Born in conflict-ridden region of Mindanao, Philippines in 1966, Nana Buxani is a documentary photographer, filmmaker and painter whose work largely deals on issues such as child labour, children and women in difficult situations, children in detention, the plight of homeless peoples, communities in war torn regions, the indigenous peoples and their claims to ancestral lands, urban poor communities and people engaged in cooperative building.
Photography
Nana has done works—both films and stills photography—for OXFAM-UK, the International Labour Organization particularly for the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), VSO-UK, UNICEF, Save the Children Organizations, the Women's Health and Safe Motherhood Program, under the European Union Cooperation in the Philippines, The Consuelo Algers Foundation, Amnesty International UK, Christian Aid, PHILCOCHED (an NGO working on issues of people with disabilities), and the Kaliwat Theatre Collective.
She has done assignments for Time Magazine (Asia Edition), the Chronicle of Philantrophy and Higher Education, Interviu Magazine (Spain), Il Venerdi ( Italy), Marie Claire, London, Newsbreak (Philippines), I Magazine (PCIJ, Philippines), ME Magazine (Philippines).
She has also assisted Magnum photographer Philip Jones Griffiths, documentary photographer Sebastiao Salgado and other foreign and international media organizations.
Film and Photography
Her documentary film collaborations with documentary director Ditsi Carolino has been exhibited and won awards both in local and international film festivals, notably:
MINSAN LANG SILA BATA (CHILDREN ONLY ONCE) 1996 / co-director, photography
— Grand Award, New York Film and Television Festivals 1999
— UNESCO Silver Prize, New York, 1999
— Best Documentary for Social Issues Category, New York, 1999
— Grand Award Toutes Categories Bruxelles Internationale du Film Independent 1998
— Best Documentary, Gawad CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines 1997)MULA PABRIKA HANGGANG FUKUOKA (MADE IN THE PHILIPPINES TO FUKOUKA WITH LOVE), A documentary on women, work and migration
— Hongkong International Film Festival, 1999
— Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, Special Mention Prize, 1999RILES (LIFE ON THE TRACKS) 2004 / co-director, cinematography
— Top Ten Audience Favorite, International Documentary Film Festival, the Netherlands, 2003
— Best Documentary, CineManila International Film Festival 2004
— Invited for exhibition at:- Sheffield International Documentary Festival, UK, 2003
- The Dochouse, West End, London, 2003
- The Hongkong International Film Festival, 2003
- The International Documentary Festival, Canada (HotDocs), 2003
- Human Rights Watch International Festival, New York and London, 2003BUNSO (THE YOUNGEST), a documentary on Children in Prisons / co-director, cinematography
— Silver Docs, Washington 2005
— the Canadian International Documentary Festival (HotDocs) 2005
— International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA), The Netherlands 2005
— Grand Award, Best Documentary, Human Rights Fest in Czech Republic 2005
— Human Rights film Festival (Nuremberg), Germany, 2005
— Human Rights Film Festival ( Belgrade , Serbia ), 2005
— Munich International Documentary Film Festival, 2005
— South Africa International Documentary Film Festival 2006
— Best Documentary Gawad Urian, Philippines, 2005Nana Buxani has taught photographic workshops for children under the Probe Media Foundation and UNICEF, was a grantee of the Asian Cultural Council, a Rockefeller Bros. Fund subsidiary based in New York City.
Paintings and Photographic Exhibitions
Images and Colours of Our Roots (traveling group exhibition with regional artists) Cultural Center of the Philippines 1992
Dreamscapes and Origins with poet-painter Tita Lacambra Ayala, 1995, Davao City
Solo Exposition of b/w works on child labour, Kasalo café 1996, Quezon City
Group Exhibition of b/w works, Third World Cafe, Malate 1997
Group Exhibition with 4 women painters, Sands Gallery, Quezon City 2000
Solo Exhibition 40 black and white works on Child Labour entitled: Little Feet, Big Works; Small Hands, Heavy Load, 2001 Manila
Works on Child Workers in Payatas Dumpsite, fund raising exhibition for a Japanese NGO (SALT) 2001
Picture Trip, group exhibition 2001, Filipinas Heritage Library Gallery
Solo Exhibition paintings: Dreams, Rituals and Musings, Blind Tiger Gallery Space, Quezon City 2001
Photographic Exhibition Life on the Tracks 2004 University of the Philippines Cinema Lobby
Photographic Exhibition Children in Prison 2005 University of the Philippines Cinema Lobby
Group Exhibition titled: RETROACTIVE, 2005 Main Gallery, Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Aftermath Project Auction (group show auction for the benefit of photographers documenting aftermath of wars), New York, 2006