Cinemalaya in a nutshell

 

I first  saw the film “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” when it premiered in 2005 at the First Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

 Set in the slums of Manila, the coming-of-age comedy-drama film  by fellow UP alumnus Auraeus Solito is about a gay teen (Nathan Lopez) who is torn between his love for a young cop ( JR Valentin) and his loyalty to his family.

Although it did not won the Best film award in 2005,  it became one of the icons of indie films and  has been included in various lists of best gay  films.  It was the Philippines’ official entry to the 79th Academy Awards.

Nineteen  years since Maximo was shown, this year’s Cinemalaya will be held at  the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) instead of CCP  from  August 4 to 13, 2023 with the theme “Iluminasyon”.

The so- called “indie films” embody Cinemalaya’s vision: “the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.”

This year’s  ten (10)  full-length films  include  Ang Duyan ng Magiting  by Dustin Celestino; As If It's True by John Rogers; Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer) by Kenneth De La Cruz; Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo; Huling Palabas by Ryan Machado; Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing)” by Carl Joseph Papa; Maria by Sheryl Rose Andes; Rookie  by Samantha Lee; Tether by Gian Arre; and When This is All Over by Kevin Mikhail Mayuga. The short film section  also has ten  competing entries.

 The full length section has  only one set of films  from 2005 to 2009  called New Breed with  another section  added from 2010 to 2014 called Director’s Showcase. It reverted back to one set  since  2016 as  the Main Competition .

 The past winning films in New Breed  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), John Denver Trending (2019), and The Baseball Player (2022). There were no winners for two years (2020 – 2021) due to the pandemic.

 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 Best Actress twice: Merylle Soriano for Room Boy (2005) and Donor (2010) and Ina Feleo for Endo (2007) and Sanglaan (2009).

 Best Actress awards In the New Breed also went to 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).

 The other Best Actors in New Breed include  Alchris Galura  for Batad (2006), Lou Veloso  for Colorum (2009),  John Arcilla for Halaw (2010), Edgar Allan Guzman  for Ligo na, Lapit na Me (2011), and Dante Rivero for 1st ko si 3rd (2014).

 

Winners in the Main  also include Hasmine Killip  for Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016), Angeli Bayani for Bagahe (2017),  Ai-Ai Delas Alas for School Service (2018) Ruby Ruiz for Iska (2019) and Max Eigenmann for 12 Weeks (2022) for Best Actresses while Tommy Abuel for Dagsin (2016), and Tommy Alejandrino for Baseball Player (2022) for Best Actors.

 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 also directed Quick Change where transgender Mimi Juareza won as Best Actor in the 2013 New Breed.

 In the Directors’ showcase, Vilma Santos won Best Actress in Ekstra (2013) while Nora Aunor won the following year for Hustisya (2014). 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 Tribu cast  grabbed the  best actor award   also as an ensemble in New Breed in 2007.

The youngest  best actor awardee was 13-year old Noel Comia Jr. for Kiko Boksingero (2017) followed by 15-year old Jansen Magpusao for John Denver Trending (2019).  

Only short films competed in 2015, 2020 and 2021.

Decades before  “indie films” became a trend, I had the opportunity see the works of alternative filmmakers during my college years in the late ‘80s and ‘90s at UP Diliman.

Some of the films  included Lino Brocka’s “Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag”  and “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim” , Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” (1982), Mike de Leon’s “Sister Stella L.” , and Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Karnal”  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.

(Peyups is the moniker of the 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 09175025808 or 09088665786.)

 

Sa Letrang B - baseball, boxing, BINGO

 

Sa Letrang B - baseball, boxing, BINGO

 

Baseball, boxing, Bingo – games that start with the letter “B”  became interesting  plots of  three competing full-length films for this year’s Cinemalaya  Independent Film Festival.  

After a two-year wait as a result of the series of COVID-19  lockdowns,  Cinemalaya finally returned as   a face-to-face event   with  a full-length feature category for eleven films, including  the “B” films: “THE BASEBALL PLAYER,”   “GINHAWA” and  “RETIRADA”.

THE BASEBALL PLAYER tells the story of  Amir (Tommy Alejandrino)  who is a 17-year-old Moro child with dreams of becoming a baseball player but has to train as a soldier for the Moro rebels.

Khalid (JM San Jose) is  a young boy survivor of an armed conflict who is adopted  by  Amir’s  family. The presence  of Amir as his new “older brother” opened  the path to healing.

Unfortunately, another all-out war against Moro rebels breaks out, and he is confronted with making a choice between pursuing his dream or fighting in the war.

 

Director Carlo Obispo narrates that armed conflicts ruin the basic necessities of life. Families are broken apart, opportunities are lost. Dreams – especially those of the children, if they even had the chance to have any – are shattered. 

