2016 Cinemalaya opens August 5, ‘sails’ to Cebu

The 12th edition of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival “sails” to Cebu City when the annual film competition opens its run on August 5 in Metro Manila, also marking the return of the Full-Length Feature Film Category in the festival.

Chris B. Millado, Cinemalaya festival director, said Cinemalaya formally begins at its main venue, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), on August 5 and runs until August 14.

Millado, who is also CCP vice president and artistic director, said that in Cebu, Cinemalaya runs August 9 to 14 at Ayala Malls.

Cinemalaya’s satellite venues in Metro Manila this year are: Ayala Cinemas in Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta in Makati; Trinoma and UP Town Center in Quezon City; and Nuvali in Sta. Rosa.

“This year’s festival, with the theme ‘Break the Surface,’ marks the return of the Full-Length Feature Category,” Millado said.

The nine entries competing for the Cinemalaya Full-Length Feature Film Category awards are:

1. “Ang Bagong Pamilya Ni Ponching” by Inna Miren Salazar and Dos Ocampo
2. “Dagsin” by Atom Magadia
3. “Hiblang Abo” by Ralston Jover
4. “I America” by Ivan Andrew Payawal
5. “Kusina” by David Corpuz and Cenon Palomares
6. “Lando at Bugoy” by Vic Acedillo, Jr.
7. “Mercury Is Mine” by Jason Paul Laxamana
8. “Pamilya Ordinaryo” by Eduardo Roy, Jr.
9. “Tuos” by Derick Cabrido.

One of the 10 entries in the Full-Length Feature Film Category pulled out of the competition due to production problems.

The 10 entries in the Short-Feature Film Category are:

1. “Ang Hapon Ni Nanding” (Nanding's Afternoons) by Rommel Tolentino
2. “Ang Maangas, Ang Marikit, at Ang Makata” by Jose Ibarra Guballa
3. “Bugtaw” by Noah Del Rosario
4. “Butas” by Richard Cawed
5. “Fish Out Of Water” by Mon A.L. Garilao
6. “Forever Natin” by Cyrus Valdez
7. “Get Certified” by Isaias Herrera Zantua
8. “Mansyong Papel” by Ogos Aznar
9. “Nakauwi Na” by John Relano, Patrick Baleros, and Luis Hidalgo
10. “Pektus” by Isabel Quesada

During the press conference held at the CCP to formally present to the media the directors and their films, Millado also listed the parallel sections to the Main Competition.

The other sections of the 2016 Cinemalaya are:  Festival’s Best, Asian Showcase, Documentaries, Tribute to Francis Pasion, and Cinemalaya Institute showcase.

The Cinemalaya Campus, a major component of the film festival to develop audience for indie films, is on August 9 to 10 at the CCP Little Theater.

The Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, considered as the longest-running independent film competition of its kind in the ASEAN/Asian region, will have its 28th run side by side with the  Cinemalaya main competition.

Photo from Ibarra C. Mateo

Millado said that among the “unprecedented” features in this year’s Cinemalaya is the participation of young celebrities who will act as “Cinemalaya Navigators” in charge of “engaging with audiences in conversations about the Cinemalaya films.”

Millado also announced the partnership with the Japan Foundation and Eiga Sai: The Japanese Film Festival.  

“As allied festivals, Cinemalaya and Eiga Sai will encourage film exchange, help in the promotion of both events, and contribute to audience building and film education,” Millado told reporters.

The new partnership paves the way for the Eiga Sai to bring in two films, “Ken and Kazu” by Hiroshi Shoji and “August in Tokyo” by Ryutaro Nakagawa, to the Cinemalaya’s Asian Section. 

“Ken and Kazu” is the opening film of the Asian Section, with both films to be shown free of charge.

As part of Eiga Sai, the CCP hosted the screening of “The Emperor in August” by Masato Harada on July 8 at the CCP Little Theater.

The Asian Section showcases the award-winning NETPAC films: “Child Of Debt” by Umashankar Swamy (India/Kannada, 2015), “Mina Walking” by Yosef Baraki (Afghanistan/Canada, 2015 ), “Motor Bicycle” by Shameera Rangana Naotunna (Sri Lanka, 2015), “Stranger”  by Yermek Tursunov(Kazakhstan, 2015), “The Kids” by Sunny Yu (Taiwan, 2015), “Under Heaven” by Dalmira Tilepbergen (Kyrgyzstan, 2015) and “Until I Lose My Breath” by Emine Emel Balci(Turkey-Germany, 2015).

The Asian Section also screens “River Road” by Li Ruijun (China, 2014).

Millado said that “The Tribute to Francis Pasion” honors the life and work of the late Cinemalaya director who passed away in March 2016.  Pasion’s films “Bwaya” (Cinemalaya 2014 Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Score), “Jay” (Cinemalaya 2008 Best Film, Best Editing, and Best Actor) and “Sampagita” (2010 Cinemalaya Special Jury Prize) will be shown in the retrospective.

Director Lav Diaz’s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis,” which won the Silver Bear award at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival, will be shown in the Special Screenings section, together with his “Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas.” 

The Special Screenings section will also spotlight the works of actress Jaclyn Jose, awarded Best Actress in the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and Nick De Ocampo’s historical documentaries “Eiga and Gunita,” among others.

The Cinemalaya 2016 Exhibit at the Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby) will feature posters and memorabilia from the films selected for the competition.

Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation and the CCP.

Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage, and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers. 

To date, Cinemalaya has supported and promoted the production of 127 full feature independent films and 106 short films.

Many of these films have won awards in local and international competitions and festivals. Through the annual festival, Cinemalaya has showcased over 1,000 works by independent filmmakers including full feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films. — AT, GMA News

For more information about Cinemalaya, visit www.cinemalaya.org, www.culturalcenter.gov.ph, and the Cinemalaya Facebook page or contact the CCP Media Arts at 832-1125 local 1704-1705 and the CCP box office at 832-3704.