Aswang (2019 film)

Aswang features the "nightcrawlers" a group of photojournalists in Metro Manila documenting the killings of people suspected to be drug dealers and users under the war on drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte. Among these photojournalist is Redemptorist lay brother Jun Santiago supports the families of the victims as well as covers the protests against the campaign.^[2][3]

Jomari an impoverish youth learns of the murder of Kian de los Santos, whom he considers as his older brother figure. Jomari lives by himself since his parents are detained for drug use.^[2][3]

Aswang was directed by Alyx Ayn Arumpac and is an international co-production by Cinematografica (Philippines), Les Films l'oeil Sauvage (France), Stray Dog Productions (Norway), and Razor Film Produktion (Germany)^[4][5]

Work on Aswang began in 2016 where it started as a self-funded venture. The production team had support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) as early as 2017 which partially funded the project via its International Film Studies Assistance Program (IFSAP). The IFSAP enabled the team to attend the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) Forum where they were able to present the pitch for Aswang to potential funders and producers. In 2018, the film received 40,000 euros for Europe: International Co-production from the IDFA Bertha Fund^[6]

Aswang made its world premier on November 21, 2019, at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.^[6][7]

The film was supposed to make its Philippine debut at the Daang Dokyu documentary film festival on March 16, 2020.^[8] The event was distrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead a limited online screening was held for the Philippine audience on July 11, 2020.^[9][10]

Aswang is noted for being the first ever documentary to win Best Picture in the 2020 FAMAS Awards.^[3] It is also the first documentary to win Best Picture in the 44th Gawad Urian Awards held in 2021.^[11]