Tag: Cinemalaya

After two (2) consecutive years of online streaming, Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival returns to onsite screenings and offers the Retrospective Shorts section on August 7, 9, 10, and 12 at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde.

The Retrospective Shorts section gives a chance for audiences to rewatch and relive the stories of the 16th (2020) and 17th (2021) edition Cinemalaya entries at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Award winners Tokwifi (Star) by Carla Pulido Ocampo, Pabasa Kan Pasyon by Hubert Tibi, and Quing Lalam Ning Aldo (Under The Sun) by Reeden Fajardo are slated on August 7 at 9:00 pm, and August 9 at 3:00 pm; along with the finalists Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert (The Broken Vinyl Record) by Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori, and Fatigued by James Robin Mayo.

Tokwifi was hailed as the Best Short Film of the 16th edition of Cinemalaya, as well as the most honored film for bagging two (2) awards, including the Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema (NETPAC) Jury Prize.  Delving into the world of a Bontok Igorot man and a trapped 1950s showbiz star in television, Tokwifi explored love amidst glaring contrast between the traditional and modern beliefs of the characters.

Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar, and Ang Pagpakalma Sa Unos (To Calm the Pig Inside) by Joanna Vasquez Arong which were awarded Best Direction, and Special Jury Prize, respectively in 2020, will be showing on August 9 at 6:15 pm, and August 10 at 9:00 PM; along with Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss by Sonny Calvento, The Slums by Jan Andrei Cobey, Utwas (Arise) by Richard Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay.

Bagging Audience Choice Award, Special Jury Prize, NETPAC Jury Prize during Cinemalaya 2021, An Sadit na Planeta (The Little Planet) by Arjanmar H. Rebeta is among the films showing on August 9 at 9:00 pm, and August 10 at 3:30 pm; along with Maski Papano (I Mask Go On) by Che Tagyamon and Glenn Barit, Crossing by Marc Misa, Kawatan sa Salog (A Toy in the River) by Alphie Velasco, Looking for Rafflesias And Other Fleeting Things by James Fajardo, Out of Body by Enrico Po, and Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Lola Mayumi by Shiri De Leon.

Cinemalaya 2021 Best Short Film, Beauty Queen by Myra Aquino, will be showing on August 10 at 6:15 pm, and August 12 at 9:00 pm, along with Namnama En Lolang (Grandmother’s Hope) by Jonnie Lyn P. Dasalla, Kids on Fire by Kyle Nieva, Ate OG by Kevin Mayuga, The Dust In Your Place by David Olson, and Ang Mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa (The Lost Hopes and Flavors) by Kevin Jay Ayson and Mark Moneda.

Directed by Myra Aquino, Beauty Queen delved into the life of a beauty queen-turned soldier during World War II.  It bagged the coveted balanghai trophy “for its overall technical and artistic excellence, its fine ensemble acting, and its bold storytelling into an eclectic chapter in Philippine history.”

The Retrospective Shorts is part of the 18th edition of Cinemalaya which will happen from August 5 to August 14, 2022.

For more information about Retrospective Shorts sets, visit the CCP and Cinemalaya websites. Follow the CCP and Cinemalaya official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

With the return of the Philippines’ most-anticipated independent film festival’s on-site screenings, Cinemalaya 18 features eight-day talkback sessions with the directors of the films in competition, from August 3 to August 13, 2022. 

The Talkback sessions provide a great opportunity for the audience to acquire deeper insights about the film they have watched through an interactive discussion with the filmmakers themselves.

The following is the schedule for the Talkback sessions for the competition films (full-length films and short features), which will primarily take place at the CCP Cinemalaya Tent and the Main Gallery.

