CINEFILIPINO has always been a gateway for brilliant filmmakers
CINEFILIPINO has always been a gateway for brilliant filmmakers.
It has launched the careers of acclaimed directors like Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Kita Kita, Lorna) and Randolph Longjas (Buy Now, Die Later, Star na si Van Damme Stallone) who made their debuts in “Ang Huling Chacha ni Anita” and “Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin” in 2013 respectively.
Madonna Tarrayo, CineFilipino Festival director is quite optimistic that with their present crop of filmmakers they will produce new award-winning directors that would define new trends in cinema.
Now on its third edition, from out of almost 150 entries submitted, CineFilipino Film Festival has announced eight original and innovative Filipino feature length films that have made it to the magic eight.
“Every year, the entries just get more and more engaging to the Filipino viewer,” says Head of Competition Director Jose Javier Reyes.
“Kuwento ang hari rito. And the story should always be increasingly appealing to its audiences, very original and Filipino. It is also very heartening to note that most of the 8 feature films that made it to the list are products of newcomers,” Reyes adds.
CineFilipino Film Festival also proudly announced its partnership with Cignal Entertainment, Cignal TV’s brand of original content catering to Filipinos’ evolving and upgrading tastes.
This is welcome news to every filmmaker as per Unitel Productions CEO and Festival Director, Madonna Tarrayo.
“Cignal is a distribution platform. There are many opportunities for people to watch all the movies we will select- maraming avenues, that is very important for any filmmaker,” Tarrayo expounds.
She adds “Knowing that there is a ready avenue for their films to be shown will certainly be inspiring. Organized and led by Unitel and partnered with the MVP Group including Cignal Entertainment, the CineFilipino Film Festival is how we truly celebrate Filipino films and their creators.”
Jane Jimenez Basas, president of Cignal Entertainment, says that providing the avenues for Filipino filmmakers to showcase their artistry is very much in keeping with the vision of Cignal.
“We are in the business of providing premium content for our viewers’ discriminating tastes. Conversely, we also want to be the venue for more filmmakers to show their groundbreaking masterpieces. Cignal Entertainment and CineFilipino feature films are very much in sync in that pursuit,” Basas says.
Guido Zaballero, Cignal Marketing Head stressed that Cignal Entertainment is also focusing on edgier themes to cater to a growing clamor from a large chunk of its audiences.
“We provide seed money to these daring filmmakers because their content is pushing the envelope of what our audiences appreciate. It is an investment that has returns for the film industry and the Filipino audience,” says Zaballero.
The eight full-length feature films (with their loglines) that comprise CineFilipino Film Festival 2017 are:
1.) Therese Cayaba’s “Delia and Sammy”- An ill tempered old actress, Delia, has to find family to leave her equally difficult husband before she dies, forcing themselves back into the lives of the people they’ve hurt, estranged and antagonized.
2.) Rod Marmol’s “Mata Tapang”- An absolutist soldier who lost an eye in battles opens a new “eye’ that makes him see his fallen brothers and accomplish their life missions.
3.) Alec Figuracion’s ”The Eternity Between Seconds” –A depressive self-help author and an anxious Filipina nurse cross paths in Incheon airport where, together, they attempt to elude time.
4.) Ron Battalones’ “Excuse Me Po”- A retired bit player swindles to realize her dream of make-believe.
5.) Roni Benaid’s “Poon”- Claudia, a religious church servant, experiences horrible things after she bought a religious image, she believes is miraculous.
6.) Bor Ocampo’s “Hitboy”- A 13, Hitboy Alex is a full-time kid who plays a game of survival as a part-time gun-for-hire.
7.) Dwein Baltazar’s “Kahit Man Lamang Kung Maaari”- Four men cross paths in search for one woman in the urban jungle.
8.) Ronald Allan Habon’s “Mga Mister ni Rosario”- Bea is the perfect stage wife to her method actor husband, until he gets the role of a lifetime and threatens to kill her character.
The festival will be held in March 2018.
CineFilipino is also in process of accepting entries for the Short Film and Digital Content categories until September 30, 2017.
