Two local indie films emerged victorious in the recently concluded Bangkok International Film Festival 2009.

Independecia, a film by Raya Martin starring Sid Lucero, Tetchie Agbayani, Alessandra de Rossi and Mika Aguilos won the Grand Prize award in the Southeast Asian Competition and the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Film Prize. Independencia bested Indonesia’s “The Forbidden Door”, The Singapore-Malaysia-Nepel joint project “In the House of Straw”, Singapore’s “Here” and another Pinoy movie “Aurora” by Adolfo Alix, Jr.

On the other hand, the Cinema One entry “Imburnal” received the NETPAC’s special mention. The Sherad Anthony Sanchez film was tied with James Lee’s “Call Me If You Need Me.”

Other Filipino films that competed in Bangkok were Brilliante Mendoza‘s “Kinatay” and Piolo Pascual‘s “Manila”.

Last year, Brilliante Mendoza‘s “Sebis” won the grand prize award in the Southeast Asia competition while Jay was a finalist in the main competition (Golden Kinaree Award).