Selected featured films at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2017 will be screened for free to the public. These include the opening film, some of the Visions of Asia featured films, Ika-29 Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video screenings, and Cinemalaya Institute showcase.
Catch the opening film, “Birdshot” by filmmaker Mikhail Red, on August 4, at 7 p.m., at the CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater). The coming-of-age thriller tells the story of a young farm girl who wanders off into a Philippine forest reserve. Deep within the reservation, she mistakenly shoots and kills a critically-endangered and protected Philippine Eagle. As the local authorities begin a manhunt to track down the poacher, their investigation leads them to an even more horrific discovery.
Some Asian and Netpac award-winning films in the Visions of Asia section will also be screened for free, including Thai film “A Gift,” “Poolsideman” by Japanese filmmaker Hirobumi Watanabe, and “Asian Three-fold Mirror 2016: Reflections.”
“A Gift” features three stories – “Love at Sundown” by Chayanop Boonprakob and Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn, “Still on My Mind” by Nithiwat Tharatorn, and “New Year Greeting” by Jira Maligool. Featuring actors Naphat Siangsomboon, Violette Wautier, Sunny Suwanmethanont, Nittha Jirayungyurn, Chantavit Dhanasevi and Nuengthida Sophon, the 144 minute-long film presents the parallel story of six people who are trying to overcome life’s challenges. “A Gift” honors the King’s musical compositions highlighting his songs within a cinematic symphony of romance, soul-searching drama and heartwarming humor. Screening dates are: August 11, 6:15 p.m., at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, and August 12, 12:45 p.m., at Tanghalang Huseng Batute.
“Poolsideman” takes viewers to the suburb north of Tokyo where Yusuke Mizuhara works as a lifeguard at a swimming pool. With no family, friends or love, he leads a lonely and monotonous life until one day when he goes to another pool as a replacement guard. The film stars Mizuhara Yusuke and Shirasaki Koji.
Screen dates for “Poolsideman” include: August 5 at 6:15 p.m. and August 10 at 3:30 p.m. Director Hirobumi Watanabe will attend the Philippine premiere of his film at the CCP’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) on August 5.
Catch the “Asian Three-fold Mirror 2016: Reflections,” the first of the omnibus film series that aims to generate new perspectives as it reflects on the history and culture of the chosen countries — Philippines, Japan, and Cambodia. It will be screened on August 8, 9 p.m., at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN.
Co-produced by Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Japan Foundation Asian Center, it features works by Brillante Ma Mendoza (Philippines), Isao Yukisada (Japan), and Sotho Kulikar (Cambodia). The first film, “Shiniuma Dead” by Filipino filmmaker Brillante Ma Mendoza, tells the story of an illegal Filipino immigrant (played by actor Lou Veloso), who works as a stable hand at a ranch in Hokkaido but gets deported back to his home country.
Japanese director Isao Yukisada’s “Pigeon,” the second film of the series, follows the life of a lonely old man, his discord with his son and interaction with his helper, along with his distant memories of the Pacific War. Actors Masahiko Tsugawa, Sharifah Amani and Masatoshi Nagase bring the story to life.
“Beyond the Bridge” by Cambodian director Sotho Kulikar completes the series. The film portrays a love story that connects the director’s homeland of Cambodia to Japan through times of civil war to reconstruction. Starring Masaya Kato, Chumvan Sodhachivy and Osamu Shigematsu, the film includes rare documentary footage of the civil war.
Both the Asian Three-fold Mirror 2016: Reflections and the “Poolsideman” will be screened through the partnership of Cinemalaya and Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival. The alliance aims to provide both festivals with opportunities for film exchange, help in the promotion of both events, and contribute to audience building and film education.
The Ika-29 Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video will harvest the best of the best, with films competing in various categories such as animation, experimental, documentary and short feature. All entries will be screened on August 5 to 7, at Tanghalang Manuel Conde, for free. The Awards Night is slated on August 7, 8 p.m.
The showcase for the Cinemalaya Institute 2017 on August 12, at 12:45 p.m. at Tanghalang Manuel Conde is also free to the public. The Cinemalaya Institute is a three-semester intensive training program on writing, directing, production, cinematography, editing, sound, production design, music score and acting. It aims to provide advanced education, extensive training and accreditation to professional film practitioners in key aspects of film production.
Claim your free tickets at the Little Theater Lobby an hour before the screening of the films.
For more information, visit www.cinemalaya.org, www.culturalcenter.gov.ph, or Cinemalaya Facebook page. You may also call CCP Media Arts at 832-1125 local 1704 to 1705. For ticket inquiries, you can call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.
