The Philippines - 2007

Synopsis: Akyat-Baba, Paikot-Ikot is the story of two lonely, isolated people, and how the slow and steady tremors in their ordinary lives implode into an upheaval that force them to crack open, and finally, meet. Neal, quiet and morose, mans the graveyard shift at a cheap hamburger kiosk. Elsie, twittering and uncertain, has just been left by her husband and is starting a scary job of homeroom teacher for a class of unruly children. They have nothing to do with each other and have nothing in common, except for Owen, Elsie’s trickster student and Neal’s only confidante. Neal and Elsie lead their mundane lives, peppered with ordinary struggles and crushing setbacks; until a tragedy forces the two lives to intersect, and finally, give hope.

MARGIE TEMPLO is a co-founder and resident director/producer of Arkeofilms. She graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in film, cum laude. For ten years, she has worked as a director and producer for numerous commercials, corporate videos and music videos.

She has worked in television and independent film, producing Arkeofilms’ award-winning short film “Mansyon,” and co-producing the hit full-length feature film “Big Time” for the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2005.

She is currently working on her own short and full-length features slated for release in 2008.

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JOEL RUIZ is a director and producer who works in independent film as well as corporate video and advertising. A graduate of De La Salle University in Manila with a degree in communications, he went on to work as director on many advertising projects.

In 2000 he co-founded Arkeofilms, a production house for features and commercials.

The company is at the forefront of the local independent film scene, producing such indie "hits" as “Big Time”, and the short film “Mansyon” (The Mansion) which he wrote and directed.