Children are always the most vulnerable. The impact of war adversely affects the life trajectory of the young ones.  The film is made to take a closer examination of the distressing battles children have to fight because of the decisions that adults make.

The almost slice-of-life story  showed how the armed conflict threatens to tear away the lives,  hopes, and dreams of the  characters caught in the crossfire.

 

GINHAWA tells the journey of Anton (Andrew Ramsay)  as an aspiring boxer.

He hopes to continue the legacy of his older brother Saul who was given a chance to escape poverty by joining a competition in the city but later faced tragedy.

Against his mother’s (Ruby Ruiz)  wishes, Anton leaves their small fishing town to pursue boxing in Manila where he unravels the ugly truth of the brutal sport.

Director Christian Paolo Lat narrates that  Ginhawa is not only about the fight in the ring that a boxer has to overcome but it is about  what happens outside the ring – the system, the politics, and the daily struggles of the poor in the Philippines.

Boxing is an escape and a fight from the harsh realities of a third world country.

Lat notes that Ginhawa presents the day to day struggle that these fighters go through in their village, in their community and in their family who are constantly facing the plague of poverty. Regardless of the deadly consequences, lack of government funding and knowledge in general, these boxers continue to chase after their dreams in the hopes of a better future.

Andrew Ramsay is the brother of actor Derek Ramsay. He studied in New York Film Academy, John Lennon School in UK, and Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

I am not a fan of boxing but I remember as a young boy my grandfather would bring me to boxing matches at the Rizal coliseum.  Instead of cheering for the fighters, I would sleep most of the time. When I travel abroad, local people would always mention the name of Manny Pacquiao whenever I tell them that I am a Filipino.

 

RETIRADA tells the story of Azon (Peewee O’Hara ) who experiences melancholia as she adjusts to her life as a retired government employee. Azon becomes a regular Bingo player hoping to duplicate her initial windfall. But her new sense of purpose and the adrenaline rush from her new hobby would teach her what retirement really means.

Directors spouses Milo and  Cynthia Paz  said that Retirada explores life’s meaning and purpose in the face of old age and death. It touched upon how retirees struggled to live out their senior years after retiring from an active day to day work life.

 In a society where being young and active is given more merit, growing old can lead to a sense of alienation and even depression as one contemplates one’s own mortality.

The entries, 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.

 

With the theme “Breaking Through the Noise,”  the other eight competing full length films include Kaluskos,  12 Weeks,   Angkas,   Bakit Di Mo Sabihin?, Batsoy,  Blue Room; Bula sa Langit,  and  Kargo.  The short film section has  twelve  competing entries.

 

Shattered dreams amid the Mindanao conflict

 

Shattered dreams amid the Mindanao conflict

 

Troubled  relationships and  shattered dreams  amid  the  Mindanao conflict served as the plot of four competing full-length films for this year’s Cinemalaya  Independent Film Festival.  

After a two-year wait as a result of the series of COVID-19  lockdowns,  Cinemalaya finally returned as   a face-to-face event   with  a full-length feature category for eleven films, including four  Mindanao-themed films:  The Baseball Player, Angkas, 12 Weeks,  and  Bula sa Langit.  

“The Baseball Player” tells the story of  Amir (Tommy Alejandrino) , a 17-year-old Moro child with dreams of becoming a baseball player but who has to train as a soldier for the Moro rebels.

Khalid (JM San Jose) is  a young boy survivor of an armed conflict who is adopted  by  Amir’s  family. The presence  of Amir as his new “older brother” opened  the path to healing.

Unfortunately, another all-out war against Moro rebels breaks out, and he is confronted with making a choice between pursuing his dream or fighting in the war.

In “Angkas” ,  Leo (Joem Bascon) is not just an ordinary habal-habal driver. He is the resident ambulance and delivery man in a remote village in Compostela Valley

One day, he  is hired to transport the dead down the mountain. His estranged friend Miguel (Benjamin Alves)   joined Leo in fetching the corpse of Ditas (Meryll Soriano), their childhood friend who is a rebel pursued by the military.

As Leo and Miguel embark on a dangerous journey in a habal-habal, their fragile friendship will be tested, and they will encounter danger only to be saved by an unlikely hero.

In “12 Weeks”,  Alice (Max Eigenmann)  a single  40-year-old woman is working with a non-government organization (NGO) which is organizing a relief mission to the Bakwits or evacuees due to the Marawi siege.

She discovers she is pregnant after breaking up with her boyfriend (Vance Larena).  With her age and current relationship status, her first instinct is to have the pregnancy terminated. As her body undergoes dramatic changes, Alice struggles and needs to decide whether she wants to be a mother or not.

