COMPOSER’S AWARD WINNING FILM NOW –A WEB BLOCKBUSTER

Filipino multi awarded composer and lyricist Ferdinand Dimadura’s film, “ Chicken ala Carte” topped the
PEOPLE’S CHOICE Award at the Green Film Festival organized by Culture Unplugged. Culture Unplugged
is the first film festival to go Online. With more than three million viewers worldwide and still counting –
“Chicken ala Carte” is already a certified Web Blockbuster.

With his victory, Composer Dimadura bested more than 300 film entries in competition from all over the
world. Chicken ala Carte also won another award in the Festival as “THE MOST SHARED” FILM. Viewed
by almost 100,000 people every day over the Internet, the film’s popularity has spread like wildfire –
catching the Film Festival organizers by complete surprise.

Written, photographed and directed by Ferdinand Dimadura in 2005, “Chicken ala Carte” was his entry
to the Berlinale Talent Campus at the 56 th Berlin International Film Festival Short film competition held
in February 2006. The film competition’s theme was : Food, Taste and Hunger and Dimadura’s entry
bested more than 3,600 entries from all over the world. But it was winning this year’s Culture
Unplugged Film Festival that has finally brought his film a worldwide following. From Malaysia to Russia,
from Barbados to Brazil, millions of viewers have seen the film when the film festival went online.

“SLUMDOG” OF SHORT FILM

What is impressive is the kind of impact this short film generating. It has been dubbed as the “Slumdog
Millionaire of Short Films” because of its sensitive and heart breaking portrayal of poor people in the
slums. “Chicken ala Carte” has provoked intense emotions from the viewers with many of them
declaring it as “ the best movie they’ve ever watched.” One viewer wrote that the viewing of the film
should be made mandatory to all the children around the world.

Like the film “Slumdog Millionaire” the short film has also been criticized by some quarters for its
honest portrayal of the prevailing poverty in the Philippines. But Director Ferdinand Dimadura is quick to
defend his film. For him, the most important achievement of his film is to draw attention to the
unresolved problem of hunger around the world. The UN Statistics showed that each year 15 million
people die due to hunger and malnutrition. It is a grim reality that many people don’t know about.
Suddenly, his short film has made millions of people acutely aware that thousands of people are dying of
hunger every day. “ Many viewers wrote me that the film has opened their eyes – and changed their
lives.” Dimadura admits, “ my film’s impact is something I never anticipated – even in my wildest
dreams.”

GLOBAL IMPACT

Many non government organizations, charity groups and advocacy movements around the world have
started using “Chicken ala Carte” to generate awareness to the prevailing poverty in the world. One
Filipino group in Chicago emailed Director Dimadura that their group was able to raise 1000 dollars for
Charity in less than a week by just showing “Chicken ala Carte.” Popular Catholic personality Bo
Sanchez has shown Chicken ala Carte in the recent Youth for Christ Convention – using the film to solicit
commitment from the youth.

The impact of the film on the viewers is such that one viewer wrote “ never has a film in recent memory
has affected me so profoundly.” One viewer said he was knocked out while most said they cried while
watching the film. This kind of passion and emotion from the viewers has made “Chicken ala Carte” the
most viewed short film in the internet today with most viewers sending the film to all the people they
know.

Ferdinand Dimadura has another prize winning film at the Green Festival: BINAMBAN ( the glorious
food of Lagonoy ) – the film also topped the 2006 Torino Short film Competition, sponsored by the Slow
food Movement in Italy.

COMPOSER AND FILM MAKER

“It is a great help that I am a composer and musician too.” said Ferdinand Dimadura, “My music was the
key that opened the viewers’ hearts.” A music graduate of Universidad de Santa Isabel in Naga City,
Dimadura is considered the premiere composer from the Bicol Region. Ferdinand studied music
composition under the tutelage of the late National Artist Lucio San Pedro. “The 19th century German
composer Richard Wagner has always been my idol. He was the first major composer to compose his
own music and write his own story and libretto. I’ve always wanted to be the first serious composer to
ever direct his own film. I’ve always believed that a Composer can make better films. Chicken ala Carte
confirmed what I have believed all along. ” His current project is a full length comedy film which he is
writing, producing and directing. The film stars aspiring comedian Ruben Lee. “I can make people cry.
But I can make people laugh as well.”

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

In 2006, the musical “Something to Crow About” based on the short stories of National Artist Anding
Roces won as Best Musical at the Aliw Awards. Dimadura composed the music, wrote the lyrics and co-
wrote the libretto with Anding Roces. The musical made history when it became first Filipino Zarzuela to
be performed Off Broadway at the La Mama’s theater in New York. Directed by theater legend Cecile
Guidote Alvarez, the musical was performed to standing ovations in New York, Los Angeles and San
Francisco. Critics noted the “ ‘beautiful melodies and the exceptionally funny lyrics of Ferdinand
Dimadura.” Plans are being made to produce the musical in America with the goal of reaching the Holy
Grail of theater - Broadway.

With the success of the film “Chicken ala Carte” director Dimadura, who has composed and produced
songs for Rachele Ann Go, Jolina Magdangal, Christian Bautista, Francis Magalona, Timmy Cruz, Grace
Nono and Alynah, has received tremendous attention abroad. He has been invited to direct a film in
India. His film was made mandatory viewing in literature classes in a New York University. And next
week, Ferdinand Dimadura will be interviewed by Marcus of with his interview and film to be shown
in Cyprus and Greece. Marcus recent celebrity interviews were with Julia Roberts, Russel Crowe and
Leonardo di Caprio.
To check Ferdinand’s film and music, go to www.cultureunplugged.com and to his website,
ferdinanddimadura@gmail.com.