Nelson “Blog” Caliguia Jr.’s animated short film “Sulayman,” based on the Maguindanao folktale “Indarapatra and Sulayman,” triumphed at two Florida film festivals. The film won Best Animated Film at the PENSACON Short Film Festival and Best Animation (Traditional) at the FantaSci Short Film Festival.
“Sulayman,” an eight-minute short featuring music and sound design by Pepe Manikan, explores the sacrifices heroes make to save others. It follows the titular warrior as he uses his skills, compassion, and dedication to combat threats to his hometown’s peace.
Funded by the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Innovation Grant Program, the film was created in response to the global crisis impacting the creative industry during the pandemic lockdowns.
“One of the things I thought about is the technical requirements. Because I need to fit the story within a manageable timeframe and within the resources available,” Caliguia Jr. stated in a PhilStar report.
The filmmaker emphasized the importance of retaining the original tale’s elements and cultural significance, ensuring the short film maintained a “Filipino local vibe.”
This recognition marks Caliguia Jr.’s first international award, having previously only been a finalist in international festivals despite winning local animation awards.
Caliguia Jr. hopes the success of “Sulayman” will inspire young animators to create content rooted in Philippine culture and raise awareness of original Filipino animation.
“Mas magandang mabigyan ng spotlight ‘yung mga locally paid animation projects made by actual homegrown Filipino artists,” he concluded.
