MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Finally, the long wait is over. After a series of postponements due to lockdowns and quarantine restrictions, the Cinema Under the Stars (CUTS) will finally roll out on December 16 and 17, at the Liwasang Ullalim.
A project of the CCP Film, New Media and Broadcast Division, CUTS is an outdoor hybrid drive-in theatre where movie-goers can watch at the comfort of their vehicles or set up their picnic blankets under the stars. The outdoor cinema is open to riders, bikers, joggers, and walkers.
Select films from Cinemalaya 2020 and 2021 will be screened on December 16, 4pm. Catch the winning short films of the 16th edition of the country’s biggest independent film festival – Tokwifi by Carla Pulido-Ocampo (Best Short Film and Netpac Jury Prize), Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar (Best Direction), Pabasa Kan Pasyon by Hubert Tibi (Best Screenplay), Ang Pagpakalma sa Unos by Joanna Vasquez Arong (Special Jury Prize), and Quing Lalam Ning Aldo by Reeden Fajardo (Audience Choice Award).
These will be screened back-to-back with Cinemalaya 2021 winners – Beauty Queen by Myra Aquino (Best Short Film), Kids on Fire by Kyle Nieva (Best Direction and Best Screenplay), and An Sadit na Planeta by Arjanmar Rebeta (Netpac Jury Prize, Special Jury Prize, and Audience Choice Award).
Pan de Salawal by Che Espiritu, a film about a wandering girl who violently hurts the sick to heal them brings miracles to an ill-stricken neighbourhood, will touch the hearts with its poignant storytelling on December 16, 7pm.
The full-length film was part of the 14th Cinemalaya and won the Best Director award for its impressive use of cinematic resources to evoke in a very convincing manner a world of utter enchantment.
The December 17 outdoor film day opens with Gawad Alternatibo 2020 and 2021 winners – Sarung Banggi by Dominic Barrios, Meowbot vs Fishzilla by Mio Dagsaan, My Mamily by Cha Roque, Home by Bryant Kent Abias, Haraya by Kem Jasper Abayon, and Langit sa Lupa by Cha Roque. The screening will be at 4pm.
Coming full circle, Tao Po returns to the CCP through the outdoor cinema on December 17, 7pm. Tao Po was born from the CCP’s celebration of Human Rights Month in 2017 as a monologue play, and was later turned into a full-length film.
The film follows the social awakening of a photojournalist when he covers the tokhang beat. From several immersion trips and in-depth interviews conducted by artist-activist Mae Paner and playwright Maynard Manansala emerge four monologues that give faces to the issue of extra-judicial killings.
This will be twin-billed with Kabaligtaran ng Gunaw by Jerrold Tarog, a short film based on a poem with the same title by Eljay Castro Deldoc. Choreographed by Ronelson Yadao, the eight-minute film brings different art forms together. The eight-minute short feature film brings together the different art forms to remind all artists and the public on the importance of artistic expression and undaunted creativity in the time of pandemic.
There will be a talkback with director-actress Mae Paner and other guests who will be onsite for the panel discussion.
The first three screenings are free to the public, but everyone is encouraged to get their tickets at Ticket2Me. Tickets for Tao Po are priced at Php250. To buy tickets, visit https://ticket2me.net. For full instruction, check out the CCP and Cinemalaya Facebook pages.
Those who are watching CUTS screenings are advised to bring their own headphones and download a radio app in advance. Also, the CCP encourages viewers who have no vehicles to bring their own mats to have a comfortable cinematic experience.
To ensure safety, please read CCP’s new normal health protocol at http://bit.ly/CCPNewNormalProtocol.
