Best Short Film- Social Awareness at the Queen Palm International Film Festival- Silver Award
January 5, 2021
One of the most prestigious festivals in the world Queen Palm International Film Festival chose Tombstone Pillow as the Silver Awardee for the Social Awareness category.
Tombstone Pillow was filmed at the haphazard shanties of the Manila North Cemetery in the Philippines with lead actress Lourdes Duque Baron alongside Tunisian Actor Akram Yesmine Lahmandi, Ian Taylor Ignacio, Blake Salcedo, Cedric Escobar, Kendra Sison De Mesa, and Dream Team Directors Daniel Lir and Bayou Bennett.
The Queen Palm International Film Festival honors films around the world. Every year, a team of industry professionals and filmmakers gather together to select films they believe have high impact and social relevance. The awarding ceremony is usually held at the beautiful Palm Springs where the Queen Supreme trophy is given along with amazing prizes.
Hagay Mizrahi was also recognized by the award-giving body. The musical score created by Hagay Mizrahi undeniably deepened the impact of the film’s story telling and cinematography.
Tombstone Pillow tells the story of a 9-year old girl who gives the Philippines’ wealthiest widow a tour of a graveyard that thousands of poor people call home, where she discovers what real riches are.
Hagay Mizrahi, known for his stage name Gemini Muziq, is an American Israeli musician, record producer, engineer, and songwriter. After completing his studies, he worked as a music producer for Israeli top artists Eyal Golan, Arkadi Duchin, Shotei Hanevua, and Subliminal.
At age 36, Hagay Mizrahi went to Los Angeles and this is where he met pop icon Justin Bieber and Poo Bear. This led to a series of powerful music collaborations for Mizrahi’s career. Apart from the award-winning short film Tombstone Pillow, he also worked with Post Malone, Common Kings, Mario Barret, Christina Aguilera, Taboo, Lil Twist, Lourdes Duque Baron, and Christina Millian for a series of hit songs.
Poo Bear and Hagay Mizrahi were working one night on a piano riff and Poo came up with a magical melody on it and the hook said “ you give me purpose”. They finished the session late at 4 am. The next day at the studio Justin Bieber said he loves the song and used it on his album. The song they worked on ended up being the title song for an album that sold 4 times platinum.
Tombstone Pillow currently has 28 nominations and 19 wins including Best Actress for the performance of Lourdes Duque Baron.
The short film was screened in Russia, Venice, Manila, New York, Amsterdam, Japan, Calcutta, Mumbai, California and the UK.
The award-winning short film shows how films can become an amazing medium for spreading messages to gain worldwide attention to global poverty, and was able to raise awareness for several prevalent social issues existing in our time.
Awards & Nominations for Tombstone Pillow
- LA Shorts International Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- Around Films International Film Festival (Award Winner) (Amsterdam)
- New York City International Film Festival (Best Actress Nomination)
- Global Short Film Awards Cannes (Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography(Winner) (Cannes)
- Global Impact Film Festival in DC ( Nominee)
- Exit 6 Film Festival (Nominee) ( England)
- New York Movie Awards (Award-winner)
- Hollywood Gold Awards (Award-winner) (USA)
- Venice Film Awards (Award winner) ( Italy)
- New York City Independent Film Festival (Award winner)
- Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival (Nominee)
- Top Indie Film Awards (Japan Screening) (Award Winner)
- Prague International Monthly Film Festival (Winner) (Czech Republic)
- All Asian Independent Film Festival (Nominee) (Manila, Philippines)
- US Hollywood Int’l Golden Film Award (Award Winner)
- Film for Peace (Award Winner) (Toronto, Canada)
- Concepcion Independent Film Awards (Award Winner) (Chile)
- ICP Entertainment Film Festival (Nominee) (USA)
- Asian Cinematography Awards (Nominee) (Manila, Philippines)
- New York Cinematography Awards ( Best Cinematographer)
- Golden Wheat Awards ( Official Selection) ( Turkey)
- Social Short Antwerp Film festival (Nominee) ( Belgium)
- Golden Jury Film Academy (Nominee) ( Mumbai, India)
- Queen Palm International Film Festival ( Silver Awardee) ( Palm Springs, California)
Tombstone Pillow has already partnered with Amazon Prime UK and Amazon Prime US.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3042885401
Link for Amazon Prime UK :
Tombstone Pillow has already partnered with Amazon Prime UK and Amazon Prime US.
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3042885401
Link for Amazon Prime UK :