Cover 'Blue Room' by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagńalan is one of the 11 full-length films that will be shown for this year's Cinemalaya festival
'Blue Room' by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagńalan is one of the 11 full-length films that will be shown for this year's Cinemalaya festival
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As the country eases its COVID-19 restrictions, movie buffs are once again invited to experience the on-site screening of Cinemalaya films. Full-lengths, shorts, new categories, and more await the audiences. Read on to know all about it
Do you like watching movies at home or in public theatres? A lot of moviegoers arguably prefer on-site screenings as the experience provides a familiar sense of comfort—spatial audio, big screens, and strangers whose reactions you can hear one reel after the other.
For its 18th edition, Cinemalaya announces its return to on-site cinemas two years after the pandemic struck the film industry. It will be screening 11 full-length films and 12 short features in competition starting August 5 to 14 at various venues in the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP).
"For the past two years, the country's biggest independent film festival streamed consciousness and navigated the turbulent currents, anchoring on the online screenings of competing short features and exhibition films," the committee said in its statement.
In case you missed it: Tatler Review: A Fearless Forecast Of Winners In Cinemalaya 2020's Main Competition Category
In this write-up, Tatler answers your questions about the upcoming film festival:
Above Cinemalaya 18 Presents: 'Breaking Through The Noise'
Cinemalaya 18 Presents: 'Breaking Through The Noise'
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What are the opening and closing films?
This year, Cinemalaya 18: Breaking Through the Noise will open with Martika Ramirez Escobar's Leonor Will Never Die. The festival will culminate with two documentaries titled Delikado and We Don't Dance for Nothing.
- Delikado: Palawan in the Philippines appears to be an idyllic tropical island, with its powder-white beaches and lush forests making it one of Asia’s most visited tourist destinations. But for a small network of environmental crusaders, it is more akin to a battlefield. Bobby, Tata and Nieves—a charismatic lawyer, an ex-illegal logger and a fearless politician—are three magnetic leaders fighting to stop corporations and governments seeking to plunder increasingly valuable natural resources. Often from Indigenous communities, environmental defenders in the Philippines are killed with impunity and the killers are rarely caught. The battles these climate activists fight are shared by allies worldwide—but the abusive government of President Rodrigo Duterte adds urgency to this deepening human rights crisis.
- We Don't Dance for Nothing: A photo-montage love letter to the Filipina domestic workers of Hong Kong. This visual recreation of true memories shared by this community of 400,000 women follows one woman's plan to run away. Captured on Super-16 amidst the Hong Kong protests, the film blends stills with a motion to highlight the passionate street dancing of these marginalized women, and touch upon LGBTQ+ themes, issues of workers' rights, and Hong Kong's changing political landscape.
Read more about Escobar's film here: Martika Ramirez Escobar Talks About Sundance and Why Trust is Important in Today's Independent Film Industry
Besides CCP, where else can I see Cinemalaya 18's films?
The competing films will also be shown in select partner cinemas nationwide from August 10 to 17. After that, Cinemalaya seeks to visit other regions, with screenings in selected communities from August 22 to 29, 2022.
I am still quite scared of catching COVID-19, can I still watch it at home?
For those who are still anxious to attend an in-person event, Cinemalaya will have an online run from October 17 to 31, 2022 via the CCP Vimeo account.
What's in store for filmmakers in 2023?
In a statement on stage, CCP's former Vice-President and Artistic Director announced the possibility of opening a documentary category for next year's festival.
Related: CCP Thirteen Artists Awardee Mars Bugaoan
What are the films under the full-length category?
Below are full-length titles you should not miss in this year's Cinemalaya film fest:
1. "12 Weeks" by Anna Isabelle Matutina
Above "12 Weeks" by Anna Isabelle Matutina
"12 Weeks" by Anna Isabelle Matutina
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After ending her toxic relationship with her boyfriend Ben, 40-year-old Alice discovers she is pregnant. 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 what to do. Will she slide back into Ben's arms? What will this mean for the child growing inside her?
More from Tatler: When 'I Do's' Turn to 'I Don't': Here's The Philippines' Stand on Marriage and Divorce
2. "Bakit 'Di Mo Sabihin?" by Real S Florido
Above "Bakit 'Di Mo Sabihin?" by Real S Florido
"Bakit 'Di Mo Sabihin?" by Real S Florido
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Deaf couple Miguel and Nat have been struggling to keep their marriage. After a huge fight, Miguel leaves his wife alone in Manila and decides to live in Baler with their kids. As he starts a new life, Miguel is reminded about the reasons he married Nat by his family's relentless stories about how modern a woman Nat is, and how he failed in so many ways to recognize that he fell in love with a younger deaf woman. One Christmas Eve, Miguel finally made a move to tell Nat everything she needed to know.
