Echo Chamber - VIFF - Vol 1 (Treasure of The Rice Terraces)
Watch the conversation with Kent Donguines & Jacob Crawford HERE!
It's back to the Festival scene, and thanks to the one, Cynthia Amsden, @EchoChamberFP ventures to the 'Vancouver International Film Festival' (VIFF) for the first time!!!
Just one bit of coverage, BUT, this one is something special! We have a documentary that peels back the curtain on identity, cultural appropriation, stigmatization, and discrimination around tattoos in the Philippines. It also explores through the director, what it means to be Filipino in Canada and the Philippines. THEN, we sit down with the director of the film, and his producer, to really get some insights into the source of the feelings, why the documentary made sense, what it was like being back in the Philippines, and traveling to Buscalan. As well as the experience of being around Apo Whang-od and her very first apprentice, Grace Palicas! We manage to squeeze in so much over the course of 67 minutes, so you REALLY won't want to miss this one!!!
'Treasure of the Rice Terraces' Instagram: is the feature directorial debut from Kent Donguines, which he also wrote. When a Filipino-Canadian filmmaker (Kent Donguines) returns to his homeland to reconnect with his roots, he learns about the ancient art of Kalinga tattooing from the legendary 108-year-old artist, Apo Whang-od, discovering how this once-forgotten tradition has shaped the Filipino identity today
Today we have:
Treasure of the Rice Terraces - Poster
Treasure of the Rice Terraces
Watch Review: Here.
Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)
Northern Lights
Sunday, 20:30: 5th October 2025, World Premiere
International Village 9
Monday, 15:30: 6th October 2025
Granville Island Stage
Book Tickets: Here.
Director: Kent Donguines
Cast: Maria "Apo-Whang-Od" Oggay, Kent Donguines, Grace Palicas, Lars Krutak, Kim Atienza, Michelle Marquez Dee, Mark Bumgarner, Celeste Cortes, Joe Musngi, Rannel Bayeta, Kurt Bayeta, Buscalan Community, Filipino Community
Credit: Aimer Films, Moon7
Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 75 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @treasuretattoodoc
YouTube: Here.
Watch the conversation with Kent Donguines & Jacob Crawford HERE!
Kent Donguines - Photo taken by Noah Asanias
Kent Donguines
Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematographer
Kent Donguines is a Filipino-Canadian narrative and documentary filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. He is the CEO of Aimer Films Inc and has produced the award-winning CBC short documentary, 'This Ink Runs Deep', which premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. He also wrote, directed, and produced the Telus Storyhive short film, Kalinga (Care), a documentary about the sacrifices Filipina nannies make to work in Canada. The short documentary had its World Premiere at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival and won the Kathleen Shannon Award from the Yorkton Film Festival. Kent has worked for production companies in Canada and the Philippines, including Cedar Island Films Inc., Black Cap Pictures (Ten17p), Viva Entertainment, and Star Cinema. His short film, funded by Harold Greenberg Fund, BC Arts Council, Canadian Film Centre, CreativeBC, and the National Film Board of Canada, Paco received the Grand Prize in this year's Stage32 Annual Film Contest and has secured a broadcast license with CRAVE. He's currently developing the feature films, Four Four and Error 404, and just delivered his first feature documentary, Canadian Adobo.
Follow Kent via:
IMDb: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
Instagram: @kentdonguines
Aimer Films - Logo
Aimer Films Inc
Aimer Films Inc. is a Vancouver-based film production company established in June 2017. The company specializes in the development, production, post-production, and digital distribution of high-quality content. Founded through a collaborative partnership between Kent Donguines and Maxime Beauchamp, Aimer Films has earned recognition for its diverse portfolio of projects. Notable works include THIS INK RUNS DEEP, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, the award-winning short film IRIDESCENCE, which showcased at over 80 festivals globally, Heather Perluzzo's HATCH, Kent's short documentary KALINGA (Care), Maxime's television series FEM, and S.J. van Breda's GREY. Aimer Films has provided production services for FIRST LOVE, a film directed by Paul Soriano, starring Aga Muhlach and Bea Alonzo.
The company is committed to expanding its network in both Canada and the Philippines to foster more international and local co-production opportunities. Our work reflects shared values of impact, openness, and inclusivity, with a strong dedication to supporting emerging and underrepresented voices in the industry.
Follow via:
IMDb: Here.
Instagram: @aimerfilmsinc
YouTube: Here.
Jacob Crawford
Jacob Crawford
Producer, Writer
Jacob Crawford, a young producer, founded Crawford Filmworks Inc., which began by specializing in aerial cinematography for major projects like The X-Files and Man in the High Castle before evolving into a full-service production company that has collaborated with companies like Paramount, and Warner Brothers on some of their biggest films and series marketing campaigns. Recently Jacob produced the documentary Treasure of the Rice Terraces for Knowledge Network and Executive Produced Savage House being distributed by Paramount. Jacob has always championed sustainable production practices and diverse storytelling through working with writers from all different backgrounds, and pushing the sustainability initiatives like zero omission on-set power, all while managing the balance of creativity and crew well-being, which ultimately produces a superior final product. Jacob and the Crawford Filmworks team merged with Matt Drake and Alejandro to rebrand as Moon7, signaling its transformation into a leader in global film production. The name "Moon7" reflects a gravitational pull toward reshaping the industry while embracing cinema as the 7th art form. This re-branding marks a renewed focus on international collaboration, empowering creators from Canada to tell stories that resonate across borders and cultures.
Follow Jacob via:
IMDb: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @jacobcrawfordfilm
YouTube: Here.
Moon7 - Logo
Moon7 Films
Moon7 is an international film production company founded by the merger of Jacob Crawford at Crawford Filmworks and Matt Drake of Abbott Street Films, with the addition of new partner Alejandro Colmenero. This strategic merger brings together Crawford's eye for cinematic filmmaking with Drake's vast industry experience and relationships in film & TV, in combination with Colmenero's extensive business background and connections to the Latin American market. Together, they aim to create a transformative force in the film industry, positioning Moon7as the destination for groundbreaking storytelling
With headquarters in Vancouver and Los Angeles, Moon7 i s poised t o make a significant impact across the continent and is excited to establish its presence in the UK and Latin America, solidifying its standing as a global leader in film production.
Follow via:
IMDb: Here.
Website: Here.
Linkedin: Here.
X: @Moon7Films
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @moon7films
Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)
Festival Date: 2nd - 12th October 2025
The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is one of the largest film festivals in North America and celebrates the best in screen-based storytelling from around the world. Each year VIFF brings Vancouver audiences a program of films, talks, and events that celebrate the creativity and craft of storytelling on screen.
Website: Here.
X: @VIFFest
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @viffest
Vimeo: Here.
YouTube: Here.
Letterbxd: Here.
*(Music)
'The Big Payback' (Instrumental) by EPMD - 2020