Dwein Baltazar, Jerry Grácio, Auraeus Solito, and Rody Vera will be speaking in the USTingan Roundtable Discussion on Nov. 16, Friday, 4-6 p.m., at Central Laboratory Auditorium, 8/F, Central Laboratory Building of the University of Santo Tomas, España Blvd., Sampaloc, Manila.
The event, aptly titled “Silip sa Iskrip,” is organized by the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (UST CCWLS), with the cooperation of the UST Literary Society.
USTingan is the semestral informal gathering of writers, teachers, students, and lovers of literature, at which certain topics of contemporary interest — involving writing, publishing and popular culture — are discussed.
This semester’s USTingan will focus on contemporary scriptwriting in the Philippines.
Dwein Baltazar’s debut film, “Mamay Umeng” (2012), took home the Best Picture prize at the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea. Baltazar’s sophomore feature, “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus,” is currently traveling internationally.
Her third film, “Oda sa Wala,” bagged major awards including Best Film and Best Screenplay at this year’s QCinema International Film Festival.
Jerry B. Gracio is a poet who writes for film and television. He has won Palanca Awards for his poetry, fiction and screenplays, and the 2005 Makata ng Taon given by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino.
He won the Famas Best Original Screenplay for “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness” (2018), and the Golden Screen Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Ligo na Ü, Lapit na Me” (2011).
Auraeus Solito’s feature film “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros)” won 15 international awards including 3 awards at the Berlinale (The Teddy award, International Jury Prize at Kinderfest, and Special Mention from the Children’s Jury of Kinderfest).
It is also the first Philippine film nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Independent Spirit Awards in the US, and has been shown in more than 50 film festivals around the world.
Rody Vera is a playwright, screenwriter, actor and director. His film scripts include: “Boses” co-written with Froilan Medina, (Best Screenplay, Golden Eagle Film Awards); “Niño” (Best Film, 2011 Busan International Film Festival, South Korea, and Best Screenplay, Young Critics’ Circle 2011).
He also cowrote the critically acclaimed Cannes Film Festival entry to the Un Certain Regard titled “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” (Best Screenplay and Best Film, Urian 2014).
The event is open to creative writers, literary enthusiasts and the general public. Call Anna Nicolas at 4061611 local 8281 for seat reservations.