Various CCP Locations
CCP Complex
Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3 & 5
It’s time once again for the Cinemalaya, the annual independent film festival that has become one, if not the most highly anticipated film event in the country. Now on its seventh year, the festival urges moviegoers to go “See the Unseen”. Despite the rainy season, cinema lovers have been flocking every year to the Cultural Center of the Philippines where the movies are screened. And this year, people can flock to yet another venue since the films will also be screened simultaneously at Greenbelt Ayala Center Makati
Cinemalaya starts with an opening ceremony to be followed right after by a screening of the festival opening film this July 15, 2011 , 6:00 PM at the CCP Main Theater. Regular screening will start the day after on July 16, 2011. Cinema lovers are in for a treat since on offer are thirty one films in competition plus more than a hundred films in exhibition for this year’s festival. The main competition categories are the Short Feature and the New Breed Feature Length Categories featuring works by new directors. The other main competition category is the Directors Showcase where full length films by established Filipino directors who have directed at least three full length commercial feature films before will compete.
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| Cherrie Pie Picache of Isda (Fable of the Fish) |
Aside from the films competing at the main competition categories, there are still other sections that will be in offer during the festival. These are Focus Asia (indies from other Asian countries), Ronwaldo Reyes Retrospective (directorial works of National Artist Fernando Poe Jr.), Cinemalaya Documentaries, NETPAC Philippine Premieres (with eight films in competition), Ani (harvest of last years best Filipino indie films), Kid Treats (indies for children), Midnite Specials (indies with adult themes). A Cinemalaya Film Congress (with the theme Building Bridges Across Asia Through Films), Sine Taktakan (forum with Cinemalaya 2011 filmmakers), lectures and exhibits.
All of the above will be happening at various locations at the CCP. Meanwhile, two theaters over at Greenbelt July 16, 2011 and ending on July 24, 2011 . The NETPAC Philippine Premieres and the Focus Asia films will also be shown over at Greenbelt
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| Cinemalaya 2001 Finalists with the event organizers |
List of Cinemalaya 2011 Finalists
Short Feature Category
Debut by Pamela Llanes Reyes
Every Other Time by Gino M. Santos
Hanapbuhay (Source of Living) by Henry Frejas
Hazard by Mikhail Red
Immanuel by Gabriel “Gio” Puyat
Niño Bonito by Rommel “Milo ” Tolentino
Oliver’s Apartment by Misha Balangue
Samarito (Samaritan) by Rafael L. Santos
Un Diutay Mundo (One Small World) by Ana Carlyn V. Lim
Walang Katapusang Kwarto (An Endless Room) by Emerson Reyes
New Breed Full Length Category
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| New Breed Full Length Category Finalists |
Amok (Amok) by Lawrence
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank) by Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez
Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (The Dance of Two Left Feet) by Alemberg Ang and Alvin Yapan
Bahay Bata (Baby Factory) by Eduardo W. Roy, Jr. and Jerome Zamora
Cuchera by Joseph Israel
i-libings: Your Loss, Our Luck (E-funerals) by Rommel Andreo Sales
Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me (Star Crossed Love) by Noel Ferrer, Jerry Gracio and Erick Salud
Niño by Loy Arcenas
Teoriya (Father’s Way) by Alistaire Christian E. Chan.
Directors Showcase Category
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| Directors Showcase Category Finalists |
Bisperas (Eve) by Jeffrey Jeturian
Busong (Palawan Fate) by Auraeus Solito
Isda (Fable of the Fish) by Adolfo Alix Jr.
Patikul by Joel C. Lamangan.
The Cinemalaya ends with the Cinemalaya Awards Night on July 24, 2011 7:00 PM where the winners will be awarded the Balanghai Trophy.
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| The Balanghai Trophy |
Judging from the synopses and the trailers that I was able to see during the press conference that was held at the CCP Main Theater Lobby, this year’s crop really embodies the festival’s tagline “See the Unseen”. The entries are very diverse and some tackle themes and situations that mainstream cinema dare not tread. I am very pleased that Ligo na U, Lapit na Me is actually adapted from a recent novel by Eros Atalia. This alone already made me decide to pick a copy of the novel. I was also very pleasantly surprised that the premise of these films really made me want to see them. It’s very much unlike what the mainstream cinema people do nowadays by cooking up very contrived gimmicks involving the main stars in order to generate interest for the film. I guess that this is what the appeal of the Cinemalaya is which is part of CCP's Brave New Works season along with other works that showcase the edgier, experimental and unconventional side of art, music, cinema, theater and dance. I've been fed up with what I see shown on local television and cinema which is why I resort to playing the piano instead. But the little of what I’ve seen for this year’s Cinemalaya has restored my faith in the Filipino filmmaking community. And now, I can’t wait for the festival to start.
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| Edgar Allan Guzman of Ligo na U, Lapit na Me |
For tickets and other inquiries:
CCP Box Office 832-3704
CCP Media Arts 832-1125 local 1204/05
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