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Cinemalaya acting winners mostly first-timers
The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, which this year had the theme “IlumiNasyon,” concluded its 10-day run on 13 August with the awarding ceremony held at the grand lobby of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Jasmine Curtis-Smith hosted the ceremony and sweetly reminded everyone of the goal to conclude it in less than two hours. Iti Mapupukaw made history in Cinemalaya's 19 years of operations by being the first animated entry and winning Best Film in the full-length category. “Gusto kong ibigay ito sa lahat ng mga Eric na inalisan ng bibig at hindi nakapagsalita,” said the movie’s director, Carl Joseph Papa, in his acceptance speech. He was referring to the lead character named Eric (played by Carlo Aquino) who literally has no mouth and can’t speak but goes on to overcome a traumatic experience. In the short film category, Januar Yap’s Sibuyas ni Perfecto was named Best Film for its “quiet but coruscating take on social iniquity and how the poor’s exploitation by the rich is driven by their own denigration and self-abasement.” The top-grossing Iti Mapupukaw also won the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific) award for “its finely nuanced, masterfully crafted tale of healing, friendships and young love, effectively utilizing state-of-the-art technology that is integrate to its storytelling.” The NETPAC for short film went to Hinakdal for “its pithy, layered and strong social commentary lace with dollops of humor.” Dolly de Leon, who plays Eric’s mother Rosalinda, won Best Performance of a Supporting Actress. She thanked Papa “for your beautiful script, your beautiful story,” adding“Kung hindi dahil sa ’yo, talagang hindi ito mangyayari.” The internationally acclaimed actress also thanked the movie’s producers Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas of Project 8 Projects film production company, as well as costars Carlo Aquino and Gio Gahol. She then exclaimed, “Grabe, first time kong makatanggap at magsalita ng award dito sa Pilipinas. Ang sarap pala ng feeling.” She later clarified to media outlets covering the event that she meant giving an acceptance award here in the Philippines. She wasn’t able to do that when she won the Famas Best Supporting Actress award in 2020 for the film Verdict. Newcomer Pat Tingjuy, who played the lead role in the coming-of-age volleyball movie Rookie, bagged the award for Best Performance of an Actress in first-ever acting project. She was understandably speechless when she accepted her award. “I don’t know what to say,” she said, but went on to thank the producers, who are also from Project 8 Projects, and then admitted, “Naiyak ako.” Tingjuy’s costar Mikoy Morales won the award for Best Performance of an Actor for his other entry, the sexually charged Tether. “This means so much to me,” said the GMA-7’s homegrown artist in his acceptance speech. Rounding up the acting awards was Bon Andrew Lentejas for Best Supporting Actor, who was singled out for his “engaging portrayal of a young man trying to under his best friend’s difficult ways” in another coming-of-age movie, Huling Palabas. Tingjuy, Morales and Lentejas are all first-time acting award winners. The stellar cast of Ang Duyan ng Magiting — including de Leon, Agot Isidro, Bituin Escalante, Joel Saracho and Paolo O’Hara — was given the special award for Best Ensemble Acting. Dustin Celestino’s full-length feature film got the Special Jury Prize for presenting, among others, a “trenchant portrait of the wages of political violence.” Its counterpart in the short film category went to Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan’s Hm Hm Mhm for “its boldly experimental verve to depict a woman revisiting the darker aspects of her childhood.” The Best Director awards were bestowed on Ryan Espinosa Machado for Huling Palabas (full-length feature) and Mike Cabarles for Makoko sa Baybay (short film). Machado was commended for effectively harnessing “the resources of art to come up with a deeply personal film that evokes fond memories of pre-digital cinema while paying homage to one’s small-town roots, and how all of this contributes to fashioning self-respect and self-identity.” Cabarles was lauded for employing “the resources of cinema in effectively evoking the loneliness of two brothers missing their mother whom they have lost to the sea.” The awards for Best Screenplay were given to Jopy Arnaldo, who also directed Gitling (full-length feature film), and Arvin Belarmino, the cowriter, along with Kyla Romero, of Hinakdal (short film). Gitling was cited for “its very tender tale of two persons bridging the divide between races and cultures and, through constructed language and through silence and even evasion, coming to a poignant understanding of the heart.” On the other hand, Hinakdal got the jury’s nod for the “very striking narrative that remakes the horror genre while humanizing and endowing them with heart and soul.” Kevin Mayuga’s When This Is All Over won three technical awards: Best Cinematography for Martika Escobar, Best Production Design and Best Original Musical Score for Kindred. Kindred is composed of Justin Punzalan, Vince Dalida, Luis Montales, Jaime San Juan, Moses Webb, Fern Tan, Jorge Juan Wieneke V, Othello Intia. Samatha Lee’s Rookie nabbed the Best Editing award for Ilsa Malsi while Gian Arre’s Tether got the Best Sound for the filmmaker who’s also responsible for this technical aspect. Rookie also received the Audience Choice award for full-length feature film, along with Hinakdal in the short film category. The post Cinemalaya acting winners mostly first-timers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIST: Big winners ng Cinemalaya 2023; ‘Iti Mapupukaw,’ ‘Rookie’ humakot ng parangal
DALAWANG pelikula ang humakot ng mga parangal sa katatapos lang na Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2023. Una na riyan ang “Iti Mapupukaw” ni Carl Joseph Papa na nag-uwi ng Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) for full-length film, best supporting actress para kay Dolly de Leon, at best film (full-length feature film). […] The post LIST: Big winners ng Cinemalaya 2023; ‘Iti Mapupukaw,’ ‘Rookie’ humakot ng parangal appeared first on Bandera......»»
