Films in competition to see this Cinemalaya 15

The posters and other promotional materials for the 15th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival feature creepy looking eyeball balloons encouraging movie goers to see this year's selection of films this August 2-13, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and in key cities around the country.

Film makers of the 15th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

Just like the balloons, Cinemalaya takes flight with simultaneous screenings not just in Metro Manila (CCP, Ayala Cinemas and various micro-cinemas) but also in key cities in the country like Pampanga, Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao.

A press conference at the Cultural Center of the Philippines presented what is expected of this year's Cinemalaya, like the films in competition, the Asian film selections, the exhibition films, exhibits, book launchings, and a whole lot more.

Here are the short films of the 15th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

'Wag Mo 'Kong Kausapin

Director: Josef Dielle Gacutan

An elderly man tries to repair his relationship with his estranged son, but a mysterious black figure gets in the way.

Disconnection Notice

Director: Glenn Lowell Averia

Away from his home in the province, Paul shuffles between the responsibilities of being the eldest sibling in their apartment and reconnecting with his youngest brother Carl who now lives with him.

Gatilyo

Director: Harold Lance Pialda

The lone survivor of an ambush is being haunted by the war he survived.

Heist School

Director: Julius Renomeron, Jr.

A ragtag group of students try to steal from the faculty room as they save both their grades and friendship.

Hele ng Maharlika

Director: Norvin de los Santos

In the midst of an ongoing siege, a reluctant child combatant finds a safe place to pray where he meets a newly orphaned, infidel boy who seeks refuge in the unknown.

Kontrolado ni Girly ang Buhay N'ya

Director: Gilb Baldoza

Gay teenager Girly looks for a job in a world he is unaware of.

Sa Among Agwat

Director: Don Senoc

Jun is a farmer who lives near a pineapple field with his mother Dita and his brother Mako. His aunt from Manila who can't bear a child offers to adopt Mako with a promise to give him a good life. Jun and Mako face their impending separation and think of ways they can spend every minute together.

Sa Gabing Tanging Liwanag ay Paniniwala

Director: Francis Amir Guillermo

The continuous disappearance of townsmen ignited the town captain to search the woods in order to find out who is behind the disappearances and where are the people being brought to. Upon his search, the town captain and his son came across a mysterious answer.

Tembong

Director: Shaira Advincula

In a culture where designs are dreamt about and to be woven only by women, a T’boli man is challenged to face a cultural norm as the abaca goddess shows him a pattern to weave in his dreams.

The Shoemaker

Director:  Sheron Dayoc

Set in Marikina, the shoe capital of the Philippines, an aging lady shoemaker gets a visit from her first love who abandoned her for three decades.

Here are the feature length films of the 15th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

ANi (The Harvest)

Director: Kim Zuñiga and Sandro Del Rosario

Cast: Zyren Dela Cruz, Ricky Davao, Miguel Valdes, Marc Felix, Anna Luna, JM Canlas, Rolando Inocencio, Rap Robes, Victor Medina, Mio Maranan, Chryssta Cordoves, Jermaine Choa Peck

Victor Medina, Marc Felix, Zyren Dela Cruz, Jermaine Choa Peck, Miguel Valdes, 
Kim Zuniga, Sandro del Rosario, Rap Robes, and Mio Maranan

When his grandfather falls ill, an orphaned boy and his malfunctioning robot embark on a quest to look for magical grains that he believes will save the old man’s life.

Belle Douleur (Beautiful Pain)

Director: Joji Villanueva Alonso

Cast: Kit Thompson, Mylene Dizon, Marlon Rivera, Jenny Jamora, Hannah Ledesma

Kit Thompson

Belle Douleur tells the story of a woman’s journey of finding happiness as she breaks free from the confines that society puts on women.

Children of the River

Director: Maricel Cabrera-Cariaga

Cast: Noel Comia, Jr., Ricky Oriarte, Dave Justin Francis, Junyka Santarin, JR Custodio, Juancho Triviño, Jay Manalo, Rich Asuncion, Kareen Oriarte, Jennifer Acosta, Ma. Luisa Herrera

Noel Comia, Jr.

Maricel Cabrera-Cariaga, Noel Comia, Jr., Junyka Santarin, Ricky Oriarte

The blissful simplicity of life for four childhood friends comes to a tragic halt when phone calls came late one morning.

Edward

Director: Thop Nazareno

Cast: Louise Abuel, Dido dela Paz, Elijah Canlas, Manuel Chua, Ella Cruz

Thop Nazareno, Elijah Canlas, and Louise Abuel

A public hospital serves as a witness to a young boy’s rite of passage when he is stuck to take care of his ailing father. Caught in a place where life itself is in limbo, the boy treats the hospital grounds as his playground, not knowing that it will be his source of liberation in the end.

Fuccbois

Director: Eduardo Roy Jr.

Cast: Royce Cabrera, Kokoy de Santos, Ricky Davao

Royce Cabrera and Kokoy de Santos

Royce Cabrera, Eduardo Roy, Jr., and Kokoy de Santos

Ace (23) and Miko (17) desperately want to become famous actors but it seems the Universe has a different plan for their lives.

Iska

Director: Theodore Boborol

Cast: Ruby Ruiz, Soliman Cruz, Ricky Rivero, Jonic Magno, Jomari Angeles, RK Bagatsing, Pryle Gura, Angie Castrence, Ana Abad Santos, Jade Lopez, Elora Españo, Cherry Malvar, Sunshine Teodoro, Divine Acuna, Beauty Gonzales

Theodore Boborol, Ruby Ruiz, Mary Rose Colindres, Pryle Gura, and Jade Lopez

A loving but impoverished grandmother of an autistic child tragically loses everything and turns into someone society reckons her to be.

John Denver Trending

Director: Arden Rod Condez

Cast: Jansen Magpusao, Meryll Soriano, Glenn Mas, Sammy Rubido, Vince Philip Alegre, Jofranz Ambubuyog, Christian Alarcon, Zandro Leo Canlog, Andy Yuarata, Ricky Perez, Renato Sagot, Enrique Sanchez, Bert Briones, Elmer Yuarata, Eldin Labris, Sunshine Teodoro, Luz Venus, Estela Patino, Joerlyn Samulde, Akia Buenaflor, Shan Estoya, Jinalyn Tandoy

Jansen Magpusao

A 14 year old farmboy’s life is suddenly upended when a video of him brutally attacking a classmate went viral.

Malamaya (The Color of Ash)

Directors: Danica Sta Lucia and Leilani Chavez

Cast: Sunshine Cruz, Enzo Pineda, Raymond Bagatsing, Bernadette Allyson

A pessimistic, uninspired middle-aged artist finds spark with a millennial photographer who leads her on a path of creative and sexual reawakening.

Pandanggo sa Hukay

Director: Shéryl Rose Andes

Cast: Iza Calzado, Ybes Bagadiong, Acey Aguilar, Diva Montelaba, Charlie Dizon, Star Orjaliza, Mercedes Cabral, Sarah Pagcaliwagan-Brakensiek

Iza Calzado

A small-town midwife’s preparation for a job interview is disrupted by series of unfortunate turn of events.

TABON

Director: Xian Lim

Cast: Christopher Roxas, Ynna Asistio, Dexter Doria, Bapbap Reyes, Menggie Cobarrubias, Leon Miguel, Benjie Felipe, Lao Rodriguez, Richard Manabat

Xian Lim

A man's belief in reality is tested when suspects are accused of a crime they believe to not have committed.