I love films. I work hard and save money so I can make films too.
Elvert Bañares is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist who shoots his films independently, acting as his own cinematographer, editor and production designer. He started making underground experimental films and video art since 1993 and has moved on to direct narrative shorts and documentaries starting from 2008 onwards.
He is an Urian Award Winner (2023); three time Cultural Center of the Philippines Award Winner for Independent Film; and, winner of 13 international awards during the pandemic years in Copenhagen, Berlin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ontario. He has won Top Film Awards at the 13th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival (Malaysia), 13th Encuentro Cinéfagos - Festival De Cinearte En La Frontera (Venezuela); 11th Wasteland Film Festival (USA); and 5th Ojo Móvil Fest 2023 (Peru). His films and art have been selected in more than 150 international film and art festivals in 45+ countries across all continents.
His art, films, designs, installations and new media works have been exhibited in spaces like Daejeon Museum of Art (South Korea), Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante (Spain), Panama Museum of Contemporary Art (Panama), Seattle Asian Art Museum, 911 Media Art Center (USA), VFDalston (UK), The Ayala Museum, Metropolotan Museum, Boston Gallery, Cultural Center of the Philippines (Philippines).
Elvert has participated in festivals like 42nd FANTASPORTO International Film Festival (Portugal), 39th BOGOCINE Festival de Cine de Bogota (Colombia), 21st DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival (USA), 16th Wairoa Maori Film Festival and 9th Maoriland Film Festival (both in New Zealand), 16th Native Spirit Film Festival (UK), 34th Tokyo International Film Festival, (Japan), 15th Festival de Cine Global de Santo Domingo, (Dominican Republic), 6th Hanoi International Film Festival (Vietnam), 26th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival and the 2011 Prague Quadrennial (both in Czech Republic), Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (Indonesia), Antimatter Underground Film Festival / Media Art (Canada), 50th CURTAS - Festival do Imaxinario (Spain), 33rd São Paulo International Short Film Festival (Brazil), 31st Croatian One-Minute International Film Festival (Croatia), 15th International Documentary & Short Film Festival Kerala (India), 19th Festival Transterritorial de Cine Underground (Argentina), 17th Festival de Cine Ecuatoriano Kunturñawi (Colombia) and the Academy Award Qualifying 38th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (USA) among others.
  • Director (21 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    They Who Will Come2024
    Short
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
    Freeing the Swiftlet2023
    Documentary
    Red Sky, Purple Lake2023
    Short
    Stroke / Woman2022
    Experimental
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
    Vertical2022
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Three2021
    Short
    Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind2020
    Short
    Music Before the Sun Sets at Paoay2020
    Documentary
    The Author: Chapter Two 2020
    Short
    Dinner at Midnight2019
    Short
    No Flowers In The Afternoon2018
    Feature, Short
    Tata2018
    Feature, Short
    If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up2017
    Short
    Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper2017
    Experimental, Short, Other
    The Author2017
    Short
    Come Play With Me2016
    Experimental, Short, Other
    One2015
    Music Video
    Settlement2015
    Short
  • Writer (19 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    They Who Will Come2024
    Short
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
    Freeing the Swiftlet2023
    Documentary
    Red Sky, Purple Lake2023
    Short
    Stroke / Woman2022
    Experimental
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
    Vertical2022
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Three2021
    Short
    Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind2020
    Short
    Music Before the Sun Sets at Paoay2020
    Documentary
    The Author: Chapter Two 2020
    Short
    Dinner at Midnight2019
    Short
    No Flowers In The Afternoon2018
    Feature, Short
    Tata2018
    Feature, Short
    If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up2017
    Short
    The Author2017
    Short
    One2015
    Music Video
    Settlement2015
    Short
  • Producer (16 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    They Who Will Come2024
    Short
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
    Freeing the Swiftlet2023
    Documentary
    Red Sky, Purple Lake2023
