"So ano best film mo?". the question tossed to me from actress Tessie Tomas, the same question she usually ask to me during the annual cinemalaya screenings. "Lagi ka naman dito eh." Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.
Now on its Seventh (7th) year, my scoreboard for total films watched during the
2011 Cinemalaya filmfest is a staggering twenty one (21) films, mostly at the Main Theater of Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) . This year i chose not to buy the festival pass since I was planning to watch other films in Greenbelt but i ended watching them all in CCP.The pass is not applicable in Greenbelt screenings.FYI, I watched eighteen films last year during ten-day 6th Cinemalaya run from July9-18, 2010.
The synopsis of the above films can be seen in my blog for the Cinemalaya schedules
My marathon schedule for the 21 films during the Cinemalaya 2011 period from July 15 to July 23 was as follows:
Friday, July 15 - 7:00 p/m. Maskara
Saturday, July 16 - 3: 30pmTeoriya (Father’s Way) 6: 15pm Nino; 9:00 p.m. - Paglipad ng Isang Anghel
Sunday,July 17 - 3:30pm Bisperas (Eve) ; 6:15pm Shorts A (Nino Bonito , Oliver’s Apartment , Samarito , Un Diutay Mundo and Walang Katapusang Kwarto); 9:00 a.m. Amok (Amok) ;
Monday , July 18. 6:15pm I-libings: Your Loss, Our Luck (E-funerals); 9:00p.m.- Isda (Fable of the Fish)
Tuesday July 19 - 3:30 p.m. Busong (Palawan Fate);6:15pm, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank; 9:00p.m. Cuchera
Thursday July 21 - 6:15pm. Shorts B (Debut Every Other Time;Hanapbuhay ; Hazard, Immanuel)
9:00p.m. Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me
Friday July 22 - 6:15pmAng Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa; 9:00p.m Nono 11:45 Ombre Saturday July 23- 3:30 p.m. Patikul; 6:15pm Bahay Bata; 9:00pm Rakenrol; 11:45 Zombadings 1 Patayin sa Shokot si Remington
Here's the list of winners of the Cinemalaya 2011:
FULL LENGTH (NEW BREED OF DIRECTORS) CATEGORY:
Best Feature: "Nino"
Special Jury Prize: "Nino"
Audience Choice: "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank"
Best Director: Marlon Rivera ("Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank")
Best Actress: Eugene Domingo ("Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank")
Best Actor: Edgar Allan Guzman ("Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me")
Best Supporting Actress: Shamaine Buencamino ("Nino")
Best Supporting Actor: Art Acuna ("Nino")
Best Screenplay: Chris Martinez ("Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank")
Best Cinematography: "Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa"
Best Production Design: Laida Lim ("Nino")
Best Editing: Lawrence Fajardo ("Amok")
Best Original Music Score: Christine Muyco and Gemma Pamintuan ("Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa")
Best Sound Recording: Mike Idioma ("Amok")
Cinemalaya 2011 Winners List compiled by Noypistuff
DIRECTORS SHOWCASE CATEGORY:
Best Film - "Bisperas"
Audience Choice: "Patikul"
Best Director: Aureaus Solito ("Busong")
Best Actress: Raquel Villavicencio ("Bisperas")
Best Actor : Bembol Roco ("Isda")
Best Supporting Actress: Julia Clarete ("Bisperas")
Best Supporting Actor: Jaime Pebangco ("Patikul")
Best Screenplay: No winner
Best Cinematography: Roberto Yniguez ("Bisperas")
Best Production Design: Rodrigo Riccio ("Bisperas")
Best Editing: Benjamin Tolentino ("Isda")
Best Original Musical Score: Diwa de Leon ("Busong")
Best Sound: Diwa de Leon ("Busong")
Kids Treat Best Film for Children: "Patikul
SHORT FILMS CATEGORY:
Best Film: "Walang Katapusang Kuwarto"
Special Jury Prize: "Hanap Buhay"
Audience Choice: "Walang Katapusang Kwarto"
Best Director: Rommel Tolentino ("Nino Bonito")
I wrote blog stuff on some of the films, to wit Bahay Bata, Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang P:aa, Nino, Patikul, Nono, and Amok. Nothling was written on Bisperas since it was not in my list for besat film in director's showcase. But it turned out that was given tghe balanghai trophy . As some say "Kanya kanyang opinion yan" The judges have their way of seeing the film, obviously we do not have the same perspective.These films were considered as the embodiments of what Competition director and award-winning filmmaker Laurice Guillen said Cinemalaya's promise of "artistic freedom" — the freedom for the director to choose his subject matter and the freedom to shoot it the way he wants to shoot it.
