15th Cinemalaya reaches more cinemas nationwide
The 15th Cinemalaya Film Festival gets bigger and better as it opens in more theaters nationwide.
Aside from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and select Metro Manila theaters, the most anticipated film festival of independent films will now screen in cinemas outside of Luzon.
Festival goers from Visayas and Mindanao can also have the chance to catch screenings of competing films at Ayala Malls Legazpi, Capitol Central Bacolod, Abreeza Davao, Vista Cinemas Pampanga, Vista Cinemas Naga, and Vista Cinemas Iloilo.
For its full-length feature category, there’s an interesting mix of stories from drama, crime thriller to romance and sci-fi adventure.
Familiar names are also in this year’s line up. Iza Calzado stars in Sheryl Rose Andes’ “Pandanggo sa Hukay,” Mylene Dizon topbills Joji V. Alonzo’s “Belle Douleur,” and Sunshine Cruz and Raymond Bagatsing share stellar honors in “Malamaya.” Xian Lim also makes his directorial debut with the crime-thriller, “Tabon.”
Aside from the full-length entries, ten short films will also be showcased during the Festival. See the complete lineup of festival entries below.
Full Length Film Category:
Kim Zuniga and Sandro del Rosario’s ANI (The Harvest)
When his grandfather falls ill, an orphaned boy and his malfunctioning robot embark on a quest to look for magical grains that he believes will save the old man’s life.
Cast: Ricky Davao, Zyren Dela Cruz, Miguel Valdes, Anna Luna, Marc Felix, Rolando Inocencio, Raphael Robes, Chryssta Cordoves, JM Canlas, Kenken Nuyad, Michael Angelo Justo, Sebastian Karl Steinbichler, Shane Patrick Carrera, Victor Medina
Joji Alonso’s BELLE DOULEUR (A Beautiful Pain)
Elizabeth, a self-made woman in her late 40s, is bent on living on her own for the rest of her days. After her mother passes from years of suffering from a lingering illness, she meets Jon, a man 20 years her junior, who convinces her that love knows no age and that there are no limits to life’s starts. They embark on a May-December affair that is very promising, until Liz realizes that Jon has dreams that she cannot be part of.
Cast: Mylene Dizon and Kit Thompson, with Marlon Rivera, Jenny Jamora, Sherry Lara, Hannah Ledesma
Maricel Cariaga’s ANNAK TI KARAYAN (Children Of The River)
A young boy and his three friends are trying to live a normal life, battling their own demons and taking care of their respective families while their fathers are away. Until one day, the phone call that they look forward to everyday, finally never came.
Cast; Noel Comia, Jr., Junyka M. Santarin, Dave Justine Francis, Ricky Oriarte,Rich Asuncion, Juancho Trivino, JR Custodio, and with the special participation of Jay Manalo.
Thop Nazareno’s EDWARD
A public hospital serves as a witness to a young boy’s rite of passage when he is stuck to take care of his ailing father. Caught in a place where life itself is in limbo, the boy treats the hospital grounds as his playground, not knowing that it will be his source of liberation in the end.
Cast:Louise Abuel, Dido de la Paz, Elijah Canlas, Manuel Chua, and Ella Cruz
Eduardo Roy, Jr’s. FUCCBOIS
Ace (23) and Miko (17) desperately want to become famous actors but it seems the Universe has a different plan for their lives.
CAST: Royce Cabrera, Kokoy De Santos, and Ricky Davao
Theodore Boborol’s ISKA
A photocopy machine lady by day and a loving grandmother by night of an autistic child loses everything and turns into someone society reckons her to be.
CAST: Ruby Ruiz, Soliman Cruz, Angie Castrence, and introducing Pryle Gura. Also starring Ana Abad Santos, Jade Lopez, Ricky Rivero, Elora Españo, Jonic Magno, Jomari Angeles, Cherry Malvar, Sunshine Teodoro, Divine Aucina with the special participation of Beauty Gonzales and RK Bagatsing
Arden Rod Condez’ JOHN DENVER TRENDING
A Grade 8 student’s life is suddenly threatened and upended when a video of him brutally attacking his classmate went viral.