    Short
    Stroke / Woman2022
    Experimental
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
    Vertical2022
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Three2021
    Short
    Music Before the Sun Sets at Paoay2020
    Documentary
    The Author: Chapter Two 2020
    Short
    Dinner at Midnight2019
    Short
    Tata2018
    Feature, Short
    Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper2017
    Experimental, Short, Other
    The Author2017
    Short
    Come Play With Me2016
    Experimental, Short, Other
  • Editor (11 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    They Who Will Come2024
    Short
    Red Sky, Purple Lake2023
    Short
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
    Vertical2022
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Three2021
    Short
    Music Before the Sun Sets at Paoay2020
    Documentary
    The Author: Chapter Two 2020
    Short
    No Flowers In The Afternoon2018
    Feature, Short
    The Author2017
    Short
    Come Play With Me2016
    Experimental, Short, Other
  • Cinematography (6 Credits)
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
    Red Sky, Purple Lake2023
    Short
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
    Vertical2022
    Short
    Music Before the Sun Sets at Paoay2020
    Documentary
    No Flowers In The Afternoon2018
    Feature, Short
  • Acting (6 Credits)
    They Who Will Come2024
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Three2021
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Two 2020
    Short
    Dinner at Midnight2019
    Short
    No Flowers In The Afternoon2018
    Feature, Short
    The Author2017
    Short
  • Cinematographer (4 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    They Who Will Come2024
    Short
    The Author: Chapter Two 2020
    Short
    The Author2017
    Short
  • Production Design (3 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
  • Sound Design (3 Credits)
    Inside An Empty Raincloud2024
    Short
    Red Sky, Purple Lake2023
    Short
    No Flowers In The Afternoon2018
    Feature, Short
  • Costume Design (2 Credits)
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
    The Flight of Banog2022
    Short
  • Sound Design, Recording, Editing & Mixing (1 Credit)
    A Flame in Our Midst2023
    Experimental, Short
  • Microfilm Design (1 Credit)
    Vertical2022
    Short
  • Sound Collage (1 Credit)
    Stroke / Woman2022
    Experimental
  • Camera (1 Credit)
    Come Play With Me2016
    Experimental, Short, Other
Official Selection, Philippine Fantastic Shorts Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
9th Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival
Davao
2024
Official Selection (Curated)
A Flame in Our Midst
2024 不看電影 Watch Movies Not Film Festival
Sarawak
2024
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
16th Festival de Cine Global de Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
2024
Official Selection, Fiction
The Flight of Banog
14th Encuentro Para Cinéfagos Festival de CineArte en la Frontera
San Cristobal
2024
Finalist, Shorts
The Flight of Banog
Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival
Metro Manila
2024
Curated Exhibition
The Flight of Banog
Bayu Seni, Sabah’s Ethnic Cross Cultural Digital Exhibition
Sabah
2024
International Competition
Red Sky, Purple Lake
7th Maldito Festival de Videopoesía
Albacete
2023
Official Selection, Competition
Red Sky, Purple Lake
6th Vertifilms - Vertical Film Festival
Prague
2023
Official Selection, Experimental category
Red Sky, Purple Lake
ELO(KUVA)KUU (at S Creatives Art Festival)
Savonlinna
2023
Official Selection, Competition
Red Sky, Purple Lake
4th VerticalMovie Festival
Rome
2023
Winner, Best Experimental Film
Red Sky, Purple Lake
5th Ojo Móvil Fest 2023
Lima
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
17th Festival de Cine Ecuatoriano Kunturñawi
Chimborazo, Bolivar, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Pastaza
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
19th Festival Transterritorial de Cine Underground
Buenos Aires
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
5th Espanto Festival Internacional Cine De Terror, Horror, Suspenso & Ciencia Ficción
Pachuca de Soto
2023
Official Selection
A Flame in Our Midst
9th Vochocinema Festival Del Telol
Campeche
2023
Official Selection
A Flame in Our Midst
51st CURTAS Festival do Imaxinario
Vilagarcía de Arousa
2023
Nominee, Best Soundtrack
A Flame in Our Midst
2nd Brazil New Visions Film Fest
Pernambuco
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
9th Festival Internacional de Cine en las Montañas
Salento, Filandia
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
5th Scumdance
Sparks, Nevada
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
7th Stuff MX Film Festival