There are three planned at chosen malls, particularly Megamall, Glorietta, and TriNoma:

On AUGUST 6, 5:30 PM, director Rainerio C. Yamson II is slated for a discussion of his film Angkas (The Backride) to be held at the Cinemalaya Tent.  Angkas tells the story of two estranged friends mending their broken past as they embark on a journey while riding a habal-habal to fetch the corpse of their deceased pal.  At 6:30 PM in the same venue, Bakit Di Mo Sabihin (Tell Her) director Real S. Florido is open for conversation on his unique film. The aforementioned film is about a deaf couple who discovers that what is separating them is not their inability to communicate verbally or audibly.

On AUGUST 7, 5:30 PM, get a chance to hear director Ronald Espinosa Batallones as he talks about his film Batsoy, which will take place at the Cinemalaya Tent. The story of Batsoy is about two young brothers who start on a fantastical adventure to satisfy their intense and delectable hunger for batsoy.  Later at 8:30 PM, director Roman S. Perez Jr. is set to talk about his film Kaluskos (Rustles) at the same venue.  His film follows the story of a single mother who is in the midst of a custody dispute discovers something under her daughter’s bed that will make her doubt whether she truly loves the child.

On AUGUST 8, 5:30 PM, director Sheenly Gener’s talkback for Bula sa Langit (Trigger) is slated at the CCP Main Gallery.  Her film tells the story of a young soldier who returns home after surviving a siege to fight in a new conflict.  On the other hand, the talkback for Shorts A is slated for 8:30 PM at the Cinemalaya Tent.  Shorts A comprises six films namely: Roundtrip to Happiness directed by Claudia Fernando, Mata Kang Busay (Vision of The Falls) directed by Niño B. Maldecir, Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol (It’s Raining Frogs Outside) directed by Maria Estela Paiso, Kwits (Quits) directed by Raz de la Torre, Mga Handum Nga Nasulat sa Baras (The Dreams That Are Written On The Sand) directed by Arlie Sweet Sumagsay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico, and City of Flowers directed by Xeph Suarez.

On AUGUST 9, 5:30 PM, director Carlo Obispo talks about his film The Baseball Player at the Cinemalaya Tent.  The story of the aforementioned film is about a Moro child soldier who dreams of becoming a baseball player in the midst of an all-out war. The talkback for Shorts B follows at 8:30 PM in the same venue. Shorts B is composed of six films including: Si Oddie directed by Maria Kydlee Torato, Duwa-Duwa (The Play) directed by Nena Jane Achacoso, Distance directed by Dexter Paul De Jesus, Dikit directed by Gabriela Serrano, See you, George! directed by Mark Moneda, and Black Rainbow directed by Zig Dulay.

On AUGUST 10, 6:30 PM, director Christian Paolo Lat will talk about his film Ginhawa (Solace) at Megamall.  His film tells the story of an aspiring boxer who gets punched by the harsh reality of the sport as he fights his way through the top. At 8:00 PM, Glorietta, director TM Malones expounds on his film Kargo (Cargo). The film follows the story of a woman who finally exacts retribution on the person who killed her whole family in order to free herself from the heavy burden of her past.

On AUGUST 11, 5:30 PM, 12 Weeks is open for discussion with its director Anna Isabelle Matutina at the CCP Main Gallery. Her film tackles the struggles of a single, 40-year-old woman as she is pushed to deal with the thoughts of motherhood.  Following at the same venue is another talkback for Ginhawa (Solace) at 8:30 PM with director Christian Paolo Lat. At 3:30 PM, TriNoma, directors Cynthia and Milo Paz are expected to have a discourse on their film Retirada (The Retiree).  The film will tell the story of a retired government official’s new hobby which causes existential crisis and financial difficulties.

On AUGUST 12, 8:30 PM, director Ma-an Asuncion will talk to the audience about her film Blue Room at the Cinemalaya Tent.  The film follows the members of a progressive rock band who must decide whether to choose freedom or to stick up for their principles.

On AUGUST 13, 3:00 PM, Kargo (Cargo) is scheduled for another discussion with TM Malones at the Cinemalaya Tent. Following at 8:30 PM, the last talkback is with directors Cynthia and Milo Paz for their film Retirada (The Retiree).

