Director Bona Fajardo first worked as art director and production designer of the late Marilou Abaya in such prestige, award-winning films as “Jose Rizal” and “Muro Ami”. In 2002, he won the best production design award in the Metro Filmfest for the film “Utang ni Tatang” directed by Jon Red and starring Joel Torre.
He also worked as production designer for the movie “Astigmatism” with Robin Padilla in 2004 that won the Silver award in the Hong Kong International Filmfest. He first directed a movie in 2005, “Miss Pinoy”, an advocacy film about OFW’s in Hong Kong starring Judy Ann Santos. This was followed by “Iliw”, a period film set in Vigan and Baguio during World War II and starring Kaye Abad with some Japanese actors.
It won the NCCA or National Commission for Culture and the Arts Competitive Grant as an entry in the Cinemanila Filmfest in 2009. He was also the line producer of last year’s hit with Viva, “Camp Sawi”, that was also shot on location in Bantayan Island off Cebu.
“Iba yung mga lugar na ipinakita sa ‘Camp Sawi’ at iba rin yung mga ipapakita naming backdrop ng love story nina Roxanne at Will dito sa ‘I Found My Heart in Santa Fe’, not yet shown in any other movie,” he says. “We chose to shoot in Santa Fe para maipakita naman sa viewers ang kagandahan ng Pilipinas. My advocacy is to show on film yung breathtaking scenery sa bansa natin na hindi pa naipapakita in other movies.”
“I Found My Heart in Santa Fe” opens in SM Theatres as part of CineLokal on September 15. Don’t miss it!