Reviews: Cinemalaya Shorts B
‘GOLDEN BELLS’ Kurt Soberano’s Golden Bells is the only entry with superior technical craft. However, it severely alienates the audience by picking a subject matter that not everyone can relate to. Sure, it carries universal themes of familial relationships, hopes, desires and sacrifice, but Golden Bells fails to connect emotionally. It’s a monotonous story about a Filipino-Chinese family running a garments business, with one of the sons as its central character. It is through the son’s lens that we learn his perspective of the family patriarch. Too bottled up in its own world on a very surface level, it is largely unrelatable and feels more like a commercial ad for a business rather than a piece of cinema. (1 out of 5 stars). ‘TONG ADLAW NGA NAG-SNOW SA PINAS’ Joshua Caesar Medroso’s monochromatic Tong Adlaw nga Nag-snow sa Pinas starts off quite well. Set in a remote and impoverished coastal town, two young boys, Makong and Renren, are playing, pretending that it’s snowing by making fake snowflakes out of styrofoam boxes. The styro-snow looks great in black-and -white and Medroso manages to evoke nostalgic imagery of a pre-Internet childhood. But underneath the innocent play lies a violent subtext: child abuse cushioned by a melodramatic portrait of compassion and friendship. The short abruptly ends, and it feels as if Medroso’s other video clips got mistakenly deleted and he has no choice but to finally put the end credits and submit his film. (1 out of 5 stars) [caption id="attachment_170059" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon ko para sa Imo[/caption] ‘ANG KINING BINALAYBAY KAG AMBAHANON KO PARA SA IMO’ Kent John Desamparado’s family drama is heartbreaking and appeals to the special bond between a grandfather and a granddaughter. It follows a poor, ailing fisherman, who, no longer able to take care of his young granddaughter, painfully decides to give her away to other relatives. The filmmaker takes the viewer along on their journey to inevitable doom. Desamparado manages to capture the nuances of a very loving relationship between the grandpa and the little girl. It breaks the heart, and also becomes a light commentary on the realities of poverty. However, it’s still rough around the edges and the finale is too weak. (2.5 out of 5 stars). ‘MAKOKO SA BAYBAY’ This is so forgettable I honestly could not recall the details of the short. I could vaguely recall a very strong sunset color palette, sea monsters and mothers and little kids longing for their mothers. If something like this vanishes from your mind soon after you’ve left the cinema, then you get my point. (0 out of 5 stars). [caption id="attachment_170060" align="aligncenter" width="600"] ‘Maudi Nga Arapaap’[/caption] ‘MAUDI NGA ARAPAAP’ Daniel Magayon’s psychological horror short is funnier than scary, amusing rather than disturbing. It follows a graveyard-shift female nurse with experiences of traumatic child abuse by her mother, who has recently died. The scenes of a child being abused by the very person that should nurture her is heartbreaking. But the occasional appearance of a demon-like creature related to a plant is funny and fails to evoke sinister vibes. Magayon, however, still manages to send a clear message about the fragile relationship between a mother and daughter, as well as the long-term effects of child abuse. The literal monster element is wholly unessential, offering nothing sinister or metaphorical, ultimately causing the short’s downfall. (2 out of 5 stars) The post Reviews: Cinemalaya Shorts B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cinemalaya Shorts B
‘GOLDEN BELLS’ Kurt Soberano’s Golden Bells is the only entry with superior technical craft. However, it severely alienates the audience by picking a subject matter that not everyone can relate to. Sure, it carries universal themes of familial relationships, hopes, desires and sacrifice, but Golden Bells fails to connect emotionally. It’s a monotonous story about a Filipino-Chinese family running a garments business, with one of the sons as its central character. It is through the son’s lens that we learn his perspective of the family patriarch. Too bottled up in its own world on a very surface level, it is largely unrelatable and feels more like a commercial ad for a business rather than a piece of cinema. (1 out of 5 stars). ‘TONG ADLAW NGA NAG-SNOW SA PINAS’ Joshua Caesar Medroso’s monochromatic Tong Adlaw nga Nag-snow sa Pinas starts off quite well. Set in a remote and impoverished coastal town, two young boys, Makong and Renren, are playing, pretending that it’s snowing by making fake snowflakes out of styrofoam boxes. The styro-snow looks great in black-and -white and Medroso manages to evoke nostalgic imagery of a post-Internet childhood. But underneath the innocent play lies a violent subtext: child abuse cushioned by a melodramatic portrait of compassion and friendship. The short abruptly ends, and it feels as if Medroso’s other video clips got mistakenly deleted and he has no choice but to finally put the end credits and submit his film. (1 out of 5 stars) [caption id="attachment_170059" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon ko para sa Imo[/caption] ‘ANG KINING BINALAYBAY KAG AMBAHANON KO PARA SA IMO’ Kent John Desamparado’s family drama is heartbreaking and appeals to the special bond between a grandfather and a granddaughter. It follows a poor, ailing fisherman, who, no longer able to take care of his young granddaughter, painfully decides to give her away to other relatives. The filmmaker takes the viewer along on their journey to inevitable doom. Desamparado manages to capture the nuances of a very loving relationship between the grandpa and the little girl. It breaks the heart, and also becomes a light commentary on the realities of poverty. However, it’s still rough around the edges and the finale is too weak. (2.5 out of 5 stars). ‘MAKOKO