Cast: Jansen Magpusao, Meryll Soriano, Glenn Mas, Sammy Rubido, Vince Philip Alegre, Jofranz Ambubuyog, Christian Alarcon, Zandro Leo Canlog, Andy Yuarata, Ricky Perez, Renato Sagot, Enrique Sanchez, Bert Briones, Elmer Yuarata, Eldin Labris, Sunshine Teodoro, Luz Venus, Estela Patino, Joerlyn Samulde, Akia Buenaflor, Shan Estoya, Jinalyn Tandoy
Danica Sta. Lucia and Leilani
Chavez’ MALAMAYA (THE COLOR OF ASH)
A pessimistic uninspired middle-aged artist finds spark with a millennial photographer who leads her on a path of creative and sexual reawakening.
Cast: Sunshine Cruz and Enzo Pineda
Sheryl Rose Andes’ PANDANGGO SA HUKAY
A small-town midwife’s preparation for a job interview is disrupted by a series of unfortunate turn of events.
Cast: Iza Calzado, Mercedes Cabral, Charlie Dizon, Diva Montelaba, Ybes Bagadiong, Star Orjaliza, Acey Aguilar, Sarah Pagcaliwagan-Brakensiek
Xian Lim’s TABON
A man’s belief in reality is tested when suspects are accused of a crime they believe to not have committed.
Cast: Christopher Roxas, Leon Miguel, Benjie Felipe, Lao Rodriguez, with Ynna Asistio, Menggie Cobarrubias, Dexter Doria, Richard Manabat, Bapbap Reyes
Cinemalaya 2019 Short Films
‘WAG MO ‘KONG KAUSAPIN (PLEASE STOP TALKING)
Josef DielleGacutan
An elderly man tries to repair his relationship with his estranged son, but a mysterious black figure gets in the way.
DISCONNECTION NOTICE
Glenn Lowell Averia
Away from his home in the province, Paul shuffles between the responsibilities of being the eldest sibling in their apartment and reconnecting with his youngest brother Carl who now lives with him.
GATILYO (TRIGGER)
Harold Lance Pialda
The lone survivor of an ambush is being haunted by the war he survived.
HEIST SCHOOL
Julius Renomeron, Jr.
A ragtag group of students try to steal from the faculty room as they save both their grades and friendship
HELE NG MAHARLIKA (LULLABY OF THE FREE)
Norvin de los Santos
In the midst of an ongoing siege, a reluctant child combatant finds a safe place to pray where he meets a newly orphaned, infidel boy who seeks refuge in the unknown.
KONTROLADO NI GIRLY ANG BUHAY N’YA (GIRLY IS IN CONTROL OF HIS LIFE)
Gilb Baldoza
Gay teenager Girly looks for a job in a world he is unaware of.
SA AMONG AGWAT (IN BETWEEN SPACES)
Don Senoc
Jun is a farmer who lives near a pineapple field with his mother Dita and his brother Mako. His aunt from Manila who can’t bear a child offers to adopt Mako with a promise to give him a good life. Jun and Mako face their impending separation and think of ways they can spend every minute together.
SA GABING TANGING LIWANAG AY PANINIWALA (BELIEF AS THE LIGHT IN DARKNESS)
Francis Amir Guillermo
The continuous disappearance of townsmen ignited the town captain to search the woods in order to find out who is behind the disappearances and where are the people being brought to. Upon his search, the town captain and his son came across a mysterious answer.
TEMBONG (CONNECTING)
Shaira Advincula
In a culture where designs are dreamt about and to be woven only by women, a T’boli man is challenged to face a cultural norm as the abaca goddess shows him a pattern to weave in his dreams.
THE SHOEMAKER
Sheron Dayoc
Set in Marikina, the shoe capital of the Philippines, an aging lady shoemaker gets a visit from her first love who abandoned her for three decades.
Cinemalaya 15 runs from August 2-13, 2019 in Metro Manila theatres and August 7-13 in regional cinemas.
