2009 ACF Script Development Fund Residing in a slum, Toto is nonetheless a special boy. He was born with a disability?a cleft lip?so he can’t even pronounce his own name properly. Regardless, he insists on participating in a speech contest. He is not happy about his mother working at the bar and bringing home a man who doesn’t even speak the same language. He’s also displeased with his teacher, who feels pity for him and is visibly uncomfortable with him. But with a purity of passion and goodness of spirit, as well as the support of his uneducated, poor, but fundamentally loving mother, Toto tries to realize his humble yet ambitious dream of being treated equally to those around him. Rommel Tolentino has warm gaze that has been evident in his previous films, including [Andong], an award-winner at the Busan International Film Festival in 2008 and Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in 2009. Supported by the Asian Cinema Fund, Nono is his first feature film and represents his exceptional talent for conveying empathy and depicting the innocence of childhood. (PARK Sungho)