Francis Pasion

Francis Pasion
Born
Francis Xavier E. Pasion

(1978-02-08)February 8, 1978
DiedMarch 6, 2016(2016-03-06) (aged 38)
Resting placeLoyola Memorial Chapels, Marikina
NationalityFilipino
Other namesFX
Occupation(s)Film and television director
Years active1999–2016
Notable workJay, Bwaya, Princess and I, Dyesebel, My Binondo Girl, Nathaniel, On the Wings of Love

Francis Xavier E. Pasion, credited in movies and television as Francis Xavier Pasion or Francis Pasion, (February 8, 1978 – March 6, 2016) was a Filipino independent film and television drama director.

Career

Pasion is a Cum Laude graduate of Major in Communication at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he founded the Loyola Film Circle in 1997, now the premier film organization of the university. He occasionally acts as a professor on independent films at the same university.[1]

Film

Pasion started his career as a designer's apprentice for director Marilou Diaz-Abaya in the film Muro Ami in 1999, until he became a scriptwriter for movies Crying Ladies, Volta, and script consultant for Feng Shui, Milan.[2]

In 2008, Pasion started as a film director with his first feature film "Jay" (as director and writer) which won multiple awards including Best Film, Best Actor (for Baron Geisler, Best Editing, and the Balanghai Trophy in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.[3] The film also premiered in the Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival,[1] screened and won several accolades from Gawad Urian, Busan, Berlin and other film festivals[2][4] including the Special Mention award (New Visions category) in the 5th Bahamas International Film Festival.[5] "Jay" is a film based on a story of a television documentary producer who documented the murder case of a gay school teacher, and starred by Geisler and Coco Martin.[6]

In 2010, his second film, "Sampaguita, National Flower" was also won the Special Jury Prize in the Cinemalaya's New Breed category,[2] Sampaguita was also selected as one of the films in the Hong Kong Asian Financing Forum in 2009 and participated in the New Currents section of the 2010 Pusan International Film Festival and in the Generation section of the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival.[1]

Later in 2014, "Bwaya" (Crocodile) won the Best Film in the New Breed category, along with Best Cinematography and Best Musical Score awards, also from Cinemalaya.[7] The following year, Bwaya won the prestigious Tokyo Filmex award[8] and Cyclo D' Or (Golden Rickshaw) award from the Vesoul International Film Fest of Asian Cinema, held in France.[9] Bwaya also competed in the 9th Five Flavors Film Festival held in Warsaw, Poland in November 2015.[10]

Bwaya is a story of a mother who looked for her daughter that have killed by a giant deadly crocodile in the Agusan Marsh in Mindanao.[8]

He is supposedly direct a film for 2017 Cinemalaya, entitled "My Positive Mother".[11]

Television

Pasion started his career in television as a headwriter and producer of ABS-CBN's public service-drama program Nagmamahal, Kapamilya in 2006,[12] and writer for drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Among his notable ABS-CBN teleseryes that he directed are Sabel, My Binondo Girl, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Princess and I, My Little Juan, Dyesebel, and Nathaniel.[13]

His last television project was On the Wings of Love, starred by James Reid and Nadine Lustre, collectively known as "JaDine",[4] which ended on February 26, 2016, 9 days before his death.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1999 Muro-Ami Designer's apprentice
2003 Crying Ladies Additional scenes and Dialogue
2003 Kung Ako na Lang Sana Script consultant
2004 My First Romance
2004 All My Life
2004 Feng Shui
2004 Milan Creative consultant
2008 Jay Director, producer, and writer
2010 Noy Story
2010 Sampaguita: National Flower Director
2014 Bwaya Director, producer and writer

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes
2004–2008 Maalaala Mo Kaya Writer ABS-CBN
2006 Sa Piling Mo
2006 Nagmamahal, Kapamilya
2008 Volta
2009 Project Runway Philippines Creative Concept Team member ETC
2010 Gimik 2010 Director ABS-CBN
2010 Your Song (Beautiful Lady, Maling Akala, Andi)
2010–2011 Sabel
2011–2012 My Binondo Girl
2011–2015 Wansapanataym
2012–2013 Princess and I
2013 Kahit Konting Pagtingin
2013 My Little Juan
2014 Dyesebel
2015 Nathaniel
2015–2016 On the Wings of Love Last television project

Death

Pasion was found dead in his home in Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City on March 6, 2016. His lifeless body was found by his parents inside the bathroom of Pasion's house.[2] Initial findings by the PNP-Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) showed that Pasion died due to heart attack.[4] The director also reportedly, suffered chest pains.[11] His body is observed in the PNP Crime Laboratory for further autopsy, and then cremated.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bwaya". Cinemalaya. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Salaan, Edwin P. (March 6, 2016). "Film and TV director Francis Xavier Pasion found dead: report". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  3. ^ Lapuz, Ferdie (July 30, 2008). "Jay screens at Venice Film Festival". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "'Bwaya,' 'OTWOL' director Francis Pasion found dead in QC unit". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jay wins Special Mention Award at Bahamas Filmfest". The Philippine Star. December 13, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Francisco, Butch. "Jay: Cinema gets back at television". Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  7. ^ "FULL LIST: Winners, Cinemalaya Awards Night 2014". Rappler. August 10, 2014. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Filipino movie director welcomes Tokyo award for 'Crocodile'". The Japan Times. February 9, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  9. ^ "Bwaya wins Gold at Asian Cinema Festival in France". Good News Pilipinas. March 3, 2015. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  10. ^ "'Bwaya' competes in Poland film fest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 2, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Avedaño-Umali, Isa (March 6, 2016). "Film at TV director Francis Xavier Pasion, natagpuang patay (Film and TV director Francis Xavier Pasion found dead" (in Tagalog). DZIQ. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  12. ^ "Rest In Peace, Direk Francis Pasion!". Star Cinema. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  13. ^ Santiago, Ervin (March 6, 2016). "TV and film director Francis Pasion found dead". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved March 6, 2016.

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