It may have happened just hours ago, but to the numerous directors and industry people whom he called friends, the loss of young Filipino-Canadian critic Alexis Tioseco and his girlfriend Nika Bohinc is staggering. They passed away early today in Quezon City, the Philippines. Both are also friends to some of us programmers here at TIFF, and we are still in shock as we mourn their sudden passing.

I first met Alexis in 2005, when he was just starting up his website on Southeast Asian cinema called Criticine (http://www.criticine.com). I had heard a lot about him beforehand - that he was a young, incredibly smart and passionate critic who championed the cinema of the region. He had especially astute knowledge of Filipino cinema history, and we used to talk about classic films as well as new ones. We didn't always agree, but what I liked was his reasoning and conviction. It didn't take him long to get noticed, and soon he was making rounds as a journalist and FIPRESCI jury member in festivals in Europe and Asia and beyond. He was close to many acclaimed Filipino filmmakers such as Lav Diaz, Raya Martin and John Torres, as well as filmmakers in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. At times his vocal criticisms of the Filipino film industry caused some teeth-gnashing among the establishment, but Alexis got away with it because he wrote so eloquently. And that was his strength. He was someone who was genuinely keen on preserving and continuing the legacy of Filipino cinema. It also didn't hurt that nearly everyone saw him as one of the nicest guys around.

In 2008, I had a nice long chat with Alexis, and he told me about an article he wrote that was quite personal. It related to his feelings about cinema...and also his girlfriend Nika (you can read the whole article here: http://rogue.ph/columns/entry/the_letter_i_would_love_to_read_to_you_in_person/P1/). Nika herself was the head of FIPRESCI in Slovenia, editor of EKRAN magazine and was involved in the Ljubljana International Film Festival, Isola Cinema Film Festival and IndieLisboa. Her fiery character and her fine wordsmanship was an equal match to Alexis'. Though I only met her recently this summer, I was also impressed with her. She was due to go back to Europe when this senseless tragedy occurred.

Much of the Filipino film community is reeling right now from the news, and alas the direct impact on TIFF itself is that director Raya Martin, one of Alexis' close friends, will now no longer be able to attend our festival – which I completely understand. To honor Alexis’ and Nika’s memory, the screenings of Martin's INDEPENDENCIA at TIFF will be dedicated to them.

Alexis and Nika, you both will be tremendously missed, and your works will live on in the lives of the people you touched.