The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks. During this period of time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances, in addition to emotional stress.

 

“Bula sa Langit”  tells the story of a young soldier (Gio Gahol) who returns from Marawi war  to find himself  heavily disturbed by one of his traumatic kills . Despite his excitement to come home,  Wesley struggles to reconnect his present relationships with his family and girlfriend (Kate Alejandrino) while celebrating the town fiesta.

 

The contemporary armed conflict in Mindanao can be traced to the pre-martial law period of the late 1960s when the Moro youth and their political leaders demanded an end to discrimination and oppression and  the return of their ancestral homeland.

The conflict was sparked by discrimination and human rights violations under President Marcos’ dictatorship.

Many armed groups fought against the government to establish an independent Muslim region on the island of Mindanao.

Thousands were killed in the decades-long insurgency that ensued.

At the heart of the conflict in Mindanao lies deep-rooted prejudices against the  Muslim and indigenous population.

The conflict  is seen as the  result of social inequity and the skewed distribution of resources, including land grabbing which was a main issue for the Muslims, wrong policies and corruption, and the historical prejudice against the Muslims resulting further to unfulfilled aspirations which had consequently led to violent conflicts.

The Marawi  siege was a five-month-long armed conflict  that started on May 23, 2017 between Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the  Islamic State of Iraq and Syria  (ISIS), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups.

It has forcibly displaced 98 percent of the total population of the city, as well as residents from nearby municipalities.

The almost slice-of-life stories in these four films  showed how the armed conflict threatens to tear away the lives,  hopes, and dreams of the  characters caught in the crossfire.

Breaking these “bonds of social injustice and oppression”  through a conflict  that has been going on for decades is never the solution.

 

 

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.

Cinemalaya through the years

 

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.)

2016 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL The Winners of the 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival!! 

FULL LENGTH
Best Film: Pamilya Ordinaryo
Best Director: Eduardo Roy Jr (Pamilya Ordinaryo)
Best Actor: Sir Tommy Abuel (Dagsin)
Best Actress: Hasmine Killip (Pamilya Ordinaryo)
Best Supporting Actor: Hiblang Abo actors; Jun Urbano, Lou Veloso, Leo Rialp, Tata Nanding Josef
Best Supporting Actress: Lollie Mara (Ang Bagong Pamilya ni Ponching) TIE with Ms. Elizabeth Oropesa (I America)
Best Cinematography: Tuos
Best Production Design: Tuos
Best Editing: Pamilya Ordinaryo
Best Original Musical Score: Tuos
Best Sound: Tuos
Audience Choice Award: Tuos
NETPAC Award: Pamilya Ordinaryo
Special Jury Prize: Mercury Is Mine
Best Screenplay: Jason Paul Laxamana (Mercury is Mine)

SHORT FILMS
Best Short Film: Pektus
Best Director: Mon Garilao (Fish Out of Water / 플라워혼)
NETPAC Award: Ang Maangas, Ang Marikit, at Ang Makata
Special Jury Prize: Fish Out of Water
Best Screenplay: Pektus
Audience Choice Award: Forever Natin.

Congrats to the 4 lolos of #HIBLANGABO for winning the #cinemalaya2016 best supporting actor award (as ensemble) #louveloso #junurbano#nandingjosef and #leorialp under the direction of#ralstonjover

Congrats to #TUOS for winning #cinemalaya2016best cinematography, best production design, best original musical score, best sound, audience choice award. The film on the binukot princess of panay bukidnon tribe starred #noraaunor and#barbieforteza

Congrats ‪#‎MERCURYISMINE‬ for winning ‪#‎cinemalaya2016‬ special jury award and best screenplay. It starred ‪#‎pokwang‬ and ‪#‎brentjackson‬ on a comedy mixup when an american kid got tangled with the boring life of a kapampangan chef.

 Congrats to ‪#‎tommyabuel‬ for winning the ‪#‎cinemalaya2016‬ best actor award for ‪#‎Dagsin‬

 Congrats to ‪#‎PamilyaOrdinario‬ for winning ‪#‎cinemalaya2016‬ best film, best editing, NETPAC award, best director ‪#‎eduardoroy‬ and best actress‪#‎hasminekillip‬ . Kudos also to ‪#‎ronwaldomartin‬ for his role of vagabound husband, he is also the younger brother of ‪#‎cocomartin‬

Dahil di nabuo annual pics ng ‪#‎klasmeyts‬ sa ‪#‎cinemalaya2016‬ ..eto n lang muna..

