Allan Michael Ibañez, Film Director and Writer,
Debuts Award-winning Movie
by Edsel Arceo
The passion of Brod Allan Ibañez for films took flight when he was studying in
U.P. Diliman. Even if his major was B.S.Statistics, he took film and theater
classes which inspired him to share stories through writing, directing, and
acting. Later on, he sought mentorship under Ricky Lee after attending his
scriptwriting workshop. He then started his film career with the following
television and independent features:
o Writer - Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita (ABS-CBN TV Program)
o Writer - Huling Palo (Independent Full-Length Feature)
o Brainstormer - Lauriana (Screenplay by Ricky Lee)
o Actor - Aquarium, Paru-paro, Panu Kung?, and Kama/BENCHingko
(Full-Length and Short Films)
o Director and Writer – Ang Mga Kamatayan ni Anna, Tubig at Bigas, and
Sindi (Short Films)
Allan Michael Ibañez
UPD '09
“1st Sem” is a Filipino independent comedy-drama film directed and written
by Brod Allan together with Dexter Hemedez in their feature-film directorial
debut. The film stars Lotlot De Leon, Darwin Yu, and Allan Paule. It is about a
single mother who sends her son to a prestigious university, only to find him
home after experiencing separation anxiety. What follows is a re-examination of
the mother and son relationship.
“1st Sem” has won several awards at the following International Film
Festivals:
o Grand Jury Prize, San Diego International Kids Film Festival
(California, USA)
o Gold Remi Award, Worldfest Houston International Film Festival
(Texas, USA)
o Best Supporting Actress, Lotlot De Leon, Worldfest Houston
International Film Festival (Texas, USA)
o Official Selection, Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival (New York,
USA)
o Official Selection, Kids First International Film Festival (New Mexico, USA)
o Award of Recognition in Cinematography, Neil Daza, Cinema Worldfest Awards
(Ottawa, Canada)
o Best Debut Feature, All Lights India International Film Festival (Hyderabad,
India)
o Special Jury Award, Lotlot De Leon, All Lights India International Film
Festival (Hyderabad, India)
o Culture Exchange Award, Seoul Guro Kids International Film Festival (Seoul,
South Korea)
o Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board (Manila, Philippines)
o Recipient of 3 Indie Bravo Awards by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Manila,
Philippines)
o Recipient of Ani ng Dangal Award by the National Commission for Culture and
the Arts (Manila, Philippines)
o Recipient of Film Ambassador Award by the Film Development Council of the
Philippines (Manila, Philippines)
“1st Sem” was shown at the San Diego International Kids Film Festival, set in California from August 25-27, 2017. The festival featured over 150 films from at least 30 countries. The event emphasized positive educational impact on children and the youth, and actively supports innovative films from around the globe. Brod Allan’s debut film won the Grand Jury Prize at this International Film Festival.
“1st Sem” had its Los Angeles Premier Screening at The Art Theater in Long Beach, California on September 14, 2017. Brods Willie Vergara, Norman Bituin and Edsel Arceo attended the movie screening and had a get-together with Brod Allan.
LA Premier Screening at The Art Theater, Long Beach, CA, Sep. 14, 2017.
"Happy hour" before the show: WillieV, EdselA and NormB with co-writers/producers/directors Brod Allan Ibañez and Dexter Hemedez.
The co-writers/producers/directors Allan and Dexter acknowledging the movie crowd; and after the movie, UP Betans say goodbye for now.
“1st Semester” will be shown in the following two International Film Festivals
in California and New York:
o Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, to be held in Big Bear Lake,
California, from September 18-24, 2017. Now on its 11th year, this festival aims
to showcase, promote, and connect deserving filmmakers within the local,
national, and international community.
o 12th Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival in Niagara, New York, from
September 20-30, 2017. This festival not only captures the essence of what
filmmaking is all about, it also encapsulates the essence of the filmmakers
themselves.
Brod Allan was the recipient of the Brotherhood of Scholars Program II – 2010
together with Brod Ezzy Escoto, UPD ’10. They visited Los Angeles, Las Vegas,
Sacramento, Napa Valley, San Francisco, San Jose, and Hawaii. Brod Ezzy is
currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Applied Physics under a Scholarship
Grant in Germany.
*Web note: To read Brods Allan Ibañez and Ezzy Escoto's 2010 USA scholarship and adventure, click: Brotherhood of Scholars II - 2010: A Running Pictorial (in Chapters>Central>Updates>2010 Oct 16).
Sample pictures of Brods Allan '09 and Ezzy '10 in Brotherhood of Scholars II - 2010
(UP Beta Sigma Southern California Chapter)
(UP Beta Sigma Northern California Chapter)