Cinemalaya 2023: Tatler’s fearless forecast of this year’s best full-length and shorts

Kurt Soberano’s Golden Bells takes us to downtown Bacolod and tells the story of the Yu family. Kim Cheong, the family’s patriarch, owns a clothing store, and with the help of his wife, Ester, and five children, Venicio, James, Betty, Anson, and Dina, they constantly deal with the hustle and bustle in their daily lives. When Kim decides to open another business called Golden Bells, he tasks Anson, the fourth child, to take over. As time went by, he learned every trick of the trade from his father until it all went downhill.

A drama that perfectly captures what it’s like to be in a tightly knit family that works together no matter what, Golden Bells shows us that blood is everything, and the moment it’s taken away, everything crumbles. Its spectacular cinematography encapsulates high-speed workspaces, close relationships, and even ordinary moments that evoke powerful emotions from the audience.

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Update: Sibuyas ni Perfecto won Best Film in the Short Film Category.

Following the story of a young woman through dolls and mesmerising stop-motion animation, Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real’s Hm Hm Mhm tells the haunting tale of domestic abuse in a way that even children could understand.

A pregnant Barbie doll, a violent Ken doll, and a curious little doll all live in a dollhouse. The little doll dreamt of having a little brother and couldn’t contain her excitement—rolling around in the grass while laughing. But through the father's anger, the pregnant Barbie doll’s unborn baby—in the form of a marble—drops to the ground, leaving the little doll devasted. She then plants the marble in their backyard where it grows to become a monster. The monster then eats the Ken doll and before it could attack the little doll, she is saved by the woman playing. The woman then brushes the doll’s hair and packs her away in a box, closing that haunting chapter.

A remarkable short that completely communicates childhood trauma and healing without romanticising it. The film shows the grim reality of domestic abuse and tells the audience that it’s not impossible to move on from our scars.

Update: Kindred for When This is All Over won Best Original Musical Score.

Gian Arre’s Tether showed intimate scenes that were paired with music supervised by Rangy Valido. Thanks to these original tracks, the actors were able to deliver a more affectionate and convincing love scene. 

Update: When This is all Over won Best Cinematography.

Jopy Arnaldo’s command of colours is evident in his film Gitling. The film seems to have taken inspiration from masters like Wong Kar-Wai and Patrick Tam. In this movie, Arnaldo intentionally used colour palettes and visual elements that convey the emotions of Jamie (Gabby Padilla) and Makoto (Ken Yamamura). 

Related: ‘Blossoms Shanghai’ by Wong Kar Wai 

Update: Gitling won Best Screenplay in the full-length feature film category.

The strength of Dustin Celestino’s Ang Duyan ng Magiting is its screenplay. The filmmaker adapted his own Palanca award-winning full-length play and turned it into a compelling movie that grips the heart of any patriotic viewer. 

Update: Bon Andrew Lentejas for Huling Palabas won Best Supporting Actor.

Seasoned actors Jojit Lorenzo and Paolo O’Hara both delivered convincing performances in Ang Duyan ng Magiting. Lorenzo successfully portrayed a character consumed and corrupted by his deep-seated anger. O’Hara, on the other hand, stepped into the shoes of an uncouth policeman who grieves the loss of his child. 

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Update: Pat Tingjuy for Rookie won Best Actress.

Agot Isidro is a brand new person in her role as Jose’s (Miggy Jimenez) mother in Ang Duyan ng Magiting. Her sharp remarks paired with emotions that one can only see from someone so frightened and enraged made the film more engrossing. 

Update: Ryan Machado for Huling Palabas won Best Director in the full-length feature film category.

Jopy Arnaldo and Dustin Tolentino top our list of this year’s most promising filmmakers. Arnaldo successfully put out visually striking material, while Tolentino gave a story that pierces the heart. . .it might all be a battle between visual and narrative storytelling for this category. 

Update: Iti Mapupukaw by Carl Joseph Papa won Best Film in the full-length feature film category.

Jopy Arnaldo’s Gitling did not have a screenplay as powerful as Ang Duyan ng Magiting, but it had just the right amount of elements that make up a film you’d want to watch all over again. Its strength was its cinematography, which masterfully captured the beauty of Bacolod. Arnaldo’s interplay of light and shadow, and his skilful camerawork, evoked a sense of intimacy.

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