The 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition (Cinemalaya) has been launched, slated on July 26 to August 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Cinemas in TriNoma, Greenbelt 3 and Alabang Town Center.
According to Chris Millado, Cinemalaya festival director, “since 2005, we all have seen how the festival has evolved into the most exciting and influential festival in the country. It has introduced new voices in filmmaking and launched their careers nationally and internationally. Cinemalaya has enticed the commercial mainstream to crossover and redefine their art and craft.”
This year, Cinemalaya offers 25 films in its three competition categories. Cinemalaya’s main competition categories are the New Breed full length feature category and the Short Feature category featuring works by new directors. The Directors Showcase is a competition for works by established directors.
The finalists for the New Breed category are:
- Babagwa (The Spider’s Lair) by Jason Paul Laxamana
- David F by Emmanuel Palo
- Debosyon by Alvin Yapan
- Instant Mommy by Leo Abaya
- Nuwebe by Joseph Israel Laban
- Purok 7 by Carlo Obispo
- Quick Change by Eduardo Roy Jr.
- Rekorder by Mikhail Red
- The Diplomat Hotel by Christopher Ad. Castillo
- Transit by Hannah Espia
The finalists for the Directors Showcase are:
- Amor y Muerte by Ces M. Evangelista
- Ekstra by Jeffrey Jeturian
- Sana Dati by Jerrold Tarog
- Liars by Gil M. Portes
- Porno by Adolfo Alix Jr.
The finalists for the Short Feature category are:
- Bakaw by Ron Segismundo
- Katapusang Labok (Last Strike) by Aiess Athina E. Alonso
- Missing by Zig Dulay
- Onang by JE Tiglao
- Para kay Ama by Relyn A. Tan
- Pukpok by Joaquin Pantaleon
- Sa Wakas by Nica Santiago
- Taya by Adi Bontuyan
- The Houseband’s Wife by Paolo O’ Hara
- Tutob by Kissza Mari Campano
Winners of the competition will be named in the awards night on August 4 at the CCP.
Now in its ninth year, Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Econolink Investments Inc. and Film Development Council of the Philippines. It is an all-digital film festival that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that articulate and the Filipino experience with fresher insight and artistry.
Cinemalaya will feature about 70 films on exhibition with 25 in competition. It features a variety of sections, namely the Ani, Cinemalaya Documentaries, Cinemalaya Premieres, Retrospective: Urian’s Best (The Gawad Urian Best Film 2000-2009), and tributes to Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Celso Ad. Castillo and Eddie Romero. The Cinemalaya Film Congress is a major part of the Festival. There will be other film-related activities such as the Philippine Independent Film Makers Multi-purpose Cooperative’s 3rd Manila Film Financing Forum.
For more information, call CCP Film Office at (+63 2) 8321125 local 1704 and 1705, and the CCP box office at (+63 2) 8323704; or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.
