One of the most sought-after film festivals in the Philippines, the Cinemalaya Film Festival, is an annual showcase of the best of independent films in the country. With its 14th year run recently coming to a close, Cinemalaya has and will continue to pave the way for independent filmmakers to harness their craft and connect to a more robust, discerning, and continuously growing audience.
In its recent awards night held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the home of the festival for over a decade, Cinemalaya Foundation President Laurice Guillen declared the 14th year of the festival as “one of the best, if not the best edition in years”.
This most recent edition, which ran from August 3 to 12, has welcomed record-breaking numbers and, with pride from its organizing committee, a variety of firsts for the festival and for the Philippine film industry as a whole.
For one, Cinemalaya Festival Director Chris Millado declared that audience turnout has increased by 25 percent compared to last year’s edition. Also, for the first time in the history of the festival, two entries—box office hits Liway and ML—have grossed more than 50 percent than earnings of the festival’s top grossers of the past year. Mostly, Millado noted the shower of support from the festival’s growing audience reflecting the energy of the first Golden Age during the reign of filmmakers Lamberto Abellana and Gerardo de Leon during the 30’s and 40’s and the second Golden Age led by Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal during the 80’s and 90’s, marking this season, without hesitation, as the third Golden Age of Philippine cinema.
Taking center stage in this new Golden Age are the films that stood out the most in the festival, which were recognized and awarded during the awarding ceremony, hosted by talented actors and award-winning actors, Sandino Martin and Cris Villonco.
Nespresso Vertical Shorts
READ: Nespresso and Cinemalaya 2018 Present First Ever Vertical Shorts Competition
The Nespresso Vertical Shorts competition is a collaboration of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Cinemalaya Foundation and Nespresso, a global coffee brand that celebrates innovation, passion and excellence in filmmaking. A first in the festival, the competition addresses the shift of methods in creating content and how it can influence the craft of making films. It brought over around 30 entries tackling the theme “pagmamalasakit” or compassion, from which 12 finalists were selected.
SLN by Brian Spencer Reyes, a candid but intimate tale on how people remember the dead, wins Best Film in this segment of the competition, followed by first runner-up Braveheart by Kevin Tuason, a creative stop-motion tribute made for his mother, and second-runner up Ako by Jonel Revistual, a metaphorical feature on taking responsibility for one’s own actions.
Short Feature Category
Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month by Carlo Francisco Manatad was awarded as Best Film for its satirical take on one of the pressing issues in the country today.
Meanwhile, Si Astri Maka Si Tambulah, a story on tackling arranged marriages and gender sensitivity, bags two awards—the Special Jury Award and Best Director for Xeph Suarez.
Sa Saiyang Isla by Christian Candelaria, a tale of a youngster finding his identity and purpose, also bags two awards—the Netpac Jury Award and Best Screenplay for Christian Candelaria.
Finally, Kiko by Jojo Driz, a narration of the life and losses of a blind, aging man, garnered the Audience Choice Award.
Full-Length Feature Category
The coveted Best Film award went to Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon by Carlo Catu, a story on the old generation’s take on love. The film proved to be the star of the evening as it bagged other numerous awards—Best Screenplay for John Carlo Pacala, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza, Best Production Design for Marielle Hizon, and the Netpac Jury Award.
Pan de Salawal by Che Espiritu, which narrates the budding friendship of a lonely bread maker and a mysterious young healer, won the Special Jury Award along with Best Director for Che Espiritu and Best Original Music Score for Len Calvo.
Liway by Kip Oebanda, a tribute to his mother who was a strong critic during the Martial Law, was awarded the Special Jury Commendation for Film and the Audience Choice Award.
Mikael Pestano won Best Editing for his work in ML, a Martial Law remembrance set on the modern time, while Wildsound was recognized with the Best Sound award for its work in Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma, a coming-of-age tale of a young Muslim girl caught between ensuing tribe wars.
Outstanding acting performances were also awarded in the ceremony. Kenken Nuyad for Liway and School Service, Miel Espinosa for Pan de Salawal, and JM Salvado for Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma, won the Special Jury Award for Acting. Comedienne and host turned dramatic actress Ai-Ai Delas Alas was awarded Best Actress for her performance in School Service, while Eddie Garcia bags his third Best Actor award in Cinemalaya for his work in ML. Ketchup Eusebio won Best Supporting Actor for his work in Mamang, while Therese Malvar made history as she bagged the Best Supporting Actress awards for both of her roles in Distance and School Service.
Cinemalaya 2018 has undoubtedly reaped huge success this year, marking it a momentous year not just for the festival but for the Philippine film industry. With the growing support for independent films in the country, Cinemalaya hopes to continue improving the landscape of the Philippine independent film industry with its upcoming 15th edition and the years to come.
Here is the complete list of winners:
Nespresso Short Film Awards 2018
- Best film: SLN by Brian Spencer Reyes
- 1st runner-up : Braveheart by Kevin Tuason
- 2nd runner-up: Ako by Jonel Revistual
Short-Feature and Full-Length Film Categories
- Netpac Citation, full-length feature: Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon
- Netpac Citation, short feature film: Sa Saiyang Isla
- Best Full-length Feature: Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon
- Best Short Feature: Jodilerks dela Cruz
- Best Director: Che Espiritu for Pan de Salawal
- Best Director, short feature category: Xeph Suarez for Si Astri Maka si Tambulah
- Best Actor: Eddie Garcia for ML
- Best Actress: Ai Ai delas Alas for School Service
- Best Supporting Actor: Ketchup Eusebio for Mamang
- Best Supporting Actress: Therese Malvar for Distance and School Service
- Audience choice, short feature film: Kiko
- Audience choice, full-length feature film: Liway
- Best Sound: Musmos Na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma
- Best Original Music Score: Pan de Salawal
- Best Editing: Mikael Pestano for ML
- Best Production Design: Marielle Hizon for Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon
- Best Cinematography: Neil Daza for Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon
- Best Screenplay, full-length category: John Carlo Pacala for Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon
- Best Screenplay, short feature category: Christian Candelaria for Sa Saiyang Isla
- Special Jury Prize for Acting: Miel Espinosa, JM Salvado and Ken Ken Nuyad
- Special Jury Award: Pan de Salawal
- Special Jury Commendation: Liway
