USLS short film ‘Isa Ka Higayon’ triumphs at SineDisipulo in Cebu

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Chelsea Tasic’s “Isa Ka Higayon” (One Time) brought home top honors in two major categories of SineDisipulo XIV recently organized by the University of San Carlos’ CINEMATA in Cebu.

Tasic was awarded Best Director while Jabez Tondo got the Best Editing prize in the 14th edition of the film festival, which showcased 20 narrative and documentary shorts from student filmmakers across Visayas and Mindanao, under the theme “Railways through the Regions.”

The double win at SineDisipulo serves as a powerful validation of regional storytelling, showcasing that high-caliber production and compelling narratives are flourishing outside the traditional capital-centric hubs.

SineDisipulo recognized Tasic’s cohesive vision and her ability to guide the narrative atmosphere with a distinct cinematic voice and Tondo’s editing which is a testament to the film’s rhythm and structure, highlighting how the assembly of shots maximized the story’s emotional stakes.

The momentum from these victories carried the film further into the national festival circuit when it competed in the student category of the 8th Sinag Maynila Film Festival, cementing Tasic’s reputation for technical precision and emotional depth.

Being selected for Sinag Maynila is a milestone for Tasic as an emerging filmmaker, as it allowed her film to engage with a wider audience and industry professionals. The festival is known for championing “independent cinema with a social conscience,” a description that aligns perfectly with the sincere and visceral nature of Tasic’s storytelling.

The success of “Isa Ka Higayon” is more than just a personal win for Tasic and her crew. By capturing the complexities of the human experience through a regional lens, the film contributes to a richer, more diverse Philippine cinema.

Tasic is a senior nursing student at University of St. La Salle in Bacolod. She is also a filmmaker whose work has been recognized at the Bacolod Film Festival in 2024 and Sine Negrense: The Negros Island Film Festival for the past three years.

“Isa Ka Higayon,” which was produced by the La Salle Film Society, also earned nominations for Best Film, Best Screenplay for Ayllyn Mhare Ureta, Best Actor for Albert John Paul Dillomes, Best Actress for Wilma Larrazabal, and Best Production Design for Gwen Deniega.

This year’s SineDisipulo was held at Kyurēto Art Space in partnership with SM J Mall Cebu. The film festival concluded with an awards night at the mall’s Izakaya Terrace.

“Ang Kabug Aton sa Nangabilin” by Herald Christian Guillena and Ma. Katrina Rustia won Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress for Vanessa Fe Feje.

The other awards went to “Asa si Mar-Mar?” by Shaina Rico (Special Jury Prize), “Pagdumdom” by Jessiah Makilan (Best Actor), “Young Heart” by Janine Icamen and Angela Legaspi (Best Production Design), “Di Lalim Di Lalum” by Nicole Reyes (Best Cinematography), and “Ang Boble Savage, Nagpahungaw sa iyang Emotional Baggage” by Mico Lorenzo Minerva.