Cover Film still from ‘The Gospel of the Beast’ (Photo: Sinag Maynila)
Film still from ‘The Gospel of the Beast’ (Photo: Sinag Maynila)
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Cinephiles can see entries from Sinag Maynila 2024 in 12 cinemas from September 4 to 10. Scroll to learn more about the upcoming event
The Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2024 gets a boost from cinemas and partners as the festival’s finalist films will be screened in 12 cinemas in Metro Manila from September 4 to 10. Official partner venues include Gateway (two cinemas), Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM Sta. Mesa and Market Market.
“We are thankful to our official partner venues for giving space to our finalist films and supporting our initiative to make the ticket price more affordable,” says Solar Entertainment Corporation president Wilson Tieng.
“Indeed, the cinemas, along with our other supporters such as the City of Manila, are making significant contributions to the development of Philippine independent cinema and the growth of the Filipino film market.”
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Below are full-length feature films you shouldn’t miss:
1. The Gospel of the Beast
Above The Gospel of the Beast, a Sinag Maynila entry
Sheron Dayoc’s The Gospel of the Beast follows 15-year-old Mateo, who accidentally kills his classmate; he runs away with Berto, a man he barely knows. As the story progresses, the two present a unique father-son relationship where Mateo learns the harrowing realities of life, death, and beasthood.
2. Her Locket
Above Her Locket film still (Photo: Sinag Maynila)
Her Locket film still (Photo: Sinag Maynila)
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J E Tiglao's second feature film, Her Locket, is about two women who want to do something about their memories. One wants to remember, and the other wants to forget.
The movie explores the exploitative nature of patriarchy and the Chinese-Filipino familial culture.
3. Banjo
Above Banjo, a Sinag Maynila entry
Banjo by Bryan Wong shows two brothers who go undercover to penetrate a drug cartel until their cover is blown. Cartel makes the brothers turn against each other, and Banjo kills his brother. Now, he seeks revenge, turning the mission into a personal vendetta.
4. Maple Leaf Dreams
Above Maple Leaf Dreams, a Sinag Maynila entry
Benedict Mique, known for his work Lolo and The Kid, has yet another heartfelt story for Filipino audiences. Maple Leaf Dreams (2024) tells the story of Filipino workers in Canada who tirelessly make ends meet.
5. What You Did
Above What You Did, a Sinag Maynila entry
Joan Lopez Flores’s What You Did focuses on two young men, Arvin and Ace, as they confront their childhood trauma and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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6. Salome
Above Salome, a Sinag Maynila entry
Andres Galicia, an art critic, historian, and professor, loses his memory as a result of chronic alcoholism. To retrieve his memories, he visits his cousin, Christine, in Mindanao.
He starts dreaming of a woman named Salome from a catalogue of an exhibition he is curating to commemorate the 500th year of Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines. Salome appears as a housemaid in Christine’s house who returns to the nearby forest at night.
When local historian Fabian solicits Andres’s help to stop the desecration of a site dedicated to a Spanish colonial-era priestess named Salome, Salome’s real identity begins to unravel.
7. Talahib (Legend of the Tall Grass)
Above Talahib (Legend of the Tall Grass), A Sinag Maynila entry
Alvin Yapan’s Talahib (Legend of the Tall Grass) tells us about a series of killings in the fields of tall grasses in an abandoned subdivision. A team of cops attempt to unravel what is going on and discovers something more sinister.
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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.
