Kip Oebanda

{{Infobox person

| name = Kip Oebanda

| caption = (Image caption, if necessary)

| birth_place = Iloilo City, Philippines

| nationality = Filipino

| occupation = Director, screenwriter, producer

| years_active = 2013–present

| notable_works = {{plainlist|

}}

Dakip "Kip" Oebanda ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oʊ|.|ɛ|ˌ|b|æ|n|d|ə}}; {{respell|OH|eh|BAN|də}}), is a Filipino film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his impactful films. His unconventional storytelling gained attention in the film industry, often focusing on themes such as family dynamics and social issues in the Philippines.

Early life and education

Dakip Oebanda was born in Iloilo City, Philippines, to Cecilia and Ricardo Flores-Oebanda.{{Cite web |last=Miraflor |first=Madelaine B. |date=2018-07-29 |title=The Reel Life of Kip Oebanda |url=https://mb.com.ph/2018/07/29/the-reel-life-of-kip-oebanda/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}} His spent his early childhood in prison, as both of his parents were political detainees during the martial law period in the Philippines.{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=Bayani San Diego |date=2014-10-03 |title=In detention, but independent |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/153903/in-detention-but-independent |access-date=2025-05-10 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Diondy A. Palagtiw |date=2010 |title=Kip Oebanda: Scaling the Market of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=1474#:~:text=Born%20on%20September%2012,%201982,prisoner%20under%20the%20Marcos%20regime. |journal=FEU Communication Journal |language=en-US |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=1}} He earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from San Beda College and later obtained a master's degree in Economics and Management from the Asian Institute of Management. Despite his academic background, Oebanda's passion for filmmaking led him to pursue a career in the industry.

Film career

Oebanda began his career in the Philippine film industry as an assistant director and production designer. His early work involved collaborating on films such as Shift (2013), directed by Siege Ledesma. This earned him a nomination for Best Production Design at the 2014 Gawad Urian Awards.{{Cite AV media |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3307438/awards/ |title=Shift (2013) - Awards - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-05-11 |via=m.imdb.com}}

Oebanda's directorial debut came with the short film Tumbang Preso (2014),{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Manila |date=2014-10-11 |title='Tumbang Preso' premiere |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2014/10/11/lifestyle-entertainment/show-times/tumbang-preso-premiere/133532 |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=The Manila Times |language=en}} for which he also had writing credits. The film took place in a sardine factory and tackled the issue of human trafficking in the Philippines.{{Cite web |title=Kerbie Zamora hopes their film Tumbang Preso will be an eye-opener about human trafficking |url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/13709/kerbie-zamora-hopes-their-film-tumbang-preso-will-be-an-eye-opener-about-human-trafficking? |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=PEP.ph |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ronnie Lazaro on dealing with social issues: 'We use art' |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/04/04/1308763/ronnie-lazaro-dealing-social-issues-we-use-art |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=The Philippine Star}} It received critical acclaim from critics.{{Cite web |last=Jimenez |first=Joyce |title=REVIEW: 'Tumbang Preso': A call to fight human trafficking |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/movies/2014/10/01/1375306/review-tumbang-preso-call-fight-human-trafficking |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=The Philippine Star}} He won the Best IFC Pitch at the Manila Film Financing Forum for the film.{{Cite web |last=Arevalo |first=Rica |date=2013-09-07 |title='Tumbang Preso' bags MFFF's top plum |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/111467/tumbang-preso-bags-mfffs-top-plum |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} The same year, he was also the assistant director for Bukas na Lang, Sapagkat Gabi Na. Oebanda was part of the editing team for the 2016 film Patay na si Hesus.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6166990/fullcredits/ |title=Jesus is Dead (2016) - Full cast & crew - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-05-13 |via=www.imdb.com}}

In 2017, Oebanda received increased attention for Bar Boys, a film he directed, co-produced, and wrote.{{Cite web |last=Interaksyon |date=2017-08-22 |title=REVIEW {{!}} 'Bar Boys' is a feel-good film on being a law student and a student of life |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/08/22/92281/review-bar-boys-is-a-feel-good-film-on-being-a-law-student-and-a-student-of-life/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Interaksyon |language=en-US}} The film earned three wins and seven nominations from various award-giving bodies.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6900584/awards/?ref_=tt_awd |title=Bar Boys (2017) - Awards - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-05-12 |via=www.imdb.com}} Oebanda received a Best Screenplay nomination at the Gawad Urian Awards{{Cite web |last=Villano |first=Alexa |date=2018-06-14 |title=FULL LIST: Winners, Gawad Urian Awards 2018 |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/204931-winners-list-gawad-urian-2018/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}} and was also nominated for Indie Movie Director of the Year at the PMPC Star Awards for Movies.{{Cite web |title=Mga nominado sa 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies, inilabas na |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/07/18/mga-nominado-sa-34th-pmpc-star-awards-for-movies-inilabas-na |website=ABS-CBN}} He also wrote and directed the horror film Nay, an entry for the Cinema One Originals Film Festival the same year. The horror film was an allegory to the controversial war on drugs in the Philippines during the Duterte regime. It received seven nominations, with Oebanda nominated for Best Picture and Best Director.{{Cite web |title=Cinema One Originals 2017 finalists revealed |url=https://id.summitmedia.com.ph?d=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pep.ph%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F119487%2Fcinema-one-originals-2017-finalists-revealed |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=PEP.ph |language=en}}

In 2018, Oebanda would direct the semi-autobiographical film, Liway, which was well-received by critics. He received another PMPC Star Awards for Movies nomination for Indie Movie Director of the Year{{Cite web |last=Bukas |first=Leo |title=Mga nominado sa 35th PMPC Star Awards For Movies inilabas na {{!}} ABS-CBN Entertainment |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/2019/5/18/fresh-scoops/mga-nominado-sa-35th-pmpc-star-awards-for-movies-i-36566 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250126053556/https://www.abs-cbn.com/2019/5/18/fresh-scoops/mga-nominado-sa-35th-pmpc-star-awards-for-movies-i-36566 |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=ABS-CBN |language=en-US}} as well as a nomination for Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year, which he shared with Zig Dulay.

