Watchtower (Turkey)We note that the 2012 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival is Its inaugurate Year for the NETPAC awards. Thirteen (13) films in all were programmed for NETPAC consideration:
- Undground (Australia)
- The Cremator (Peoples Republic of China)
- ThePatience Stone (Afganistan)
- Eagles (Israel)
- Comradee Kim Gors Flying (North Korea)
- Bwakaw (Philippines)
- The Cowards Who Looked To The Sky (Japan)
- A Werewolf Boy (South Korea)
- When I Saw You (Palestine)
- Juvenile Offender (South Korea)
- In TheName Of Love (Vietnamn)
- The Land Of Hope (Japan)
DELIBERATIONS: Majority of the films were strong in one or two aspects but generally falling short of a convincing choice. Discussion was narrowed down to The Land of Hope, Bwakaw, Juvenile Offender, A Werewolf Boy, When I Saw You, Watchtower, and The Patience Stone, with Bwakaw, The Land of Hope, and Juvenile Offender at the top. ELIGIBILITY: Following the NETPAC guidelines, UNDERGROUND AND BWAKAW were stricken off by the jury, as the former was produced by Australia and the latter had already won the NETPAC price in CINEMALAYA. Juvenile Offender got 2 votes while Land of Hope got the majority. All things being considered, Land of Hope had a more significant and universal theme and subject.