MANILA – Dozens of filmmakers and film aficionados flocked to the Maginhawa Central Park last Saturday to celebrate the opening night of the second Maginhawa Film Festival (MFF). Organized by Cinema Centenario, a premier alternative cinema of Quezon City along food hub Maginhawa Street, the festival was mounted in celebration of 100 years of Philippine Cinema.
Happening from December 1 to 30, 2018, the second edition of MFF sees eight full-length films and 12 short films that will contend for awards including Best Film, Director, Performance, Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound Design, Editing, Production Design, Short Feature, and the Maginhawa Choice Award.
Dev Angeo, Program Director of Maginhawa Film Festiva, said that the event is an opportune time for film enthusiasts, and film directors and producers to mingle and learn from each other. “[Through the Maginhawa Film Festival], we get to show people that there are more films, more directors with voices that we need to hear from. That we are not driven by commercial viability of films. It feels inspiring to see that the audience is mingling with the filmmakers to talk about the films. The inclusiveness is overwhelming.”
During the festival, Cinema Centenario will also conduct lectures, seminars, workshops during the festival, including Film Producing, Film Writing, Cinematography, and Production Design.
Contenders for the main competition include:
Aria by Carlo Enciso Catu
Dog Days by Timmy Harn
Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar
Liway by Kip Oebanda
Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma by Iar Arondaing
Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang (Documentary) by Jewel Maranan
Tanabata’s Wife by Choy Pangilinan
Yield (Documentary) by Victor Tagaro
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.
Aside from Cinema Centenario, the films will also be shown at UPFI Videotheque, Pineapple Lab and Cinema Silencio.
Related article:
2nd Maginhawa Film Festival: A Great Way to Celebrate Philippine Cinema’s Centennial Year