SA BAYBAY’ This is so forgettable I honestly could not recall the details of the short. I could vaguely recall a very strong sunset color palette, sea monsters and mothers and little kids longing for their mothers. If something like this vanishes from your mind soon after you’ve left the cinema, then you get my point. (0 out of 5 stars). [caption id="attachment_170060" align="aligncenter" width="600"] ‘Maudi Nga Arapaap’[/caption] ‘MAUDI NGA ARAPAAP’ Daniel Magayon’s psychological horror short is funnier than scary, amusing rather than disturbing. It follows a graveyard-shift female nurse with experiences of traumatic child abuse by her mother, who has recently died. The scenes of a child being abused by the very person that should nurture her is heartbreaking. But the occasional appearance of a demon-like creature related to a plant is funny and fails to evoke sinister vibes. Magayon, however, still manages to send a clear message about the fragile relationship between a mother and daughter, as well as the long-term effects of child abuse. The literal monster element is wholly unessential, offering nothing sinister or metaphorical, ultimately causing the short’s downfall. (2 out of 5 stars) The post Cinemalaya Shorts B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why JK Labajo’s Cinemalaya 2023 entry is one big party
The Cinemalaya 2023 entry When This Is All Over is about a group of privileged young adults desperately trying to organize a party at a posh condominium complex they were living in during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, but at the expense of the people working there. Making the movie turned out to be one big party, too. “Hindi mo maramdaman ang trabaho aspect,” lead star Juan Karlos (aka singer-songwriter JK Labajo) said just after the gala screening on 6 August at the Cinema Rizal of the Philippine International Convention Center. “We were just genuinely having fun. We became friends, as you can hear,” he added, referring to the peals of laughter coming from where his costars were happily chatting. “Masaya, masayang experience.” [caption id="attachment_168661" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DIRECTOR Kevin Mayuga | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ANIMA STUDIOS[/caption] JK plays a character invariably referred to as “The Guy” (by his clients in an illegal trade) and “Unit 610” (by the condo staff) who, beneath his cool and carefree demeanor, is actually hurting from his past and longing for his mother’s love. He said he connected with his character “in some sort of ways especially the connection with the mom. I think that’s where I can relate the most.” A month before When This Is All Over premiered at Cinemalaya, director Kevin Mayuga talked about his first full-length film (after working for years on commercials, digital content, music videos and short films) at an event celebrating the seventh anniversary of ANIMA Studios, which served as executive producer of the movie. Mayuga recalled being impressed with JK’s “breakthrough performance” in last year’s Cinemalaya award-winning entry, The Blue Room. He also noted the actor’s name getting consistent mentions during casting for his movie. “What’s funny is he just randomly added me on Facebook before we were casting, so I think it’s kinda serendipitous,” Mayuga said of the actor, who’s also a singer, musician and songwriter. They then started communicating online. “We got along super well.” Even better, “We found out the story of the film matches how his life story was going,” said Mayuga. “As an actor, JK really put a lot of himself in the film… When we say, ‘Action,’ he just snaps straight to the scene. He really brings that energy to the set as an actor. A lot of the energy came from JK. He was just happy to be in the film. When he read the script, he said, ‘Let’s go f**king do this.’ We just went from there.” As for the moviegoers, Mayuga said he wanted them to “have fun, feel very entertained, maybe enlightened and think about the theme of the film,” which is the stark contrast among social classes. He also expressed his excitement at making the cut for the annual film festival’s main competition. “I think Cinemalaya is a chance for filmmakers to find their voice. We’re grateful I got this chance from Cinemalaya. Catch When This Is All Over at Cinemalaya XIX: IlumiNasyon, which runs until 13 August. Screenings are held at the PICC’s Cinemas Rizal, Bonifacio, Felipe and Palma, as well as at select cinemas of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Glorietta, UP Town Center and Trinoma. The post Why JK Labajo’s Cinemalaya 2023 entry is one big party appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Liza, Janine, Iza bring star power to Cinemalaya’s ‘Rookie’ gala screening
Liza Soberano, Janine Gutierrez and Iza Calzado were among the celebrity attendees at the gala screening of "Rookie", an entry in the ongoing Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The event was held on 6 August at Cinema Rizal of the Philippine International Convention Center. "Rookie" is a coming-of-age queer film about high school volleyball players played by lead stars Aya Fernandez and Pat Tingjuy, who are both making their feature film debut. [caption id="attachment_168526" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Janine Gutierrez (Photo by Jo Valle)[/caption] The film is written by Natts Jadaone ("Lucid") and directed by Samantha Lee ("Baka Bukas", "Billie and Emma"), with Dan Villegas of Project 8 Projects and Bianca Balbuena of ANIMA Studios as executive producers. Project 8 Projects is the film production company founded by Villegas with his fellow filmmaker and fiancée Antoinette Jadaone. Soberano, Gutierrez and Calzado gave support to the movie and the people behind it, especially those they’ve worked with. Soberano starred in Jadaone’s 2019 romantic movie "Alone/Together"; Gutierrez in Lee’s 2022 TV miniseries "Sleep With Me"; and Calzado in Villegas’ 2017 horror flick "Ilawod". [caption id="attachment_168527" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Cast and crew of the Cinemalaya 2023 film "Rookie" (Photo by Jo Valle)[/caption] Catch "Rookie" at Cinemalaya XIX: IlumiNasyon, which runs until 13 August at the PICC’s Cinemas Rizal, Bonifacio, Felipe and Palma. The film festival also has screenings at elect cinemas of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Glorietta, UP Town Center and Trinoma. The post Liza, Janine, Iza bring star power to Cinemalaya’s ‘Rookie’ gala screening appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cinemalaya 2023 now open
