter of Herodias , is known from the New Testament...

," "Anak

Anak

According to the Book of Numbers, during the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites, Anak was a well known figure, and a forefather of the Anakites who have been considered "strong and tall," they were also said to have been a mixed race of giant people, descendants of the Nephilim...

," "Muro Ami," "Gumapang Ka sa Lusak", and "Memories of Old Manila".

Awards and Citations

Winner of thirteen awards of its sixteen nominations at the 1999 Metro Manila Film Festival

Metro Manila Film Festival

upright|thumb|320px|Metro Manila Film Festival Official LogoThe Metro Manila Film Festival-Philippines is the annual film festival held in Manila...

 including Best Child Performer (Rebecca Lusterio), Best Story (Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Ricardo Lee, Jun Lana), Best Screenplay (Ricardo Lee and Jun Lana), Best Director (Marilou Diaz-Abaya) and Best Picture. It also received the Jury and Public Choice Award in the Bénodet

Bénodet

Bénodet is a commune in the Finistère département in Brittany in northwestern France.The name Benoded means in Breton, "mouth of the Odet". It is about 16 kilometres south of Quimper....

 Filmfest in France.

Production

Direction: Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Marilou Diaz-Abaya is a multi-awarded film director in the Philippines.She is the founder and current president of the Marilou Diaz Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school based in Antipolo City, Philippines....

Screenplay: Ricardo Lee

Ricky Lee

Ricky Lee is a Filipino scriptwriter. He has written more than a hundred film scripts since 1979, earning for him more than 50 trophies from award-giving bodies...

 and Jun Lana

Cinematography: Rody Lacap

Film Editing: Jesus Navarro

Production Design: Leo Abaya

Art Direction: Bonna Fajardo and Mannix Mateo

Music: Nonong Buencamino

Producers: Butch Jimenez, Jimmy Duavit, Marilou Diaz-Abaya

Cast

• Cesar Montano
  César Montano
  Cesar Manhilot, known by his screen name Cesar Montano, is a multi-awarded Filipino actor and film director.He started in show business as a stuntman. He played roles in numerous B movies...
  
   - Fredo
• Pen Medina - Dado
• Amy Austria
  Amy Austria
  Amy Austria-Ventura is a FAMAS and Gawad Urian Award-winning Filipino film and television actress....
  
   - Susan
• Jhong Hilario
  Jhong Hilario
  Virgilio Hilario, Jr. , better known by his stage name Jhong Hilario, is a Filipino actor and dancer. He is part of the dance group Streetboys in the Philippines....
  
   - Butong
• Rebecca Lusterio
  Rebecca Lusterio
  Rebecca Lusterio is a Gawad Urian and FAMAS award-winning Filipino actress.-Biography:...
  
   - Kalbo
• Jerome Sales - Filemon
• Teodoro Penaranda Jr. - Tabugok

External links

• Site about Muro Ami