Erik Matti Wins Best Director for Filipino Episode of HBO's Food Lore

Proving that food and drama go well together (just think of all the life-changing conversations you’ve had while making and eating lunch), the Philippine episode of HBO Asia’s Food Lore series was recognized in the recent ContentAsia Awards, the independent body that focuses on the Asian content industry.

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Director Erik Matti won Best Director of a Scripted TV Program for the episode, “Food Lore: Island of Dreams,” while the series itself won Best Asian Drama for Regional/International Market.

Photo by HBO Asia.

Matti's “Island of Dreams” touches on Filipino diaspora. To provide her husband (Yul Servo) and children with a better life, Nieves (Angeli Bayani) leaves her family to work as a domestic helper in Metro Manila. When she returns home for the annual fiesta, Nieves realizes that she may have grown estranged to her family due to unexpected changes in her life.

“I’m really interested to find out each country’s take on food and people and the emotion that go with it,” says the director in a series featurette. Matti also explains how the Filipino episode is about change—thinking beyond what you are used to and deciding whether to stay stagnant or move forward. 

Photo by HBO Asia.

“Island” is one of eight hour-long episodes in Food Lore, the 2019 drama series that explores human conditions with narratives inspired by Asian cuisines. Other countries (and cuisines) featured in the Food Lore include India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. Notably, the Filipino episode made its world debut at the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival.   

Food Lore is now streaming on HBO Go.

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