The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
It’s Cinemalaya once more.
An array of new and not-so-new films “that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity” will be screened from August 2 to 11, 2024 in various venues primarily at Ayala Malls in Manila Bay.
This year’s theme of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is “Loob, Lalim, Lakas” which is loosely translated as “Core, Depth, Strength” which an indie spirit is all about as a statement of vision.
According to Laurice Guillen, Cinemalaya Foundation President, the 20th Cinemalaya aims to showcase Filipino culture while turning the spotlight on social awareness, political issues and inclusivity.
“We have a brilliant lineup of competing films, these full-length and short narratives will surely impress and inspire. The films will hope to defy the heart of every Filipino. These stories will give us a deeper understanding of our culture and identity,” Laurice elucidated.
Meanwhile, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Festival Competition Chairman, Monitoring Head and Cinemalaya Institute Director, said that the Cinemalaya 2024 is a proud tradition of exceptional films while maintaining the interest and patronage of the moviegoers.
At the time of the interview with Carlitos on the tenth day of July, he said that he hadn’t seen all the entries in the Full-Length category but he was all praises to all the movies lined up for the Short Film section.
“The short films are very energetic and diverse. They are voices of various persuasions,” said Siguion-Reyna.
During the press conference held at the Ballroom of the Metropolitan Theater, many stars of the feature and short films were around including Maria Rivera, Gardo Versoza and Joel Saracho for “Balota,” Mylene Dizon, Ana Feleo, among others for “The Hearing,” Nanding Josef for “An Errand” etc.
The ten short films in competition are “Primetime Mother” by Sonny Calvento; “Palamandong sa Danow (Reflection in the Marsh) by Breech Asher Harani; “Mariposa” by Melanie Faye; “Mama” by Alexandra Brizuela; “I was Walking on the Streets of Chinatown” by Ryan Capili; “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” by Sam Manacsa; “An Baga sa Dalan (The Red Trails” by Mariel Ritchie Jolejple and Ronino Dolim; “Ambot Wa Ko Kabalot Unsay I-Title Ani (Untitled) by Rey Anthony Villaverde; “A;; This Wasted Spaces” by Cris Brignas and “Abigbaybay” by PR Monencillo Patindol.
Meanwhile, the ten movies in the Full-Length section are:
“Alipato at Muog” by JL Burgos which is a documentary type that chronicles the Burgos family after the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos.
”An Errand” by Sarge Lacuesta and Dominic Bekaert which tells of a s story of a driver driving from Baguio to Manila to fulfill an “absurd” errand.
“Balota” by Kip Oebanda which is a narrative on the decay of Philippine democracy through corrupt elections.
“Gulay Lang, Manong” by BC Amparado which tackles the life of a farmer who joins forces with the police to take down a marijuana cartel.
“Kantil” by Joshua Caesar Medroso which narrates the romance of star-crossed lovers tested by discovering a mysterious alien.
“Kono Basho” by Jaime Pacena II which was shot entirely in Japan about two estranged half-sisters who cross paths at their father’s funeral.
“Love Child” by Jonathan Jurilla which exposes a story of a couple who struggles to raise their autistic child.
“The Hearing” by Lawrence Fajardo which brings out the discussion among parents who seek the help of a sign language interpreter to defend their deaf child in court.
“The Wedding Dance” by Julis Lumiqued which tells of a Kalinga couple’s romance in turmoil after a tribal leader questions the woman’s infertility.
“Tumandok” by Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay which features the Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in a battle to defend their ancestral lands.
To open the fest on August 2, 2024 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay is “The Gospel of the Beast,” a dark film by award-winning director Sheron Dayoc about the exploits of an innocent boy to his baptism of fire in the underworld.
To close the Cinemalaya 20 on August 10, 2024 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay is the 4K restored version of Lino Brocka’s 1980 film “Bona” which starred Nora Aunor about the phenomenon of fandom.