Private Project

The Red Banca

In a small town in Bohol where traditions are sacred, Maria grapples with the weight of an arranged union, culminating in a haunting act of rebellion that leaves her fate suspended between freedom and obligation.

  • Nena Jane
    Director
  • R. Joseph Dazo
    Writer
  • Jaime Morados
    Producer
  • Mikay Naraga
    Key Cast
  • Christian Paul Naparota
    Cinematographer
  • Jared Miano
    Production Designer
  • JT Trinidad
    Assistant Director
  • Dawr Tonacao
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    drama
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 25, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    3,600 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Language:
    Cebuano
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Nena Jane

Nena Jane, a filmmaker from Bohol province, Philippines, debuted DUWA-DUWA at Cinemalaya 2022, backed by a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The film received acclaim and screened at major Philippine festivals. She previously collaborated with the Binisaya Film Festival on HUWEBES HUWEBES (2019) and MARTES MARTES (2017). In 2023, she joined the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Film Leaders Incubator: FLY and was selected for Platform Busan in 2024. Nena believes in cinema’s power to uplift, amplify marginalized voices, and tell stories of inner strength.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As women, we're often told that a wedding is the most important event in our lives. From a young age, we're already fantasizing about our dream weddings—mine was a beach wedding,
surrounded by the people I love, celebrating a union meant to last a lifetime.
Every girl dreams of meeting her prince charming or perfect partner at least once. We grow up with the idea of a knight in shining armor who will sweep us off our feet, thrilling us with the
excitement of who we'll end up with. But for many young girls in my hometown, that fairytale never existed. By the age of 14, they’re seen as opportunities for their families to secure a “better” life, with their arranged prince charming arriving not on a white horse, but on a red boat, carrying promises of material wealth in exchange for love. It’s a version of a fairytale we were never told growing up. I’ve always wanted to know what it’s truly like to get married. I’ve seen some of my relatives break away from tradition and societal norms, choosing love over expectations. For me, that’s what a union should be built on—love. But not everyone has that choice. Knowing that young girls in my community are forced into these decisions fills me with a deep sense of guilt and a strong desire to protect their innocence. Through this film, I want to empower them to reclaim their autonomy, to choose their own paths, and to experience love as it should be—organic, natural, and freely chosen.