MANILA – For over a decade, Cinemalaya has been serving us with the very best of local independent films. Now on its 15th year, the Philippine’s premiere independent film festival is back with an array of activities lined up for us.
This year’s Cinemalaya will be held on August 2 to 11, at the CCP theaters, and August 7 to 13 at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas and Vista Malls in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Naga, Legaspi, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao. Check out the full schedule of screenings here.
Here are some things we’re definitely looking forward to this year:
Lav Diaz’s “Ang Hupa” Opens the 15th Edition of Cinemalaya
If you’ve heard of Lav Diaz, you’d know he’s one of the most critically acclaimed Filipino directors of our time, creating masterpieces such as “Norte” and “Ang Panahon ng Halimaw”. This year, Cinemalaya is opening with his film “Ang Hupa” (The Halt), which was presented in the latest edition of the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes this year.
The almost five-hour film starring Piolo Pascual, Joel Lamangan and Shaina Magdayao, takes place in Southeast Asia in the year 2034 AD, fictionally in the dark for the last three years because the sun hasn’t shone as a result of massive volcanic eruptions at the Celebes Sea in 2031.
The film explores yet another dimension of a frequent topic in Lav’s work: power and domination of dictatorships in the Philippines.
Visions of Asia To Showcase Seven Films
THE 15th edition of the Cinemalaya Film Festival presents a kaleidoscope of cinema from the Asian region through Visions of Asia, a major component of the country’s largest independent film festival.
Four award-winning NETPAC films and three Asian indie films will convey Asian sensibilities to film enthusiasts, which will be screened on August 3 to 10, at various CCP venues.
These are: “A Tiger in Winter,” written and directed by Korean director Lee Kwang-kuk; “Brother of the Year,” directed by Thai director Bon – Vithaya Thongyuyong; “Lying to Mom,” directed by Japanese director Nojiri Katsumi; “Kejal,” directed by Iranian director Nima Yar (Salehiyar); “Still Human,” directed by Oliver Siu Kuen Chen; “The Sweet Requiem,” directed by Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin; “The Third Wife,” directed by Ash Mayfair.
Cinemalaya’s Featured Films
What’s Cinemalaya without the highlight of the event? Ten full-length films and ten short feature films take the spotlight and showcase the best of Filipino independent filmmaking and storytelling.
The 10 full-length films in competition are: “ANi (The Harvest),” directed By Kim Zuniga and Sandro Del Rosario; “Belle Douleur (Beautiful Pain),” directed by Joji V. Alonzo; “Children of the River,” directed by Maricel Cabrera–Cariaga; “Edward,” directed by Thop Nazareno; “Fuccbois,” directed by Eduardo Roy Jr; “Iska,” directed by Theodore Boborol; “John Denver Trending,” directed by Arden Rod Condez; “Malamaya (The Color of Ash),”directed by Danica Sta. Lucia and Leilani Chavez; “Pandanggo Sa Hukay,” directed by Sheryl Rose M. Andes; and “Tabon,” directed by Xian Lim.
For the short feature main competition, the finalists are: “Disconnection Notice,”directed by Glenn Lowell Forneste Averia; “Gatilyo (Trigger),” directed by Harold Lance Pialdal; “Heist School,” directed by Julius Renomeron Jr; “Hele ng Maharlika (Lullaby of the Free),” directed by Norvin De Los Santos; “Kontrolado Ni Girly Ang Buhay N’ya (Girly Is In Control of His Life)” directed by Gilb Baldoza; “Sa Among Agwat (In Between Spaces),” directed by Don Senoc; “Sa Gabing Tanging Liwanag Ay Paniniwala (Belief As The Light In Darkness),” directed by Francis Guillermo; “Tembong (Connecting),” directed by Shaira Advincula; “The Shoemaker,” directed by Sheron Dayoc; and “‘Wag Mo ‘Kong Kausapin (Please Stop Talking),” directed by Josef Gacutan.
About Cinemalaya
Since 2005, Cinemalaya has continued to discover, encourage and support the cinematic works of upcoming and veteran Filipino filmmakers who boldly articulate and freely interpret the Philippine experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.
To date, Cinemalaya has supported and promoted the production of Filipino full feature independent films and 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.
For more information, visit CCP website. You may also call CCP Media Arts at 832-1125 loc. 1704/1705, CCP Box Office at 832-3704.