The 19th edition of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival officially opened tonight, 4 August, at the grand lobby of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. It was followed by a screening of Quark Henares’ award-winning film, "Marupok AF," at Cinema Rizal. "Cinemalaya XIX: ilumiNasyon" runs until 13 August, with Dwein Ruedas Baltazar’s "Third World Romance" as its closing film. Ten full-length films and 10 short films will vie for top honors in their respective categories. Aside from Cinema Rizal, screenings are scheduled at other PICC meeting rooms, such as Cinema Bonifacio, Felipe and Palma. The competing films will also be screened at Ayala Malls Manila Bay’s Cinema 9, Glorietta Mall’s Cinema 3, Trinoma Cinema 1 and UP Town Center Cinema 3. Special events, on the other hand, will be held at PICC’s adjacent venue, Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (also known as CCP Black Box Theatre). The 10 full-length feature film entries are: "Maria" by Sheryl Rose Andes; "When This is All Over" by Kevin Mikhail Mayuga; "Rookie" by Samantha Lee; "Ang Duyan ng Magiting" by Dustin Celestino; "As If It’s True" by John Rogers; "Gitling" by Jopy Arnaldo; "Huling Palabas" by Ryan Espinosa; "Bulawan Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer)" by Kenneth dela Cruz; "Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing)" by Carlo Joseph Papa; and "Tether" by Gian Arre. The 10 short film entries are: "Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon Ko Para Sa Imo" by Kent John Desamparado; "Golden Bells" by Kurt Soberano; "Hinakdal" by Arvin Belarmino; "HM HM MHM" by Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan; "Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019" by Diokko Manuel Dionisio; "Maudi Nga Arapaap (Last Dream)" by Daniel James Magayon; "Makoko sa Baybay" by Mike Cabales; "Sibuyas ni Perfecto (Perfecto’s Onion)" by Januar Yap; "Sota" by Mae Tanagon; and "Tong Adlaw Nga Nag-Snow sa Pinas" by Joshua Caesar Medroso. The post Cinemalaya 2023 now open appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl cinema in the first year of BBM
Here, we look back at the state of the Philippine film industry since he took the seat of power 13 months ago. When President Marcos Jr. became the 17th leader of the nation, the country was on the brink of the “new normal.” The campaign elections even saw multitudes of crowds in the streets, the Filipinos’ political passion overpowering the fear of a Covid-19 infection. Covid-pandemic viewing By May 2022, the month of the presidential campaigns, the Department of Health said the country was at “minimal-risk case classification” with an average of only 159 cases per day. By June 2022, when the President took his oath, 69.4 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated. Along with the country, the Philippine film industry started healing. On the same month, the country went under Covid-19 Alert Level 2, with 50-percent allowed capacity in indoor cinemas. Live film festivals The Marcos administration saw the return of Filipino film festivals in theaters. On Marcos’ fifth month as president, the QCinema International Film Festival, with the theme “in10City,” held hybdrid screenings — in-person and online. The Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2022, six months into the new presidency, went full force in cinemas for the second time during the pandemic. Earlier, in 2020, during the Duterte administration, the festival was held online for the first time, and the following year, in December 2021, after level alert measures in the Philippines were relaxed, the MMFF finally went back to the cinemas. However, only around 300 cinemas (down from the usual 900) were allowed to screen the MMFF entries. Meanwhile, the 18th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival was held from 5 August to 31 October 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in select mall cinemas and online. But what made a mark during the Marcos administration’s first year was the inaugural edition of the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. The SMMFF was held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. Organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, the first MMFF was supposed to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, held from 8 to 18 April 2023 with the theme “Tuloy-tuloy ang Saya,” the summer festival featured eight entries and, like its December counterpart, even held a Parade of Stars. About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana, produced by The IdeaFirst Company, Octobertrain Films and Quantum Films, emerged as the first Best Picture of the summer festival. [caption id="attachment_161372" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana[/caption] The Film Development Council of the Philippines’ sixth edition of its own mini-film festival, held during the Marcos administration’s third month, headed back to cinemas, offering free access to award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheque centers nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao and Nabunturan). CCP closes for renovations On 1 September 2022, CCP president Margarita Moran-Floirendo announced during a hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities, that The Cultural Center of the Philippines — home to the Cinemalaya festival — will close its doors starting January 2023 for renovation and structural retrofitting works, and will reopen in March 2025. This marks the first time that Cinemalaya, on its 19th year, which has the theme “ilumiNasyon,” will be held at various venues inside the adjacent Philippine International Convention Center, from 4 to 13 August 2023. The rise of political films With the country deeply driven by polarized political views, the Marcos administration saw a war between political commercial films. [caption id="attachment_161370" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] ‘MAID in Malacanang’ stars Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga and Ella Cruz. | Photograph courtesy of viva[/caption] On 29 July 2022, Darryl Yap’s period drama Maid in Malacañang, touted as “the most controversial film of the year,” was released to packed cinemas. The movie, about the Marcos family’s last three days in Malacañang Palace before they were forced into exile, premiered at SM North EDSA and was released nationwide on 3 August 2022. Yap, who passionately campaigned for Marcos, became a controversial filmmaker with the release of his Marcos film. Leni Robredo supporters tried to boycott the film, with some Filipino movie critics exposing themselves as heavily political and non-neutral with their reviews, accusing the film of propaganda and historical revisionism. The attempt to quash the movie’s release failed and it became a box-office hit, with producer Viva Films releasing a statement that it earned a whopping P21 million on its opening day and P63 million three days after its release. It was the first time in Philippine cinema history that local theaters nationwide saw a deluge of moviegoers lining up to watch a movie on the big screen, mostly driven by political affiliation. Another unsuccessful political attempt to diminish the film’s release was Vince Tañada’s re-release of his Martial Law film Katips to counter Maid in Malacañang. Tañada’s film eventually won Best Picture at the Famas Awards. MIM actress Ella Cruz’s remark during a press conference, that “history is like tsismis,” further fanned the flames of political debate online. Eight months later, in March 2022, Viva released Yap’s second installment in his Marcos trilogy, Martyr or Murderer, which now focused on Ferdinand Marcos and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. Two anti-Marcos movies rose to combat the film — Joel Lamangan’s Oras de Peligro, released on the same day, and Tañada’s movie adaptation of his musical play Ako Si Ninoy, released one week earlier. Movie buffs, political analysts, film critics, the press and social media influencers dove into feverish commentaries on the three films, and Philippine cinemas were ignited and, for a while, became alive with social discourse. New FDCP head On 21 July 2022, Tirso S. Cruz III officially assumed his position as the head of the country’s national film agency, the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He replaced Liza Diño, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as FDCP chairperson on 12 August 2016. [caption id="attachment_161368" align="aligncenter" width="736"] FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FDCP[/caption] Cruz, a veteran actor, said that the target of the FDCP under the Marcos administration was to support local films, not just in Metro Manila, but also from regional filmmakers. He also professed support for film students and highlighted archiving as part of the FDCP’s agenda, with 42,000 materials in its archives to be salvaged. MTRCB In September 2022, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board released a statement addressing the controversy about its proposal to expand its jurisdiction to online streaming services like Netflix, Vivamax, Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. The MTRCB said it was responding to multitudes of complaints from parents and other concerned groups demanding that the agency regulate movie and TV online platforms to protect children from harmful viewing. The Marcos administration has seen a continuous boom in streamers, which began during the pandemic, with Vivamax becoming one of the leading local streamers due to the popularity of Filipino sexploitation films. On 23 February 2023, MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio expressed her gratitude to Senators Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian for the separate bills they filed that would amend and expand the board’s mandate. “We welcome the move to amend the charter of the MTRCB as it will allow the agency to adequately adapt to changes in technology and the ever-evolving needs of the viewing public and our other stakeholders,” Sotto-Antonio said before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Robinhood C. Padilla. Eddie Garcia Act In January 2023, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 1270, or the proposed Eddie Garcia Act, at the House plenary session. [caption id="attachment_161367" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] HOUSE Bill 1270 has been proposed in honor of the late actor Eddie Garcia. | Photograph courtesy of gma-7[/caption] Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte authored the bill, which aims to provide workers in the movie, television and radio entertainment industry opportunities for well-paid employment and protect them from economic exploitation, abuse and harassment, as well as hazardous working conditions. The bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting the television series Rosang Agimat, produced by GMA Network. According to Villafuerte, productions would go from 16 to 24 continuous work hours per set and would rush productions to save costs. The proposed law mandates that normal work