Carl Joseph Echague Papa is a Filipino filmmaker and animator. He is known for rotoscoping adult animated films deal with mature subject matters and themes of family issues, including Manang Biring (2015) and Iti Mapukpukaw (2023). His films have been screened at film festivals worldwide and received multiple awards.

Carl Joseph Papa
Papa at the APSA in 2024
Born
Metro Manila, Philippines
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines
Occupations
  • Film director
  • Animator
Years active2005–present

Career

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Papa was originally chosen as a software engineer when he was an alumni of University of the Philippines and pursue his career as a Java consultant at Orange and Bronze Software Labs,[1] he took filmmaking instead to develop cutout animated short films Ang Prinsesa, ang Prinsipe at si Marlborita (2012) and iNay (2013).[2]

He made his directorial debut live action film, a semi-autobiographical experimental drama The Unforgetting (2014) about a young woman struggle to preserve happy memories and forgetting painful ones when her mother left. The film was screened at QCinema International Film Festival.[3][4]

He gained local recognition for his adult animated films: a black comedy-drama Manang Biring (2015), which won him the Best Film at the 2015 Cinema One Originals, the first animated film to do so,[5] a musical Paglisan (2018), which won him another Best Film at the 2018 Cinema One Originals,[6] and psychological drama science-fiction Iti Mapukpukaw (2023). The latter garnered several awards, including Best Film at the 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and 47th Gawad Urian Awards, the first animated film to do so, and immense media attention for his submission as the Philippine entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards, the first animated film to be submitted by the Philippines.[7]

In addition of directorial films, he is writing several live-action comedy films including Asuang (2018), Mang Jose (2021), and Boys at the Back (2024).[8][9][10]

Upcoming projects

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He is currently working on his animated films, Sentinel and 58th, the former with producer Geo Lomuntad, although it never came to fruition through further updates as of 2024.[11] The latter describes as a documentary about the Maguindanao massacre that took place in 2009.[12] The film portrays Glaiza de Castro as Ma. Reynafe Momay-Castillo, a daughter of the disappeared photojournalist Reynaldo "Bebot" Momay, alongside Ricky Davao, Mikoy Morales, Biboy Ramirez, Marco Masa, and Zyren Dela Cruz are announced to be part of the cast line-up.[12]

Style and themes

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With the exception of The Unforgetting and Homecoming, Papa's directorial films are entirely animated with different types of animation: cutout, child art, and rotoscoping. Each films have recorded in live-action or voice recording with storyboard process during pre-production before the animation process in post-production.[13] Additionally, most directorial films have notable, well-known cast members including Cherry Pie Picache, Ian Veneracion, Eula Valdez, Khalil Ramos, Carlo Aquino, and Dolly de Leon.

Papa's films have mature subject matters, often focus on the Philippines' daily lives and family issues such as abandonment (The Unforgetting), cancer and death (Manang Biring), dementia and depression (Paglisan), incest and sexual abuse (Iti Mapukpukaw), and teenage pregnancy (iNay).[14]

Filmography

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Feature films

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Year English Title Original Title Director Writer Editor Notes Ref.
2014 The Unforgetting Ang ‘Di Paglimot Ng Mga Ala-Ala Yes Yes No Directorial debut; also producer [4][3]
2015 Old Woman Biring Manang Biring Yes Yes Yes
  • Also animator
  • Actor: Dream Nurse
[5]
2018 The Leaving Paglisan Yes Yes Yes
  • Also animation compositor and lyricist ("Hari ng kwento", "Buhay teatro", "Pagod na", "Ten Past Eleven")
  • Actor: Doctor
[6]
Asuang No Yes No [8]
2021 Mang Jose No Yes No [9]
2023 The Missing Iti Mapukpukaw Yes Yes No [7]
2024 Boys at the Back No Yes No Also story by [10]
2025 58th Yes Yes No [12]
TBA Sentinel Yes Yes No [11]

Short films

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Year English Title Original Title Director Writer Editor Notes Ref.
2012 The Princess, the Prince and Marlborita Ang Prinsesa, ang Prinsipe at si Marlborita Yes Yes Yes Also producer, animator, cinematographer, and production designer [15]
2013 Homecoming Ti Panagawid Yes No Yes Also producer and cinematographer
Mother iNay[16] Yes Yes Yes Also producer, animator, cinematographer, and production designer
2017 Love Bites Yes Yes Yes

Television series

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Year English Title Original Title Director Writer Editor Notes Ref.
2021 Puto No Yes No 2 episodes

