The Maginhawa Film Festival levels up to version 2.0, as it brings films reflective of Philippine Cinema’s centennial grandeur. This year’s festival is a celebration of 100 years of local cinema, thus representing the evolution of a medium which has been a tool to educate, disrupt, entertain,and inspire change.
From December 1 to 30, the second edition of MFF showcase full-length and short films, all worthy to represent this landmark.
If last year’s edition was more of featuring films, this 2018, the masterpieces will contend for awards including Best Film, Director, Performance, Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound Design, Editing, Production Design, Short Feature, and the Maginhawa Choice Award.
Here are the contending films under the Main competition, with their respective trailers and synopses:
Aria by Carlo Enciso Catu
A war veteran’s fight to restore her suspended pension takes her back to her fight for her country’s freedom and her personal liberation.
Dog Days by Timmy Harn
Follows the life of Michael Jordan Ulili as he resolves the weirdness of his destiny.
Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar
In downtown Old Manila, a mysterious young woman becomes the object of desire of four lonely men leading separate lives.
Liway by Kip Oebanda
Using stories and songs, a mother tries to raise her child as normally as possible in a makeshift prison camp for rebels during the Marcos dictatorship.
Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma by Iar Arondaing
Against a backdrop of clan war, a young finds herself being torn apart by love and violence.
Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang (Documentary) by Jewel Maranan
A city symphony that documents a series of violent juxtapositions in the lives of four individuals living opposite a busy port.
Tanabata’s Wife by Choy Pangilinan
In the early 20th century when La Trinidad in Benguet was home to Japanese immigrant farmers, Tanabata falls in love with his Igorot farmhand, Fas-ang.
Yield (Documentary) by Victor Tagaro
Yield is an ethnographic inquiry done over a period of five years, documenting the lives of nine children living in dire third world conditions.
The selection committee for the Main Competition was composed of Ara Chawdhury, Edward Delos Santos Cabagnot, Jessica Zafra, Raymond Red, and Sherad Anthony Sanchez while the Festival Centennial Section films are chosen by Gary Devilles of Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Paolo Villaluna of Director’s Guild of the Philippines Inc., Noy Lauzon of Young Critics Circle, and independent film critic, Oggs Cruz.
The short film category received more than a hundred entries and these entries emerged victorious:
AH by Aj Virtuz;
Ang Pagtuklas sa Larangan ng Pagiging Maria Clara by Lady Vicente;
Bahay-Bahayan by Brian Spencer Reyes;
Delta by Eluigi Macalintal;
Heist School by Julius Renomeron Jr.;
Huli by Coco Oei;
In-Tay by Leyvie Ann Santos;
Jepoy by Avid Liongoren;
Nangungupahan by Glenn Barit;
Ngiti ni Nazareno by Luisito Lagdame Ignacio;
Wala’y Humayan sa Tanglad by Neil Angelo Briones, and
Yujin by Eugene Torres
They were handpicked by Rolando Inocencio & Tim Rone Villanueva. Winners will be recognized at the awards night on December 9.
Festival Director Hector Calma admits, the selection process was difficult given that they had to choose from this year’s cream of the crop.
The Maginhawa Film Festival was established last year as a celebration of Cinema Centenario’s anniversary, premier alternative cinema of Quezon City along food hub Maginhawa Street.
Aside from Cinema Centenario, the films will also be shown at UPFI Videotheque, Pineapple Lab and Cinema Silencio.