hours of the worker or talent shall be eight hours a day; overtime work should not exceed more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period; and the total number of work hours shall not exceed 60 hours in a week. Paul Soriano Relatively unknown to most Pinoy moviegoers, filmmaker Paul Soriano was put on the limelight as the man behind the President’s advertisements — way back from campaigns since Marcos started out as vice governor, and then, governor of Ilocos Norte, up until his senatorial campaign, and eventually his campaign for the vice presidency and presidency. [caption id="attachment_161371" align="aligncenter" width="781"] PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ig/PAUL SORIANO[/caption] Of course, the opposition in the film industry predictably canceled Soriano, the blood nephew of First Lady Liza Cacho Araneta-Marcos. Dolly de Leon It was also during the BBM era that Filipina actress Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness. [caption id="attachment_161366" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘Triangle of Sadness.’ | Photograph courtesy ofig/dolly de leon[/caption] The 54-year old film, television and theater actress made history by becoming the first Filipino actor to be nominated at the British Academy Film Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Filipino movie fans and critics, having been exposed to global content since the rise of the streamers, plus the proliferation of self-published movie reviews, are generally still disappointed with the output and system of the Philippine film industry, but filled with hope that, with full support from the government, Philippine cinema will finally become truly internationally competitive, sustainable and recognized. The post Phl cinema in the first year of BBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cultural institutions celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride
Esteemed Philippine cultural institutions, Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines, displayed their support to the LGBTQ+ community with lights and flags during LGBTQ+ Pride Month last June. The CCP once again illuminated the façade of its iconic Main Building with rainbow colors, reiterating their support to the LGBTQ+ community, whose many members are part of the culture and the arts sector and have become important figures in shaping and enlivening Philippine culture. Its Production Design and Technical Services Division, under the supervision of Ricardo Eric Gabat Cruz, created the light show with multiple layers of wavy pattern gobos to achieve depth. The special lighting was on from 23 to 30 June, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. [caption id="attachment_153005" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Photograph by Roel Hoang ManiponAt the National Museum of Anthropology.[/caption] Aside from the lighting, CCP also created a program in their outdoor screening project CCP Cinema Under the Stars for LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Shown on 23 June at the CCP Annex Parking were already classic Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, a Cinemalaya festival full-length film entry directed by Auraeus Solito, and Gawad Alternatibo short films Gee-Gee at Waterina, directed by Mariami Tanangco-Domingo, and Pasilong, directed by Toni Cañete. [caption id="attachment_153006" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Photograph courtesy of National MuseumWestern-Southern Mindanao Regional MuseumPride flags at the National Museum Western-Southern Mindanao Regional Museum in Zamboanga City.[/caption] On the other hand, the National Museum of the Philippines embellished their social media accounts with Pride theme and their buildings with Pride flags including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Anthropology and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Its site, area and regional museums all over the country also joined in in the celebration. Some — such as the NM Ilocos Regional Museum Complex in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; the NM Western Visayas Regional Museum in Iloilo City, Iloilo; the NM Bohol Area Museum in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; the NM Eastern-Northern Mindanao Regional Museum in Butuan City; and NM Western-Southern Mindanao Regional Museum at Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City -— hung their own Pride flags. [caption id="attachment_153007" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Photograph by Roel Hoang ManiponThe central atrium of the National Museum Bohol Area Museum is decorated with a large Pride flag.[/caption] “As inscribed in our vision statement, we at the National Museum of the Philippines strive to — among other things — visualize a Filipino nation, unified by a deep sense of PRIDE in their common identity. To all our LGBTQIA+ friends and allies, you are seen, at #KitaKitaSaNMP!,” the NMP stated in their Facebook page. NMP also held a contest for visitors to the Manila complex, encouraging them to wear their colorful outfits on Fridays of the June and awarding prizes for the first 30 joiners. “EveryGAY, the National Museum has been tirelessly making our spaces safe, open and inclusive to all people — not just this Pride Month — but throughout the whole year, too! BI making this great institution accessible for everyone, we are able to revolutionize our museums into a personal, cultural and educational experience that unify the Filipino people and TRANScends the differences in our identities, kaya #TayoTayoSaNMP!,” the NMP further said. Despite these shows of support, the Philippines still lack a national law preventing discrimination and marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community. The post Cultural institutions celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why haven’t we gotten our ‘pangarap na Oscar’?