México
2023
Official Selection, World Selection (Out of Competition)
A Flame in Our Midst
15th International Documentary & Short Film Festival Kerala
Kerala
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
8th Defy Film Festival
Nashville
2023
Official Selection
A Flame in Our Midst
Montevideo Fantástico 14
Montevido
2023
Official Selection, Short Films
A Flame in Our Midst
21st Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Asheville, NC
2023
Winner, Best Experimental Film
A Flame in Our Midst
10th FICLAPAZ - La Paz International Film Festival
La Paz
2023
Winner, Best Editing
A Flame in Our Midst
2nd Brazil New Visions Film Fest
Pernambuco
2023
Winner, Best Art Direction
A Flame in Our Midst
13th Encuentro Cinéfagos - Festival De Cinearte En La Frontera)
Táchira
2023
Winner, Jury Award
A Flame in Our Midst
8th Brunei Film Blitz
Bandar Seri Begawan
2023
Winner, Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian Film
A Flame in Our Midst
11th Wasteland Film Festival
Wasteland (outside of California City)
2023
Official Selection, Competition
A Flame in Our Midst
7th Panama Horror Film Festival
Bellavista
2023
Official Selection
Vertical
60 Second International Film Festival
Isalamabad
2023
Official Selection, Competition
Vertical
Montenegro Online Smartphone International Film Festival
Podgorica
2023
Official Selection, Competition
Vertical
31st Croatian One-Minute Film Festival
Pozega
2023
Honorable Mention
Stroke / Woman
4th Huntington Beach Cultural Film Festival
California
2023
Winner, Popular Vote, Best International Fantastic Film
The Flight of Banog
IV International Fantastic Film Festival of Brasília
Brasilia
2023
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
12th CMS International Children's Festival
Lucknow
2023
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
3rd Quetzalcoatl Indigenous International Film Festival
Oaxaca
2023
Official Selection, Competition, Global Short
The Flight of Banog
15th Festival de Cine Global de Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
2023
Winner, Best Short Film (Pinakamahusay na Maikling Pelikula)
The Flight of Banog
46th Gawad Urian (Philippine Critics' Award)
Quezon City
2023
Official Selection, Panorama Showcase
The Author: Chapter Three
El VI Festival Internacional de Cineminutos de Córdoba
Córdoba
2023
Official Selection, Competition
Vertical
Diminuto, International Minimum Film Festival
México
2022
Official Selection, Competition
Vertical
VerticalMovie Film Festival
Roma
2022
Official Selection, VedoVerticale Competition
Vertical
Linea d’Ombra Festival
Salerno
2022
Semi-Finalist, BLISS category
Stroke / Woman
6th 2022 ESMoA Video Art + Film Festival
California
2022
Official Selection, Experimental Short Film
Stroke / Woman
3rd Stuff MX Film Festival
México
2022
Official Selection, UltraShort Competition
Stroke / Woman
6th MalatestaShort Film Festival
ForlìCesena
2022
Official Selection, Competition
Stroke / Woman
5th Cinemaking International Film Festival
Dhaka
2022
Southeastern European Premiere
Stroke / Woman
9th Mister Vorky Film Festival
Ruma
2022
Official Selection, Artist Film
Stroke / Woman
4th MicroActs • Artist Film Screening
London
2022
Official Selection, "Mutedom"
Stroke / Woman
3rd ALC videoart festival
Alicante
2022
Official Selection, Shorts Competition
The Flight of Banog
FACINE29 - 29th Annual International Filipino Cine Festival 2022
San Francisco
2022
Official Selection, Panorama (Out of Competition)
The Flight of Banog
6th Hanoi International Film Festival
Hanoi
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
14th Shockfest Film Festival
2022
Official Selection, International Fiction Competition
The Flight of Banog
6th Festival de Cine Independiente de Sogamoso
Boyacá
2022
Official Selection, International Short Film Competition
The Flight of Banog
11th Festival de Cine Kunturñawi
Riobamba
2022
Official Selection, Competition, International Shorts
The Flight of Banog
16th Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente Villa de Leyva
Villa de Leyva
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
13th DAUPARÁ - Muestra de Cine y Video Indígena en Colombia
Bogotá
2022
Nominee, Cine10 Filmmakers Competition
The Flight of Banog
13th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival
Kota Kinabalu
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
2nd Filipino San Diego Film Festival
San Diego
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
4th Film and Folklore Festival
Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo
2022
Official Selection, In Competition, Narrative Shorts
The Flight of Banog
9th Festival Internacional de Cine de La Paz
La Paz
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
15th IndiFest Festival de Cinema Indigena de Barcelona
Barcelona
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
16th Native Spirit Film Festival