3. "Angkas" by Rain Yamson II
Above "Angkas" by Rain Yamson II
"Angkas" by Rain Yamson II
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*Little to no information about the movie's plot, Tatler team will update when resources are available.
4. "The Baseball Player" by Carlo Obispo
Above "The Baseball Player" by Carlo Obispo
"The Baseball Player" by Carlo Obispo
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Amir, a 17-year-old Moro child soldier whose father was killed in an all-out war in 2000, dreams to live a different life – he wants to become a baseball player. Training extensively with his coach, he makes it to the final tryout of a local university. Unfortunately, another all-out war against Moro rebels breaks out in 2003, and he is confronted with making a choice between pursuing his dream or fighting in the war.
See also: The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes Ranked
5. "Kargo" by TM Malones
Above "Kargo" by TM Malones
Above "Kargo" by TM Malones
"Kargo" by TM Malones
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When her entire family perished in a motorcycle accident on a rough highway in Maasin, Iloilo, Sara crashed into a deep depression, which was gradually replaced with an overpowering need to avenge them.
Believing that her husband and daughter were murdered, she searches for the man who killed her entire family to find some closure. But at the end of her journey, she untangles something she did not quite expect—a discovery that could profoundly change her entire life.
6. "Kaluskos" by Roman Perez, Jr.
Above "Kaluskos" by Roman Perez, Jr.
"Kaluskos" by Roman Perez, Jr.
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Rebekah files for sole custody for her young daughter Amaya. But this doesn’t sit well with her estranged husband Jay. Amid the custody battle, Rebekah finds another “Amaya” under the bed. When the other Amaya emerges, Rebekah feels the motherly connection that she lost with her daughter.
The other Amaya insists that she is the real Amaya trapped under the bed because of a curse, and the other one is the impostor. Wanting to start a new life with the other Amaya, Rebekah seeks to set her free. But to do that, she needs to kill the impostor.
Read also: Looking for a scare? We've got all your favourite ghosts and ghouls ready for you
7. "Bula Sa Langit" by Sheenly Gener
Acting as if coming home from a vacation, young Marawi war veteran Wesley is excited to bring his girlfriend Ritz home to meet his family. Showered with unsolicited hero-worship upon his homecoming, Wesley struggles to reconnect with his present relationships with his family and lover all while celebrating the town fiesta.
Overwhelmed and alienated, the young soldier finds himself haunted by one of his traumatic kills, and in this internal war, he is alone. Compounded and triggered, his frustration shoots up in one of his conversations with Ritz. He impulsively goes to the carnival to confront his trauma.
In case you missed it: How a US Warplane Shot Down in World War II Is Being Unearthed by Hong Kong Experts and Volunteers
8. "Blue Room" by Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan
*Little to no information about the movie's plot, Tatler team will update when resources are available. In the meantime, readers are encouraged to watch the trailer provided in this page.
9. "Batsoy" by Ronald Batallones
Above "Batsoy" by Ronald Batallones
"Batsoy" by Ronald Batallones
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After selling firewood for their basic needs, siblings Toto and Nonoy go to buy batsoy, the food that the younger brother has been craving the most. Mt Manaphag, which faces the town of San Dionisio, becomes the silent witness to their journey to satisfy their craving. Their adventure will ultimately bring viewers to the world of magic, fantasy, and reality.
10. "Retirada" by Cynthia Paz & Milo Paz
Above "Retirada" by Cynthia Paz & Milo Paz
"Retirada" by Cynthia Paz & Milo Paz
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Despite her husband Edong’s assurance, Azon Marcelo experiences melancholia as she adjusts to her life as a retired government employee. Their neighbour Chayong introduces the game of Bingo to Azon. After hitting the jackpot, 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.
11. "Ginhawa" by Christian Paolo Lat
Above "Ginhawa" by Christian Paolo Lat
"Ginhawa" by Christian Paolo Lat
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Anton is 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 wishes, Anton leaves their small fishing town to pursue boxing in Manila where he unravels the ugly truth of the brutal sport.
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
