Cinemalaya through the years
I have been watching Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival since it started in 2004, or 18 years ago,
which is held annually at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and
various cinemas.
The films, often
called “indie films”, embody
Cinemalaya’s vision : “the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino
filmmakers“ works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino
experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.”
It also aims to invigorate the Philippine filmmaking by
developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers.
After a two-year wait as a result of the series of
COVID-19 lockdowns, Cinemalaya will
finally again be a face-to-face
event with a full-length feature category. It will run
from August 5 to 14, 2022 at the CCP.
With the theme “Breaking Through the Noise,” this year’s
eleven competing full length films include Kaluskos, 12 Weeks,
Angkas, Bakit Di Mo Sabihin?,
Batsoy, Blue Room; Bula sa Langit, Ginhawa; Kargo, Retirada, and
The Baseball Player. The short film section has twelve
competing entries.
The past winning films in the New Breed category included Pepot
Artista (2005), Tulad ng Dati (2006), Tribu (2007), Jay
(2008), Last Supper No. 3 (2009), Halaw (2010), Ang Babae sa
Septic Tank (2011), Diablo (2012), Transit (2013), and Bwaya
(2014).
The winners in the Directors’ showcase included Donor
(2010), Bisperas (2011), Posas (2012), Sana Dati (2013)
and Kasal (2014).
The winners in the Main competition included Pamilya
Ordinaryo (2016), Respeto (2017),
Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon (2018), and John
Denver Trending (2019).
Eddie Garcia won Best Actor thrice for ICU Bed#7 (2005 ), Bwakaw
(2012), and ML (2018) while Baron Geisler twice for Jay (2008) and Donor (2010).
Two actresses won the Best Actress awards twice: Merylle Soriano for Room Boy (2005) and Donor (2010) and Ina Feleo for Endo ( 2007) and Sanglaan (2009).
Two persons won the Best Director award twice : Aureus
Solito for Pisay (2007) and Busong (2011) while the late Eduardo
Roy, Jr for Pamilya Ordinaryo (2011)
and Fuccbois (2019). Roy died last February 21 due to pulmonary
embolism.
Roy also directed Quick Change where transgender
Mimi Juareza won as Best Actor in the
2013 New Breed section.
In the Directors’ showcase, Vilma Santos won Best Actress in Ekstra
(2013) while Nora Aunor won the following year for Hustisya (2014)
while there was no winner for Best Actor
in 2013.
In 2012, the best actress award was given in the Director’s
showcase to an ensemble,
Judy Ann Santos, Iza Calzado, Agot Isidro, and Janice de Belen of Mga Mumunting Lihim. The same
happened in the New Breed category in 2007 when the cast of Tribu grabbed the trophy for best actor award also
as an ensemble.
The youngest winner of
best actor award was Noel
Comia,Jr. for Kiko Boksingero
(2017) when he was then 13 years old
followed by 15-year old Jansen
Magpusao for John Denver Trending
(2019).
Other awardees for Best Actress in the New
Breed section include Angel Aquino for Donsol, (2006) Mylene Dizon for 100, (2008) Lovi Poe for Mayohan (2010), Eugene Domingo for Ang Babae sa
Septic Tank (2011),
Ama Quiambao for Diablo (2012) Irma Adlawan for Transit (2013) and Eula
Valdez for Dagitab (2014)
Other awardees for Best Actor in the New Breed section include Alchris
Galura for Batad (2006) Lou Veloso for Colorum
(2009) John Arcilla for Halaw (2010) Edgar Allan Guzman for Ligo na Ü, Lapit na Me
(2010) Kristoffer King for Oros (2012) and Dante Rivero for 1st ko si 3rd
(2014).
Only short films competed in 2015, 2020 and 2021.
Although it did not won the Best film award in 2005, “Ang
Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” by Auraeus Solito became one of the icons
of indie films.
My passion in watching Cinemalaya films perhaps is an
offshoot of my exposure to experimental films during my college years in the
late ‘80s and ‘90s at the UP Diliman where I saw several highly sensitive and
political films.
The UP Film Center
served as a venue to screen films free from censorship as some of them were
even banned from commercial viewing.
Some of the films I saw included Lino Brocka’s “Maynila, Sa
Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” (1975) and “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim” (1985), Ishmael
Bernal’s “Himala” (1982), Mike de Leon’s “Sister Stella L.” (1984), and Marilou
Diaz-Abaya’s “Karnal” (1984) and whose daring works portrayed revolt, labor
unionism, social ostracism, and class division. Even “pene” films that had
grown more pornographic and taboo were also screened.
Decades before the word “indie films” became a trend, I had
the opportunity to meet and see the works of alternative filmmakers.
Indie films are sometimes distinguishable by their content
and style and the way in which the filmmakers' personal artistic vision is
realized.
Usually, but not always, indie films are made with
considerably lower budgets than major studio films.
During my several conversations with 2022 National Artists
awardee Ricky Lee during Cinemalaya, his
thoughts on the future of young movie makers
is essentially captured by his speech at a commencement exercise: “Magkaroon
ka ng boses. Ng opinyon. Mundo mo ito. Di ka parang hanging nagdaan lang.
Mag-iwan ka ng marka. Huwag kang matakot magkamali. Kahit mabigo ka, huwag kang
mag-alala. Sa paulit-ulit na pagkabigo ay mas matututo ka. Para kang sinusulat
na nobela na kailangang paulit-ulit na i-revise. Hanggang sa kuminang.”
( Peyups is the moniker of University of the
Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the
Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail
info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.)
