A De La Salle University-Dasmariñas alumnus won several awards for the short film category of the 2023 Cinemalaya Film Festival.

Arvin Belarmino, along with Kyla Romero, received the Best Screenplay Award for the entry ‘Hinakdal’.

The film was recognized for the very striking narrative that remakes the horror genre, while humanizing zombies and endowing them with heart and soul.

Apart from Best Screenplay, ‘Hinakdal’ received the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific) Award for its pithy, layered and strong social commentary laced with dollops of humor.

The film also won the hearts of viewers after voted as the Audience Choice Award for Short Film category.

“This is a film about prejudice – the way disadvantaged people are treated as if they’re barely human. They are made to conform to the system and humans in power like zombies without a will or future of their own,” Belarmino said.