'They Call Me Dax' by Dr. Patrick Alcedo winner in 2021 Cannes Indies Cinema Awards

Reported by Celso De Guzman Caparas

Manila, Philippines -  'They Call Me Dax,' witten and directed by Dr. Patrick Alcedo won the Best Documentary Short at the recently concluded 2021 Cannes Cinema Awards, Second Edition in France.

   The 10-minute film is "the story of 15-year old Dax who lives alone in Manila and finds home and happiness in ballet. It received a production grant from Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and post production was sponsored by the Canadian Arts Council," Alcedo shared. ​

Photo courtesy of Dr. Patrick Alcedo

   He's immensely grateful to the people behind the success of 'They Call Me Dax.'  

  "The film would not have been possible if not for the generous participation of Dax Echipare, Fe Echipare, Mauie Caguimbal and Luther Perez. Major thanks to the beautiful videography of Alex Felipe and the sensitive editing of Alec Bell. I also would like to thank JM Soberano of Studio 8 for the aerial shots, Paulo Alcedo for the transcriptions, and Peter Alcedo, Jr., Johnoy Danao, and ABS-CBN for the music," exclaimed Alcedo. 


   The said film is an official nominee for Best Documentary at the ongoing 4th Phoenix International Short Film Festival in Toronto.  Also, an official selection at the 2021 New York Independent Cinema Awards in USA.

   It also bagged the Best Dance Short Documentary at the Silk Road Film Festival Awards last May, also in Cannes. 

 Alcedo's other film credits : 

•   'A Will To Dream' (2021)  Best Dance Feature Documentary winner at the 2021 Silk Road Film Festival in Cannes. Official Selection / Competition at the 2021 Cannes Indies Cinema Awards, 2021 New York Independent Cinema Awards and 2021 Chicago Indie Film Awards.

•  'Am I Being Selfish?' (2021) Best Short Inspirational Documentary winner at the 2021 Silk Road Film Festival in Cannes. Official selection at the 2021 International Shorts Film Festival.   

•  'Jon-Jon' (2020)

•  'Dancing Manilenyos' (2018)  Official Selection / Competition at the 2020 Fifth Wall Film Festival in the Philippines.  Best Short Documentary Nominee at the 2019 Gawad Urian.  Award of Merit at the 2019 Global Shorts in Los Angeles, California, USA. Official Selection/Competition at the 2019 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase in France.  Screened at the 2019 Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards in USA.  Official selection at the 2019 Chelsea International Film Festival in New York City, USA.  Official selection at the 2018 Reel Asian International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. 

•  'A Piece of Paradise' (2017). Winner of National Bank Best First Feature Film and Centennial Best Canadian Film Award at the 2017 Reel Asian International Film Festival. Screened at the 14th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival under Exhibiton Films: Dokyu in 2018.  Impact Docs Award of Recognition for Documentary Feature in 2018. 


•  'Ati-atihan Lives' (2014)

•  'Boxing to be the Next Pacquiao' (2009).  A video project he produced with The New York Times, his research on the socio-economic conditions of aspiring boxers in Aklan.

   A native of Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan, Alcedo has been residing in Toronto, Canada since 2008. He's an ethnographer, a dancer and documentary filmmaker.  He's the Chair and Associate Professor in Department of Dance of York University.  He's currently a Visiting Professor at the College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman. 

   Alcedo has many feathers in his cap, so to speak. 

   To name a few, he's one of the recipients of Quincentennial Award given by the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, Canada headed by Consul General Orontes V. Castro last Philippine Independence Day, June 12. 

   In 2017, Alcedo was honored with the coveted 'Pinoy of the Year - Golden Balangay Awards,' a nationwide search for outstanding Filipino-Canadian.  

   He was one of 2017 Award-Winning Filmmakers of the Spotlight Documentary Awards.