London
2022
Official Selection, In Competition
The Flight of Banog
8th Festival Internacional Cine en las Montañas
Salento, Filandia
2022
Official Selection, Videocreación (In Competition)
The Flight of Banog
13th Festival Internacional de Cine de Santander - Picknic Film Festival
Santander
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
11th Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival
Ottawa
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
21st DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival
Washington, DC
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
9th Maoriland Film Festival
Ōtaki
2022
Official Selection, International Indigenous Short Film
The Flight of Banog
16th Wairoa Māori Film Festival
Nuhaka, Wairoa
2022
Official Selection, International Shorts Competition
The Flight of Banog
39th BOGOCINE Festival de Cine de Bogotá
Bogotá
2022
Official Selection, Competition
The Flight of Banog
50th CURTAS - Festival do Imaxinario Vilagarcía de Arousa
Pontevedra
2022
WINNER, Golden Kinabalu Award for Best Indigenous Film [Top Prize]
The Flight of Banog
13th Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival
Kota Kinabalu
2022
Official Selection, In Competition
The Flight of Banog
33rd São Paulo International Short Film Festival
São Paulo
2022
Official Selection, Pacific Cinewaves
The Flight of Banog
38th Los Angeles Asia Pacific Film Festival 2022
Los Angeles
2022
Official Selection, Competition, Fantastic Shorts
The Flight of Banog
42nd Porto International Film Festival FANTASPORTO 2022
Porto
2022
Official Selection, Microfilms
The Author: Chapter Three
Upstate New York Film Festival 2022
New York
2022
Official Selection, Competition (Nano and Mobile Film categories)
The Author: Chapter Three
Moinho Cine Fest
Porto
2022
Official Selection, International Films
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Surf City Festival
Huntington Beach
2022
Official Selection, International Short Films
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
BUEIFF CHANNEL
Buenos Aires
2022
Official Selection
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
FLICKFAIR Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
2022
Honorable Mention
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Asia South East-Short Film Festival
Phnom Penh
2022
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Three
17th 60 Second or Less Video Festival
Chestertown, Maryland
2021
Official Selection, Competition Films
The Author: Chapter Three
Minute Madness Toronto
Toronto
2021
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Three
12th Mobile International FIlm Festival
Bitola
2021
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Three
Copenhagen Web Fest
Copenhagen
2021
Semi-Finalist, Nominee, Best Cast (1-5 Minute Film Category)
The Author: Chapter Three
Couch Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario
2021
Official Selection, International Short Fiction
The Author: Chapter Three
Festival Internacional de Cine con Medios Alternativos FICMA
Mexico City
2021
Official Selection, International Short Film
The Author: Chapter Three
Ojo Móvil Fest 2021
Lima
2021
Winner, Extreme Scream Award, Scream Fest (Halloween Edition 2021)
The Author: Chapter Three
Berlin Flash Film Festival
Berlin
2021
Winner, Best in Category (Get To The Point)
The Author: Chapter Three
Copenhagen Web Fest
Copenhagen
2021
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Two
Bad Film Festival 2021
New York
2021
Quarter Finalist
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
National Film Festival - The Montazu Virtual Cinema
2021
Official Selection, Competition
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Festival Internacional de Marbella
Marbella, Andalusia
2021
Semi-Finalist
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Festival del Cinema di Cefalù
Palermo
2021
Finalist, Best Screenplay Category
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Osaka International Film Festival (OIFF)
Osaka
2021
Finalist, Best Director Category
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Osaka International Film Festival (OIFF)
Osaka
2021
Official Selection, Competition
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Osaka International Film Festival (OIFF)
Osaka
2021
Official Selection
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Accord Cine Fest 2021
Mumbai
2021
Official Selection, Short Films Category
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
4th Photometria in Motion Ioannina
Ioannina, Epirus
2021
Official Selection, Competition
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Festival del Cinema di Cefalù
Palermo
2021
Official Selection, Competition (Horror Film Category)
No Flowers In The Afternoon
Spring Ding Film Festival 2021
Metaline Falls, Washington
2021
Semi-Finalist
Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper
Lisbon Film Rendezvous
Lisbon
2021
Official Selection, Short Documentary Competition
Music Before the Sun Sets at Paoay
7th Festival Mundial de Cine de Veracruz
Veracruz
2020
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Two
60 Second International Film Festival
Islamabad
2020
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Two
Varese International Film Festival
Varese
2020
Official Selection, Competition
The Author: Chapter Two
Berlin Flash Film Festival
Berlin
2020
Semi-Finalist, Nominee, Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy International Short Film
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
AltFF Alternative Film Festival
Toronto and Ontario
2020
Winner, Special Mention, Short Film Competition
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
One-Reeler Short Film Competition
Los Angeles
2020
Finalist, Shorts Competition
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
One-Reeler Short Film Competition
Los Angeles
2020
Official Selection, Competition
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Cyber Shorts: A VR Film Festival
Nevada
2020
Winner, Best Screenplay
Dreams Aren't Made by the Wind
Cyber Shorts: A VR Film Festival
Nevada
2020
Official Selection, Competition
Tata
Berlin Flash Film Festival
Berlin
2020
Semi-Finalist
Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper
Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival
Moscow
2020
Official Selection
Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper
Midwest Video Poetry Fest 2020
Madison, Wisconsin
2020
Silver Tier, Short Films Category
If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up
15 Second Horror Film Challenge
Seattle, WA
2020
Official Selection, Competition
If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up
15 Second Horror Film Challenge
Seattle, WA
2020
Semi-Finalist, Nominee, Best Director
If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up
Alternative Film Festival
Toronto
2018
Official Selection, Competition, Cortometrajes
If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up
Panama Horror Film Fest
Panama
2018
Official Selection, Competition
Settlement
CineSeptiembre
Mazatan, Sinaloa
2018
Official Selection, Competition
Settlement
Cefalu Film Festival
Palermo
2018
Curated Screening
Settlement
CineMet at Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Manila
2017
Official Selection, Curated
Settlement
QCinema International Film Festival
Quezon City
2016
Official Selection, Competition
Settlement
SABC Ekurhuleni International Film Festival
Ekurhuleni
2016
Official Selection, Competition
Settlement
TIF Video Challenge
2016
Official Selection, Competition
Settlement
indieWISE Free Virtual Film Festival
Miami, Florida
2016
Official Selection
Settlement
Manila Spanish Film Festival
Manila
2016
Official Selection
Settlement
18th Antimatter Media Art
Victoria, British Columbia
2016
Semi-Finalist
A Flame in Our Midst
17th TiSFF* Thess International Shorts
Thessaloniki
Poster Selection (Competition)
The Flight of Banog
19th Maverick Movie Awards
London
Finalist
The Flight of Banog
9th FilmQuest
Utah
Quarter Finalist
The Flight of Banog
5th Festival du Fantastique de Béziers
Béziers
Winner, Best Poster
The Flight of Banog
7th AltFF Alternative Film Festival
Ontario & Toronto
Official Selection
The Author: Chapter Two
Dumbo Film Festival 2020
New York
Official Selection, Competition
No Flowers In The Afternoon
Cefalu Film Festival 2019
Palermo
Nominee, Best Cinematography
No Flowers In The Afternoon
ALTFF Summer 2019
Toronto
Semi-Finalist
No Flowers In The Afternoon
ALTFF Summer 2019
Toronto
Official Selection, Competition
Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper
FACINE 25 Annual Filipino International Cine Festival and Competition
San Francisco
Official Selection
Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper
Charlotte Asian Film Festival 2017
Charlotte
Nominee, Best Short Film
Listen to the Poems I WIll Whisper
42nd Gawad URIAN (Philippine FIlm Critics)
Quezon City
Nominee, Best International Short Film
If You Feel Sleepy, Never Wake Up
Move Me Productions Belgium Online Film Festival
Antwerp
Film Market
Settlement
31st Marche Du Film Court De Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Film Market
Settlement
Asian Film Market , Busan International Film Festival
Busan
Finalist
Settlement
ALTFF Summer 2017
Toronto
Finalist
Settlement
FACINE 24 Annual Filipino International Cine Festival and Competition
San Francisco
College
West Visayas State University
BS Mass Communication, Major in Broadcasting
19911995
High School
SMCS - Ateneo de Iloilo
19891991
Birth City
Iloilo City, Philippines
Current City
Manila, Philippines
Gender
Male
I love films. I work hard and save money so I can make films too.
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