Big Night
Multiple award-winning director Jun Robles Lana (winner of the Best Director award at the 2019 edition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival) is back with a bold, pitch-dark and high-pitched comedy that critiques the violence-ridden “war on drugs” under Duterte’s regime in the Philippines.
The film follows one long night in the life of Dharna (exceptionally performed by Christian Bables) who is a law-abiding and peace-loving gay beautician minding his own business while running a small salon in the slums of Manila. When he finds out that his name has been placed in the neighborhood “watchlist” of drug users, his life takes a sudden turn for the worst. Everybody knows that the watchlist is a hitlist and he must do his best to get his name off. What is at once a harrowing journey is also deftly dealt by Lana’s steady-handed direction to present a comedy of farces that is fiercely critical of a society in which values are distorted—while, also, delivering emotional punches to the gut.
Aiko Masubuchi
Jun Robles Lana (1972) graduated from the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Communication Arts. He is the youngest Filipino to be inducted in the Palanca Literary Awards (Philippines’ equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize) Hall of Fame. His first indie film, “Bwakaw”, won several international awards and was screened at Toronto, New York and Tokyo film festivals and was the Philippines’ Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film in 2012. His 18th full-length film, “Kalel, 15”, won the Best Director Award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Official Selection. His two last films, “Big Night” (2021) and “Your Mother’s Son” (2023), have also participated in PÖFF competition programmes.
Filmography:
(valik/selected): Gigil (2006), Bwakaw (2012), The Panti Sisters (2019), Kalel, 15 (PÖFF 2019), Big Night (Viimane võimalus PÖFF 2021), Anak Ka Ng Ina Mo (Sinu ema poeg, 2023), Sisa (2025)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela
