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| Cinemalaya XIX Filmmakers |
As the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Main Building goes under major rehabilitation, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival moves just a few stones' throw away to its new venue at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) as the festival holds its 19th edition this August 4-13, 2023.
Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc., Cinemalaya XIX, adopting the theme ilumiNasyon, boasts more than 50 films screenings this year with 10 short films and 10 full length films in competition vying for the prestigious Balanghai trophy. As Cinemalaya is more than just the film screenings, the festival will also include around 25 live events like talkbacks, conferences, book launches, receptions, etc.
Short Films in Competition
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| Cinemalaya Shorts Filmmakers |
RAd thoughts: This year's entries show the continued rise of regional filmmaking that showcase other Philippine languages other than Filipino/Tagalog.
Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon Ko Para sa Imo (These Rhymes and Rhythms Meant for You)
Director: Kent John D. Desamparado
Cast: Dante Macam and Althea Jessy Navarez
A grandfather and a child share final moments before they separate ways.
Golden Bells
Director: Kurt Soberano
Cast: Fuji Jalando-on, Milton Dionzon. Mary Jane Quilisadio, Mari Regalado, Luke Jingco, Bernadette Deldig, Bloom Sanicas, Nonilon Torpez, Cindy Ballesteros, and Hector Gloria Jr.
A young Chinese-Filipino boy learns the trade from his father, which becomes his foundation in maintaining the family business for love and legacy.
Hinakdal (Condemned)
Director: Arvin Belarmino
Cast: Shalomar Binamira, Andrew Legados Figueroa, Nicksonne Dionson, Jing Diaz, Jayne Genido, and Lord Terence Genido
A zombie family gets their isolated life disturbed by a human being who attempts to steal their livestock.
Hm Hm Mhm
Directors: Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan
Cast: Christela Marquez (Humming Vocals) and Kim Timan (Woman's Hand, and Plant-Baby Vocals)
A young woman’s touch breathes life to a dollhouse where an all-too-familiar story replays.
Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019
Director: Diokko Manuel Dionisio
Cast: Mindy Jane Castillo, Thalia Nagaño, Resty Tirrado, Jaime Garcia, Nichole Matias, Jose Angelo Castro, Brianna Soliva, Athena Domingo, Erich Martinez, Angel Martinez, Cheska Uytingco, Joanna Andrea, Erold Benavides, Kevin Bactol, and Billy Olano
The search for the person who stole their cash prize from a gay beauty pageant tests the friendship between two transgender women.
Makoko sa Baybay (I am Going to the Beach)
Director: Mike Cabarles
Cast: Glenn Javier, Conchita Botardo, and Andrei Botardo
Two brothers hope to find the sea creature who killed their mother.
Maudi nga Arapaap (Last Dream)
Director: Daniel Magayon
Cast: Angelia Orna, Dioquino, Juralbal, Gongora, and Mary Grace Caraga
A night shift nurse’s action of dumping her mother’s possession attracts Batibat's wrath.
Sibuyas ni Perfecto (Perfecto's Onions)
Director: Januar Yap
Cast: Eddie Delima and Olimpio Tagalog
On an errand run, an aging man realizes he missed doing one very important thing.
Sota (Horse Caretaker)
Director: Mae Tanagon
Two horse caretakers struggle to make ends meet amid the low-wage employment in the horse racing industry.
'Tong Adlaw nga Nag-Snow sa Pinas (The Day It Snowed in the Philippines)
Director: Joshua Caesar Medroso
Cast: John Kyrie Lavandia, Juhannes Paulo Belarmino, Dowlson Brian Jadjuli, and Harold Librea
Amid their fondness for snow and Samurai movies, two young boys face a world of
violence and abuse.
Full Lengths in Competition
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| Cinemalaya XIX Full Length Filmmakers |
RAd thoughts: Notable this year is the inclusion of a documentary and an animated feature in this category which is a Cinemalaya first.
Ang Duyan ng Magiting (The Cradle of the Brave)
Director: Dustin Celestino
Cast: Dolly de Leon, Bituin Escalante, Agot Isidro, Miggy Jimenez, Jojit Lorenzo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Paolo O’Hara, Joel Saracho, and Dylan Ray Talon
A collection of interwoven stories about life and violence in the Philippines, following a college professor, a university chancellor, a social worker, a police chief, two students, two mothers, and a lawyer.
As If It's True
Director: John Rogers
Cast: Khalil Ramos, Ashley Ortega, Adrianna So, John Silverio, Angellie Sanoy, Rachel Coates, and Marnie Lapus
A fading social media influencer and a struggling musician exploit each other in a not-so-fake relationship.
Bulawan nga Usa (Golden Deer)
Director: Kenneth De la Cruz
Cast: Ron Matthews Espinosa and John Niel Paguntalan
A man embarks on a soul-stirring expedition on a mystical mountain to look for the golden deer, and finds solace in an unlikely friendship with a spirited mountain boy.
Gitling
Director: Jopy Arnaldo
Cast: Gabby Padilla and Ken Yamamura
While creating the subtitles of a film, a young Filipina translator and a middle-aged Japanese director test the limits of language and understanding.
Huling Palabas (Fin)
Director: Ryan Espinosa Machado
Cast: Shun Mark Gomez, Bon Andrew Lentejas, Cedrick Juan, Jay Gonzaga, Serena Magiliw, and Senandra Gomez
In search for his long-lost father, a young boy’s reality becomes mystified when two movie-like characters appear in his hometown.
Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing)
Director: Carl Joseph E. Papa
Cast: Carlo Aquino, Gio Gahol, and Dolly de Leon
The arrival of a familiar alien untangles a mouthless young man’s memories.
Maria
Director: She Andes
Amid shrinking civic and democratic space, and a culture of impunity, three women named Maria are on a journey to see truth and fight for justice.
Rookie
Directors: Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone
Cast: Pat Tingjuy, Aya Fernandez, and Agot Isidro
Everything changes when an awkward teenager joins the volleyball team and falls for the volleyball team captain.
Tether
Director: Gian Arre
Cast: Mikoy Morales, Jorrybell Agoto, Breech Mae Valencia, Olivia Banela, and Albert Briones
After having a one-night stand, an arrogant playboy and a timid young woman discover that any kind of pleasure or pain they inflict on themselves can be felt simultaneously by the other person.
When This is All Over
Director: Kevin Mayuga
Cast: juan karlos Labajo, Jorrybell Agoto, Ana Abad Santos, Chaye Mogg, Nour Hooshmand, Jico Umali, Aaron Maniego, Renee Dominique, Lottie Bie, and Zara Loayan
A disconnected desperate guy forges a deal with a group of privileged misfits to plan a secret party at the height of a global pandemic, for a chance to escape his reality.
The Opening and Closing films and as well as the selections for the various Cinemalaya sections (Philippine Premieres, Visions of Asia, Remastered Classics, Tribute Films, etc.) will be announced soon.
The main screenings of the films in competition will be held in three PICC venues namely Cinema Rizal, Cinema Bonifacio, and Cinema Felipe. Fringe events and talkbacks will be held at the Cinema Palma. The usual exhibits will be housed at the Executive lounge. The CCP's Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez, aka The CCP Black Box, will host the Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, which is celebrating its milestone 35th edition, on August 5-7, 2023.
To address the long queues that has plagued previous Cinemalaya editions back at the CCP, tickets for the screenings will now include assigned seat numbers thus erasing the need to line up early and the eventual mad scramble to get good seats. Tickets for each screening cost P300 (regular), P200 (student discount rate).
Also addressing accessibility issues due to the phasing out of the orange jeepneys that once plowed the route going to the CCP, free shuttles will be deployed in key areas around the complex. Pick up/drop off points for these shuttles will be announced soon as well.
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