In its 18th edition, the theme Breaking Through The Noise reflects the idea that Cinemalaya 2022 is alive and returning to in-house showing of various films and is looking forward to a brighter future.  Its key visual, especially the eyeball, expresses the thought of continuity and relevance of independent cinema today.

For more information, visit the CCP (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and Cinemalaya (https://cinemalaya.org/) websites. Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for latest updates.

Cinemalaya has finally announced the competing full-length films and shorts for this year’s competition. The Cultural Center of the Philippines and Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. will return to holding on-site screenings for the 18th edition of the independent film festival, happening from August 5 to 14, 2022.

The full-length films in the competition were the finalists selected for 2020 and 2021 editions of the film festival, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, they could not finish their filming. Below are the 11 full-length films competing in this year’s Cinemalaya:

• 12 Weeks by Anna Isabelle Matutina
• Angkas by Rain Yamson
• Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin? by Real S. Florido
• Batsoy by Ronald Espinosa Batallones
• Blue Room by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagńalan
• Bula Sa Langit by Sheenly Gener
• Ginhawa by Christian Paolo Lat
• Kaluskos by Roman S. Perez, Jr.
• Kargo by TM Malones
• Retirada by Milo Alto Paz and Cynthia Cruz-Paz
• The Baseball Player by Carlo Obispo

For the short feature main competition, the 12 finalists are:

• Ampangabagat nin Talakba ha Likol by Maria Estela Paiso
• Black Rainbow by Zig Dulay
• City of Flowers by Xeph Suarez
• Dikit by Gabriela Serrano
• Distance by Dexter Paul de Jesus
• Duwa-Duwa by Nena Jana Achacoso
• Kwits by Raz de la Torre
• Mata Kang Busay by Nińo B. Maldecir and Cypher John T. Gayorgor
• Mga Handum nga Nasulat sa Baras by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico
• See You, George! by Mark Moneda
• Si Oddie by Maria Kydylee Torato
• Roundtrip to Happiness by Claudia Fernando

The competing films will also be screened at select partner cinemas nationwide from August 10 to 17, followed by regional screenings in selected communities from August 22 to 29. The films will also have an online run from October 17 to 31 via the CCP Vimeo account.

The Cinemalaya Awards Night will be held on August 14 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). 

A major component of the film festival, the Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, considered the longest-running independent film competition of its kind in the ASEAN region, also gathers some of the best films out there which will compete in various categories such as Short Feature/Narrative, Experimental, Documentary, and Animation. Finalists from the different categories will be screened from August 6 to 8, 2022 at the CCP Tanghalang Manuel Conde, with the awarding happening on August 13.

For more updates and information, visit the CCP and Cinemalaya websites.

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2022 is now open for submission of entries for its Short Film Category. The deadline for submission is on April 8, 2022 (Friday), 6pm.

The Short Film Category is open to Filipino filmmakers only. Entries must have been produced within the period of March 5, 2021 to April 8, 2022.

Interested participants can submit their entries via online or offline channels. For submission through online portal, follow the link (bit.ly/Cinemalaya2022ShortsEntryForm), fill out the entry form and upload your film and filmmaker’s profile.

For offline submissions, film entry must be submitted in a USB. Entries must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, title of film, and contact details.

The USB must be:

The final work in MP4 format, with violator/watermark, properly labeled with title, production company, address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name, and running time (which should not exceed 20 minutes inclusive of credit titles). It must be accompanied with the duly completed entry form, synopsis in English, a brief resume and two (2) recent 2×2 photos of the filmmaker/s.

Entries, with complete requirements, must be submitted to the Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division (FBNMD), 4F Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.

The ten (10) short feature finalists will be screened during the 2022 Cinemalaya Film Festival from August 5-14, 2022.

For the complete mechanics, visit the CCP and Cinemalaya websites (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and www.cinemalaya.org). For more updates, follow the CCP and Cinemalaya official Facebook social media accounts.