In Jules Katanyag’s raunchy horror-comedy Ang Pangarap Kong Oskars, from Mavx productions (now showing in cinemas), the eccentric director DMZ (Joross Gamboa) screams, “I want actors, not celebrities!” He and producer friend Bobby B (Paolo Contis) are gunning for the elusive Oscar trophy, or “Oskar,” via their dream movie project. Unable to fund their film, they get someone to produce it — but they have to compromise. The daughter of the producer, who is terrible at acting, has to be in it. They also want a big-budget movie that involves aswangs (special effects would cost gazillions), but they get “lucky” because Bobby B manages to hire actual local aswangs — mananganggal et al. The advanced screening held last 23 June was followed by a mediacon where Contis was in a fight-or-flight mode all throughout, with some press members squeezing into the conversation the controversies surrounding the prolific actor. But it was boring the lights out of me. Not much discussion on the film itself: the creative process, the craft. It’s all personality-based. An ingrown nail is more fascinating to me than Contis’ love life and his Eat Bulaga stint. But this is showbiz, the Internet is a vulture preying on rumors and controversies and a celebrity’s life is converted into views, comments, likes and shares. [caption id="attachment_152144" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] PAOLO Contis’ ‘Eat Bulaga!’ co-hosts Kokoy De Santos, Buboy Villar, Cassy Legaspi, Alexa Miro, Kimpoy de Leon and Mavy Legaspi attended the movie’s premiere last week.[/caption] Big event But at least the Oscars was discussed a bit. Since we started submitting to the Oscars in 1953, why haven’t we even been shortlisted? Katanyag’s directorial debut triggered thoughts in me about the Oscar dream. Sure, a subset of Filipino film professionals and critics spit at the Oscars as if it is the worst thing in the world. Still, no one can deny it’s a big event and it has some pretty great movies on its nominations list. The Oscars is an international media magnet. Imagine a Pinoy filmmaker going up the stage — for the first time in history — to take home the Best International Film award (or Best Director award), catapulting them to global fame and putting our country on the map of quality cinema. At the mediacon, someone asked the two actors about the possibility of an Oscar for the country. “Yes, possible… Naniniwala ako na kailangan ng buong suporta ng buong bansa. Una sa lahat, funding para sa mismong pelikula, magandang-magandang proyekto, at, again, kailangan ng campaign. So kailangan ng budget,” Contis said. “Actually, maganda maisabatas ‘yung support sa industry… Parang katulad sa ibang bansa, suportado talaga ng government. Kaya talaga napo-promote eh. Kasama napo-promote ang country,” said Gamboa. [caption id="attachment_152145" align="aligncenter" width="590"] PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF mavx productions(FROM left) Joross Gamboa, Paolo Contis and Kate Alejandrino in a scene from ‘Ang Pangarap Kong Oskars.’[/caption] Dark side Personally, I believe it is the dark side of the Filipino mentality that hinders us from getting the elusive Oscar. Great stories need no huge budget. Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation cost roughly $800,000. Nomadland, Moonlight and Call Me By Your Name are also some of the small-budget films that took home the Oscars. The “palakasan” system, the politics, corruption and chika play a major contribution. The Filipino crab mentality, deeply embedded in our culture, is also to blame. If it happens in your office or organization, of course it also happens in the film industry. There are plenty of untapped talents — promising filmmakers and creatives who never get an iota of a chance in a dog-eat-dog industry. The big people would rather pick their “tropa” or “bata” even if said people are untalented. Then, there are award-giving bodies driven by political agenda, granting awards to butt-ugly films to fight for their personal cause. Plus, Pinoys are celebrity-obsessed. Filipino moviegoers will watch Pinoy movies only if their idols are in them. Movies with unknown actors? These are snubbed. Most resort to Koreanovelas because they love the content and the storytelling — bonus is the fact that most Pinoys find Koreans attractive. We also lack originality and a real cinematic identity. Mainstream fare is heavily influenced by Hollywood, or we adapt Korean plots. Others even downright copy plots and dialogue from American films. Where are the unique stories? They are mostly found in indie fests, in Cinemalaya, where the best of the best can be found. Politics has also split the Filipino film industry. A movie will be bashed even before its release because it features actors or directors who campaigned for a politician the critics oppose. Then there are budget constraints, forcing productions to shoot in a matter of days, so everything is rushed. The result? Crude high school projects. What also irks me is how the industry almost demands or begs “support” (i.e. buy tickets to local movies). A ticket price, which is P500 average, is equivalent to a minimum-wage earner’s daily salary. We do not part with our money just because you said so. Show me an impressive trailer first. Jaded audience The Filipino audience is now jaded given the same old crappy local content — especially after being exposed to content worldwide through affordable streaming subscriptions. Where do you think Pinoys would spend their hard-earned cash if they desperately need entertainment? On a locally produced theatrical release that has a plot that they have seen a thousand times? Or a subscription to a streamer with more content to choose from? They can also get the cheapest: internet data for unlimited short-form entertainment in TikTok and social media. Also, this industry hates honest criticism. They feel that negative reviews are personal attacks on filmmakers. This mindset is not progressive at all. I believe in the talent of the Filipino creative. It’s just that if this toxic culture continues and the obsession with personalities versus the art of cinema continues, we will be left behind in the film arena. This is no longer just about winning the Oscars, or at least getting nominated. This is about acknowledging our dirt and learning to triumph over self-interest, politics and envy for the sake of Philippine cinema. But I guess, that’s a dream that is never going to happen soon. It’s already in our DNA. The post Why haven’t we gotten our ‘pangarap na Oscar’? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cinemalaya winner ‘Blue Room’ to screen exclusively in Cinema ’76 this June