Awards

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FAMAS Awards

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1 win out of 5 nominations
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 Best Original Screenplay Asuang Nominated [17]
Best Original Song Paglisan Won [18]
2024 Best Director Iti Mapukpukaw Nominated [19]
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Visual Effects Nominated

Gawad Urian Awards

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1 win out of 4 nominations
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 Pinakamahusay na Direksyon (Best Director) Paglisan Nominated [20]
2024 Iti Mapukpukaw Nominated [21]
Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula (Best Screenplay) Nominated
Pinakamahusay na Animasyon (Best Animation) Won

Film festivals awards

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9 (including runner-up) win out of 19 nominations
Film festival Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024 Contrechamp Grand Prix Iti Mapukpukaw Nominated [22]
Cinema One Originals Film Festival 2015 Best Film Manang Biring Won [23]
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
Audience Award Nominated
Champion Bughaw Award Won
2019 Best Film Paglisan Won [24]
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
Best Editing Nominated
Cinemanila International Film Festival 2012 Young Cinema Competition – Best Short Film) Ang Prinsesa, ang Prinsipe at si Marlborita Won
2013 Ti Panagawid Nominated
Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2023 Best Film Iti Mapukpukaw Won [25]
NETPAC Full-length Feature Award Won
Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation – Special Jury Mention (Best Animated Feature) Iti Mapukpukaw Won [26]
Audience Awards – Best Animated Feature Silver [27]
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024 Grand Prix Iti Mapukpukaw Nominated [28]
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024 FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film Iti Mapukpukaw Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Carl Joseph Papa on Linkedin".
  2. ^ "Carl Joseph E. Papa". iffr.com. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Ang Di Paglimot ng mga Alaala". QCinema International Film Festival. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Turner, Alix (January 8, 2024). "An Interview With Carl Joseph Papa: The Missing". 25YL. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Lone animated entry "Manang Biring" wins Best Film at Cinema One Originals". adobo Magazine. November 19, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Aguilar, Krissy (October 21, 2018). "'Paglisan,' 'Never Tear Us Apart' win big at Cinema One Originals 2018". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "International Oscar Race: The Philippines Selects Gay Animation Film 'The Missing'". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Hawson, Fred (October 19, 2018). "C1 Originals review: Mock mythology of 'Asuang'".
  9. ^ a b "Mang Jose (2021)". ClickTheCity. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Carl Joseph E. Papa". MONOMAX. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Carl Joseph Papa". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Evangelista, Jessica Ann (November 24, 2024). "Glaiza de Castro leads '58th,' film on Maguindanao massacre". inquirer.net. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Visayan film nabs awards at Cinema One Originals". The Freeman. The Philippine Star. November 16, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "LIST: 5 Pinoy films and series that prove animation is not just for children". Philstar Life. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Carl Joseph E. Papa". iffr.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Carl Joseph E. Papa - iNay (Mother). Retrieved November 29, 2024 – via vimeo.com.
  17. ^ Villano, Alexa (March 18, 2019). "Full List: Nominees, 2019 FAMAS Awards". Rappler. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Villano, Alexa (April 29, 2019). "Full List: Winners of the 2019 FAMAS Awards". Rappler. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Abad, Ysa (May 7, 2024). "Full List: Nominees, 2024 FAMAS Awards". Rappler. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "Full List: Winners, Gawad Urian 2019". Rappler. June 18, 2019.
  21. ^ Cerezo, Anna (June 9, 2024). "Full List of Winners of 47th Gawad Awards".
  22. ^ Lang, Jamie. "Annecy Unveils Anime-Heavy Competition Lineup and Special Presentations for 'Inside Out,' 'Moana,' 'Despicable Me' Sequels". Variety. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  23. ^ Santiago, Ervin (November 19, 2015). "'Manang Biring' wins best film sa 2015 Cinema One Film festival" [‘Manang Biring’ waging best film sa 2015 Cinema One Film festival]. Bandera (in Filipino). Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  24. ^ Aguilar, Krissy (October 21, 2018). "'Paglisan,' 'Never Tear Us Apart' win big at Cinema One Originals 2018". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  25. ^ "'Iti Mapukpukaw' tops Cinemalaya 2023 with 3 wins including Best Film". ABS-CBN News. August 13, 2023.
  26. ^ Hazelton, John (July 28, 2024). "French epic 'The Count Of Monte-Cristo' named best film at Fantasia". Screen Daily. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  27. ^ Jeremy Kay, "‘Bookworm’ wins 2024 Fantasia audience award for best international film". Screen Daily, August 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024".
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