2015 Cinemalaya Film Festival

The winners of the 2015 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition were announced on August 15 at the the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

This year's competition was only held for the short film category. The winners are:

• Best Screenplay: Papetir
• Audience Choice: Sanctissima
• Best Film: Pusong Bato (Stone Heart)
• Best Direction: Lisyun Qng Geografia (Geography Lessons)
• NETPAC Prize: Wawa
• Special Jury Prize: Wawa

The films in competition were:

• Apasol (Chasing Sun) by Ryanne Murcia
• Gatilyo ng Baril by Glenmark Doromal and Eero Yves Francisco
• Kyel by Arvin Belarmino
• Lisyun Qng Geografia (Geography Lessons) by Petersen Vargas
• Mater by Annemikami Pablo
• Nenok by Milo Tolentino
• Papetir by Darwin Novicio
• Pusong Bato (Stone Heart) by Martika Ramirez Escobar
• Sanctissima by Kenneth Dagatan
• Wawa by Anj Macalanda
  

The winner of the Audience Choice Award will receive P25,000, while the winner of best film will receive P150,000. All the winners will receive the Balanghai trophy.


The finalists for the Full-Length Feature category for Cinemalaya 2016 were also announced at the event. These finalists will receive production grants of P700,000 each. The winner of the best film for this category will also receive P250,000. The finalists for Full-Length Feature are:

• Ang Bagong Pamilya Ni Ponching by Inna Salazar and Victor Villanueva
• Ang Mga Bisita ni Mamang by Janice O'Hara and Denise O'Hara
• Dagsin by Atom Magadia
• Hiblang Abo by Ralston Jover
• I America by Ivan Andrew Payawal
• Kusina by David Corpuz and
• Lando at Bugoy by Vic Acedillo, Jr
• Mercury is Mine by Jason Paul Laxamana
• Pamilya Ordinaryo by Eduardo Roy, Jr
• Tuos by Derick Cabrido

The Cinemalaya Film Festival, which is on its 11th year, is a project of Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. and the CCP. This year, the festival ran from August 7 to 15 at the CCP and Greenbelt (Rappler)

WINNERS: 2013 CinemaOne Originals filmfest

Main Awards, Plus Category:

• Best Director: Borgy Torre, “Kabisera”
• Best Actor: Joel Torre, “Kabisera”
• Best Actress: Angelica Panganiban, “Ang Alamat ni China Doll”
• Best Supporting Actress: Bing Pimentel, "Kabisera"
• Best Supporting Actor: David Chua, "Saturday Night Chills"
• Best Sound: “Alamat ni China Doll”
• Best Music: “Alamat ni China Doll”
• Best Editing: “Alamat ni China Doll”
• Best Production Design: “Blue Bustamante”
• Best Cinematography: “Alamat ni China Doll”
• Best Screenplay: "Sitio" by Mes De Guzman
• Jury Award: “Sitio”

Main Awards, Currents Category:

• Best Director: Arnel Mardoquio, "Riddles of My Homecoming"
• Best Actor: Rayver Cruz, Matteo Gudicelli, Joseph Marco, "Saturday Night Chills"
• Best Actress: Vivian Velez, "Bendor"
• Best Supporting Actress: Anna Luna, "Bendor"
• Best Supporting Actor: Peque Gallaga, "Woman of the Ruins"
• Best Sound: “Islands”
• Best Music: “Riddles of My Homecoming”
• Best Editing: “Saturday Night Chills”
• Best Production Design: “Riddles of My Homecoming”
• Best Cinematography: “Riddles of My Homecoming"
• Best Screenplay: “Bukas na lang Sapagka't Gabi Na” by Jet Leyco
• Jury Award: "Riddles of my Homecoming"

Special Awards:

• Audience Choice: "Woman of the Ruins" by Keith Sicat
• Biogesic Ingat na Damang Dama Sineserye (by students): "Magic Touch" by Students from UE Caloocan
• Philippine Cinema Originals Award: Director Elwood Perez and Producer Lily Monteverde

This year's winners:

• Best Picture Currents: “Bukas Na Lang Sapagka't Gabi Na” by Jet Leyco
• Best Picture Plus: “Alamat ni China Doll” by Adolfo Alix Jr

Best films from the past years:

• "Sa North Diversion Road" by Dennis Marasigan (2005)
• "Huling Balyan ng Buhi" by Sherad Anthony Sanchez (2006)
• "Confessional" by Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto (2007)
• "Imburnal" by Sherad Anthony Sanchez (2008)
• "Wanted: Border" by Ray Defante Gibraltar (2009)
• "Layang Bilanggo" by Mike Dagñalan (2010)
• "Ka Oryang" by Sari Raissa Lluch Dalena (2011)
• "Pascalina" by Pam Miras (2012)