Indie rock movie Blue Room gets its first theatrical run since its big win at the 18th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival starting 7 June only at Cinema ’76 Film Society. Blue Room tells the story of a progressive rock band of privileged teenagers who get arrested for drug possession and are brought into the “Blue Room” where they must make the difficult choice between freedom or standing up for what they believe in. The film bagged multiple awards at last year’s Cinemalaya, including Special Jury Prize, Best Direction for Ma-An Asuncion-Dagñalan, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza, Best Supporting Actor for Soliman Cruz and Best Production Design for Marxie Maolen Fadul. Blue Room also participated at the 74th Locarno Film Festival as a Pro-Online Delegate (as Producer). It was also a post-production grantee of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts in 2021 as well as the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ CreatePHFilms Small Budget Production Fund recipient. The film stars actor-musician Juan Karlos as the band’s lead vocalist, Harvey Bautista, Nourijune, Keoni Jin and Elijah Canlas. Also in the film are Soliman Cruz, Bombi Plata, Jericho Arceo, Bon Lentejas and Richard Cepeda. Distributed by TBA Studios, Blue Room opens at Cinema ’76 Film Society Tomas Morato on 7 June. A talkback session with the director and cast will be held for one of the screenings on that day. The post Cinemalaya winner ‘Blue Room’ to screen exclusively in Cinema ’76 this June appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Liway, Respeto win awards at 2022 FACINE Film Festival
Cinemalaya films "Liway" and "Respeto" were honored with gold recognitions at the 2022 Filipino Arts & Cinema International Film Festival in San Francisco, United States......»»
FDCP Chair Liza, ipinagmalaki ang CineIskool finalists!
MANILA, Philippines – Through Film Development Council (FDCP) ay in-announce na gaganapin ang public screening ng The CineIskool short film finalists sa Gateway Cinema 1 and will be shown as a set with three screening schedules. One at 2:00 PM on its premiere ngayong June 22, 2022 at 5:30 PM on June 23, 2022 and […] The post FDCP Chair Liza, ipinagmalaki ang CineIskool finalists! appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Vice, Vic, Coco pahinga muna sa filmfest; Nora, Jinggoy, Sylvia, Vhong, Iza bakbakan sa MMFF 2020
DAHIL sa COVID-19 pandemic, walang entry sina Vice Ganda, Coco Martin at Vic Sotto sa Metro Manila Film Festival 2020. Unang nagpahayag ang Star Cinema at Viva Films na hindi na nila maisasali ang pelikulang “Praybeyt Benjamin 3” ni Vice dahil mahihirapan silang mag-shooting sa “new normal”. Sumunod namang in-announce na hindi na rin makakasali […] The post Vice, Vic, Coco pahinga muna sa filmfest; Nora, Jinggoy, Sylvia, Vhong, Iza bakbakan sa MMFF 2020 appeared first on Bandera......»»
Direk Laurice sees MMFF post chance to serve mainstream & indie cinema
Laurice Guillen has made a career feat of serving Cinemalaya, an independent film festival, and Metro Manila Film Festival, a mainstream filmfest, with her latest appointment as a member of the latter’s Executive Committee......»»
‘Praybeyt Benjamin 3’ ni Vice sa MMFF 2020 hindi na pwede sa bata
PASOK na bilang isa sa mga official entry ng 2020 Metro Manila Film Festival sa December ang pelikula ni Vice Ganda. Kasama sa in-announce ng MMFF Executive Committee ang “Praybeyt Benjamin 3” ni Vice produced by Viva Films and Star Cinema sa first Magic 4 ng taunang filmfest. Taun-taon ang inaabangan talaga ng fans […] The post ‘Praybeyt Benjamin 3’ ni Vice sa MMFF 2020 hindi na pwede sa bata appeared first on Bandera......»»
Lola Amour bassist Raymond King nibiya sa banda human sa 8 ka tuig
Raymond King, bahista sa indie-rock band Lola Amour, nipahibalo sa iyang pagbiya sa grupo. Niingon siya nga mopursue siya og “long-term plans” apan sa makasubo nga ang banda way labot niini. Si King nibutyag niini sa usa ka statement nga gibuhian niya pinaagi sa Lola Amour nga Facebook page sa Miyerkules, Marso 27. “Hey! This.....»»
PODCAST | Departure, return: The region as liminal space in 3 Filipino films
Minda Salida #13: Departure, return: The region as liminal space in 3 Filipino films The term regional cinema was coined, or became a wave in the landscape of Philippine cinema, with the inception of the Cinema Rehiyon, an annual exhibition and gathering of regional cinemas and filmmakers all over the Philippines, led by the National […].....»»
PM s Prizes for Space to showcase sector s talent
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand's growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister's Prizes for Space today."New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am excited to announce these prizes which will help foster talent, which plays an important role in.....»»
NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand's ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. "I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union of our ratification of the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (NZ-EUFTA)......»»