Last year, i wrote a blog on the common observation on the decrease in the number of viewers in yearly's Cinemalaya. One reason that could have effect on the turnout is the increase in the ticket prices. Unlike that of 100 pesos per film in 2009, now it is 150 pesos since 2010. For students, even at discounted rate of 75 pesos per film, it is still higher compared to 50 pesos of 2009.
Festival pass hiked from 1000 pesos to 1500 pesos in 2010. Now, the pass has further increased depending on groupings of films covered: . Festival Pass ( P2,000) all competition films ; Flexi-pass (P3000) all competition films and eight others films and Premium Pass ( P5,000) for all Cinemalaya films and VIP access to a special lounge where you can use the computers and Wifi, and relax while having some coffee and pastry. exclusive invites to special events and festival parties.This year, for the Festival Pass, you can see only fifteen (15) films, nine for the New Breed , two sets for the Short Films and four for the Dirrectors' Showcase. This is in contrast to the previous year's festival pass that entitles one to see ALL films irregardless of its category. Of course, their marketing slogan is "Buy pass now, Bypass the long line." Another problem with the pass is that it is applicable only in CCP and not in the other venue, Greenbelt Makati.Since i earlier plan to watch some of the films in greenbelt, i decided to buy tickets on a per film basis.I even asked my nieces to buy some of the tickets on students price.
As a fan of various film festivals here (Cinemalaya, Cinemanila, Fiesta), I guess ticket prices has a great impact in audience turnout. In 2009, it was a blockbuster due to the influx of students who paid 50 pesos per film. The increase of Twenty five pesos in 2010 is quite already high per student standard. And one comment I heard is that “if I will pay 150 pesos for a movie, I would rather go to the movies shown in the commercial cinemas.” On one hand, fanatics say that it is the price for good quality films under the cliche "For Art's Sake". Perhaps, increasing cost of the festival is the primordial reason behind the changing pricing scheme.
I think, ticket prices is one of the reasons why moviegoers are being more selective.The economic downturn might be affecting people too. It's a bad time for anything, any kind of activity. A basic economics principle of demand and supply: an increase in the price of non-essential goods will have a drastic effect in the consumption pattern, to wit the higher the cost the less will be the consumption.
However, the audience turnout for Cinemalaya 2011 debunked my earlier commentaries. There was an early shortage of tickets as most of the films during the first few days of the festival are already in their "SOLD OUT" status. There goes down the drain my criticism.
In 2009, I was very vocal that I consider three films” DINIG”,” Last Supper No. 3and ” Mangatyanan.
that can be classified as authentic “independent films”. Unlike other entries wherein real screen actors/ actresses have played major roles in the film, these three films have showcased the talents of newbies.This observation, perhaps, is still holding for this year's festival. I have this sort of apprehension that there are Cinemalaya films that have deviated from my idea of an independent film, as i have been a Cinemalaya fan since the "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Olveros" days. For example, film “ASTIG" in 2009 has quite big stars (Dennis Trillo for example) and seemed to have been using the "powers" of boy abunda as one of its producers.In one website, it was quoted that "the organizers hope that through the festival, young filmmakers will be able to "express their own concepts freely and not be limited by the industry's present condition, where artistic integrity is sacrificed in the pursuit of commercial success."Perhaps, i have to re-orient myself on the .character of indie films based on the recent types of films being shown.
What makes Cinemalaya one of the most awaited event is the fact that many become part of the species called "Paparazzi (singular: Paparazzo)" - an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people. I, do solemnly swear, that i am a true-blue paparazzi ...My photos as a paparazzi during Cinemalaya screenings can be seen in my Facebook album "Feeling Sikat"
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