MANILA, Philippines – An 18-year-old Filipino filmmaker bagged the People’s Choice award at the Manhattan International Film Festival in New York for a short film he initially made for a workshop.

Lance Katigbak, a freshman at the University of the Philippines, won the award for “Fine Dining,” which he described as a film “on poverty, dignity, and the unconquerable nature of the human soul.”

The 5-minute film featured a man preparing a full course meal for a special guest using inexpensive and practical household items.

Katigbak, who wrote and directed the film, bested 14 other filmmakers from across the world.

“It all started when we were in this fancy restaurant. I was looking at the table setting, the knives, the forks, the different [dishes], and I thought to myself, ‘What if I recreated these things using cheap items?’” he said.

Katigbak’s film professor Jill Ramos said the young filmmaker submitted “Fine Dining” as part of his requirements to complete a summer workshop.

“Biruin mo, para sa summer workshop lang siya. In school terms, parang project lang siya and it turned out to be something that the whole country can be proud of,” said Ramos.

Katigbak’s family said they are supporting the filmmaker’s dream to create more movies that will touch the soul.

“He really wants to make an impact in the film industry, wherein he can produce films that will not make use of violence and sex,” said Katigbak’s mother Joy. -- Report from Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News