Fil-Am young actor’s film captures top award at int’l film festival

At the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Jay Silverman’s “Camera” quietly stole the spotlight, earning the Best Feature Film (Family category) award.

During the awards night, Silverman introduced the audience to his film’s star, Filipino American young actor Miguel Gabriel, declaring, “This is the star of my film, Miguel.”

In “Camera,” Gabriel shines as Oscar, a nine-year-old navigating life without the ability to speak. The film follows his journey alongside his mother, played by Jessica Parker Kennedy. He then meets a seasoned repairman portrayed by Beau Bridges and becomes his mentor, teaching him the art of photography and imparting invaluable life lessons along the way.

This marks a significant milestone for the Fil-Am actor as it was his first lead role in a feature film. Reflecting on the win at the film festival, Gabriel expressed that he was “shocked but with so much excitement and joy.”

“I felt proud and happy,” he continued. “I’m grateful to everyone who was involved in making this movie. Winning an award proves that all our hard work to make this film come to life on the big screen for everyone to enjoy has paid off. It warms my heart.”

When asked about the feeling of being brought on stage with Silverman to receive the award, he expressed, “It was amazing! It felt like I got the biggest lifetime achievement award.”

His portrayal of Oscar holds personal significance, drawing from his own experiences with speech impediments when he was younger.

“So I went to a speech therapist and she suggested theater for me because I was expressive through my face and body language,” he told Inquirer.net USA. “So when I did theater, it helped me get over it, and now I get to use that experience, those feelings I felt, and use it to be Oscar.”

The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival is an annual event held in the heart of Dubuque, Iowa, where films from around the world are screened during the five-day event.

After JDIFF, “Camera” prepares to embark on its journey to more esteemed film festivals such as the San Luis Obispo Film Festival, the Beverly Hills Film Festival and the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Watch the trailer: