HAND OF GOD

HAND OF GOD

by Mark Duane Angos

106:00 minutes | Drama | PG

CAST

Ruru Madrid, Iza Calzado, Ronnie Lazaro, Sue Ramirez, KD Omalin, Jhong Hilario, Cholo Barretto, Edwin Nombre, Rosh Barman, Tyke Sanchez

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR – Mark Duane Angos

SCREENPLAY – Mark Duane Angos

EDITOR – Jamie Dumancas

CINEMATOGRAPHER – AB Garcia, LPS

PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Carmela Danao

ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE – Emerzon Quintillan Texon

SOUND DESIGNER – Bien Sparks

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS – Ranvel T. Rufino, Steve S. Vesagas

PRODUCER – Riza Montelibano

LOGLINE

In a remote village scarred by years of conflict, a child soldier finds unexpected refuge in football, but as hope for a different life grows, he must decide whether to follow the path laid out by war or choose a future of his own.

SYNOPSIS

A military lieutenant sets up a collapsible football post in a remote village in the Southern Philippines to teach the village kids how to play football, aiming to gain the trust of a community that has long been suspected of colluding with terrorists. But what begins as a tactical strategy becomes deeply personal when he forms a bond with the children – especially ten-year-old Khaleel, a child soldier in a violent terror group. The child and the soldier soon teach each other to dream bigger, but the realities of war may force them to learn a more devastating lesson.

FILMMAKER’S PROFILE

MARK DUANE ANGOS

Mark Duane Angos is a Filipino writer for film and television. He graduated from San Beda College with a degree in Philosophy and is currently working as a Creative Consultant for TV5. He has written extensively for film and TV with more than 30 program titles under his belt, including award-winning works for the television program Maalaala Mo Kaya and top rated shows like Got To Believe, Forevermore, and Dolce Amore.

He penned the film Mga Gabing Kasing Haba ng Hair Ko (Those Long Haired Nights), which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in the Window to Asian Cinema category in 2017. The film was also screened at various festivals worldwide, including the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Open Horizons, 2017) and the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Voices, 2018). He studied directing and cinematography at the Mowelfund Film Institute. Hand of God marks his directorial debut.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

In 2014, a friend invited my Manila-based youth football club to play a friendly match against a team of children from Mindanao. Due to Mindanao’s long history of conflict, some parents refused to let their children participate out of fear. Fortunately, the majority agreed. The match was an eye-opener. It shattered the preconceived notions both sides held about each other as we shared meals and formed personal connections.

A year later, one of those young Mindanaoan players was shot dead after allegedly refusing to re-join a militant group. Suddenly, a distant war made a profound stamp on my life. I had always viewed conflict through the prism of religion and ideology, but seeing it through the eyes of a child who simply loved the game made it heartbreaking.

Years later, that tragedy still stays with me. It is the story I feel compelled to tell in my directorial debut.