Oebanda garnered further critical acclaim for Balota (2024), a political thriller he wrote and directed, which premiered at the 20th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and starred Marian Rivera in the lead role.{{Cite web |last=Purnell |first=Kristofer |title=Marian Rivera Cinemalaya movie 'Balota' getting wide release |url=https://www.philstar.com/movies/2024/09/06/2383294/marian-rivera-cinemalaya-movie-balota-getting-wide-release |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=The Philippine Star}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Key

| style="background:#ffc;"| {{dagger|alt=Shows that have not yet been released}}

| Denotes films that have not yet been released

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! width=65 \| Director ! width=65 \| Writer ! width=65 \| Producer ! Notes
rowspan="2" \| 2013 \| Shift \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| Production Designer
Bukas na Lang, Sapagkat Gabi Na \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| Assistant Director
2014 \| Tumbang Preso \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| Directorial debut
2016 \| Patay Na Si Hesus \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| Editor; Part of Editing Team
rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| Bar Boys \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| Co-producer
Nay \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}}
2018 \| Liway \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| Co-writer
2019 \| Abandoned \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}}
2024 \| Balota \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| Executive Producer
{{TBA}} \| {{Pending film\|Bar Boys: After School}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{TBA}} \| In writing

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! width=65 | Director

! width=65 | Writer

! width=65 | Producer

! Notes

rowspan="2" | 2013

| Shift

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| Production Designer

Bukas na Lang, Sapagkat Gabi Na

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| Assistant Director

2014

| Tumbang Preso

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| Directorial debut

2016

| Patay Na Si Hesus

| {{No}}

| Editor; Part of Editing Team

rowspan="2" | 2017

| Bar Boys

| {{Yes}}

| Co-producer

Nay

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

2018

| Liway

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| Co-writer

2019

| Abandoned

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

2024

| Balota

| {{Yes}}

| Executive Producer

| {{Pending film|Bar Boys: After School}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{TBA}}

| In writing

=Acting roles=

Film

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
2016	My Rebound Girl \| Coffee shop customer	Emmanuel Dela Cruz	rowspan="3" \| Bit part
rowspan="2" \| 2019	LSS	P2P Ticket Vendor	Jade Castro
Dead Kids	Crowd	rowspan="2" \| Mikhail Red
2020	Block Z	Zombie	Guest Role
2022	Leonor Will Never Die	Hospital Crowd	Martika Ramirez Escobar	Bit part

Accolades

class="wikitable sortable"
Year	Award-Giving Body	Category	Work	Result	Notes
rowspan="2" \| 2013 \| Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival \| Best Production Design \| Shift \| {{Nominated}} \|
Manila Film Financing Forum \| Best IFC Pitch \| Tumbang Preso \| {{Won}} \|
2014 \| Gawad Urian Awards \| Best Production Design \| Shift \| {{Nominated}} \|
rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| rowspan="2" \| Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival \| Best Picture \| rowspan="2" \| Nay \| {{Nominated}} \|
Best Director \| {{Nominated}} \|
rowspan="6" \| 2018 \| Gawad Urian Awards \| Best Screenplay \| rowspan="3" \| Bar Boys \| {{Nominated}} \|
rowspan="2" \| PMPC Star Awards for Movies \| Indie Movie Director of the Year \| {{Nominated}} \|
Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year \| {{Nominated}} \|
rowspan="3" \| Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival \| Best Film \| rowspan="8" \| Liway \| {{Nominated}} \|
Audience Award \| {{Won}} \|
Special Jury Commendation \| {{Won}} \|
rowspan="5" \| 2019 \| rowspan="2" \| Luna Award (FAP Awards) \| Best Director \| {{Nominated}} \|
Best Screenplay \| {{Won}} \| Shared with Zig Dulay
rowspan="2" \| PMPC Star Awards for Movies \| Indie Movie Director of the Year \| {{Nominated}} \|
Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year \| {{Nominated}} \| Shared with Zig Dulay
Entertainment Editors' Choice Awards \| Best Director \| {{Nominated}} \|
rowspan="2" \| 2024 \| Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival \| Best Film \| rowspan="2" \| Balota \| {{Nominated}} \|
VP Choice Awards \| Movie Director of the Year \| {{Pending}} \|{{Cite web \|last=Sedero \|first=Lei Arthreo \|date=2025-01-29 \|title=6th VP Choice Awards: Official Nominees for Entertainment and Lifestyle \|url=https://villagepipol.com/6th-vp-choice-awards-official-nominees-for-entertainment-and-lifestyle/ \|access-date=2025-05-14 \|website=Your Guide to the Big City \|language=en-US}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

Award-Giving Body

References

External links

{{IMDb name|6060855}}

Category:Living people

Category:Filipino film directors

Category:San Beda University alumni

Category:Asian Institute of Management alumni