Sometimes I find it baffling, that despite all the film festivals we have in the country, like the Cinemalaya, QC Cinema, Sinag Maynila, and even those foreign festivals, the only genre that people line up for and consistently make money at the box office are the pinoy Rom-Coms (romantic comedies).
Is it because we Filipinos are such suckers for a good romantic story (no matter how predictable) or have we given up on the other genres knowing it just wouldn’t be worth our time and money?
CineFilipino strives to change that perception and break new ground in commercial film making as it presented a more diverse lineup of full feature films that tackle more than just love (or its derivatives).
“I don’t see anything wrong with having all these festivals,”Direk Joey Javier Reyes told media at a news conference held Monday at Plaza Ibarra in Quezon City. “We are not competing with one another, and I’d like to believe that we are all opening doors for these new generation of film makers who could open the eyes of our audiences to the real meaning to the art of Filipino movie making.
“Kung meron man maiicontribute ang Cine Filipino this year, its giving a chance to these young (and not so young filmmakers) to tell their stories and share the messages that are close to them.”
Reyes promises that these year’s films provide a diversity of themes. “Diversity is a word often used and overused but in this case it is most appropriate. We can see even from the trailers of the films that it is very diverse in the sense that the themes cut across an entire the spectrum–whether its a boy undergoing the trauma of his first semester down to a lesbian tattoo artist who want to bear a child.”
“Lets prove once and for all that Filipino movies is not just about rom coms and that there are rom coms which offer even greater substance than a theme song.”
On its second staging, the festival reiterates its theme, “Kuwento (Pa Rin) Ang Hari (Story is still King) as it features more categories including, Feature-Length, Documentaries, TV Series and Shorts under which finalists will showcase works in Short Features, Mobile and Online. CineFilipino Film Festival attendees can choose from nine Feature-Length films, five Documentaries, five TV Series and 17 films under the Shorts category – 11 Short Features, 5 Online Content and 1 Mobile Content.
“The essence of the story will always be at the core of CineFilipino, and with this year’s various categories, moviegoers are offered a more enriching experience,” said Madonna Tarrayo, CineFilipino Film Director and Unitel Productions President and Group COO.
Celebrating movies that best represent the ever-evolving Filipino cinema, the CineFilipino Film Festival, organized and led by Unitel Productions, in partnership with the MVP Group of Companies, offers cineastes with more moving stories and a more diverse mix of genres. The festival begins with the screening of sociopolitical drama/thriller “Whistleblower”, starring Nora Aunor and directed by Adolf Alix Jr., on March 15, 6:00 pm at Newport Cinema 4, Resorts World Manila. The film festival will run from March 16 to 22 in select cinemas in the metro* while the awards night will be held on March 19 at Teatrino Greenhills.
In the Feature-Length category alone, moviegoers can surely experience a wide array of emotions and stories. In “1st Sem”, first-time film festival directors Dexter Hemedez and Allan Ibanez present an intensified love-hate relationship between a mother and son after the latter decides not to pursue college education in Manila. In Carla Baful’s “A Lotto Like Love”, moviegoers can expect a different kind of love story as two strangers are brought together in luck and love by a single winning lotto ticket.
Love in spite of weight issues takes center stage in Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Ang Taba Ko Kasi” while Alvin Yapan’s “Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian” explores the richness (and reality) of Filipino superstitions. Meanwhile, Paolo Herras’ “Buhay Habangbuhay” takes on life after death and the importance of moving on and celebrating life despite seemingly bleak circumstances.
Ang Taba Ko Kasi
Buhay HabangBuhay
A lesbian woman’s dream of becoming a mother is the subject in Lemuel Lorca’s “Ned’s Project” while Dave Fabros’ “Straight to the Heart” is filled with uniquely Filipino humor and hugot lines as it explores a situation that has surely crossed the minds of many: what happens when a gay hairdresser slips into a coma and wakes up a straight guy?
Ice Idanan’s “Sakaling Hindi Makarating” takes the beauty of the Philippines and uses it as a dramatic backdrop for a poignant story of heartbreak and moving on. And lastly, moviegoers get the privilege of witnessing a touching story about a child with Down’s Syndrome whose dream is to become an artista in Randolph Longjas’ “Van Damme Stallone”.
Jury deliberations will take place on March 16, 17 and 18; winners will be recognized in CineFilipino’s Awards Night on March 19 at Teatrino Greenhills, which will be attended by the finalists, executives and the film festival’s sponsors and partners.
“What makes Cinema Filipino different from other festivals is because it is very audience-friendly. We were looking for that very very critical middle ground which we can make something that very palatable to the audience without insulting their intelligence and at the same time giving them something new in terms of offerning new directions for Philippine cinema.”
“This is a chance to showcase the works of these new breed of filmmakers, who might even be far greater than the generations before them. Let us support them so we can have more Brilliante Mendoza’s and more Lav Diazs but more so a greater commercial filmaking in this coutry which need not be isolated from independent film making.”
Catch the CineFilipino Film Festival on March 16 to 22 in participating cinemas: Gateway Cineplex, Festival Cinemas, Eastwood Cinemas, Robinsons Galleria Movieworld, Robinsons Manila Movieworld, Robinsons Metro East Movieworld, Newport Cinemas in Resorts World, EDSA Shangri-La Cineplex and Greenhills Theater Mall Cinema.
CineFilipino Film Festival partners are Mediaquest, TV5, Cignal, Unitel, Optima Digital, Metro Pacific Tollways, PLDT Smart Foundation and Meralco. For further information, visit the official website, www.cinefilipino.com.
