One of the most anticipated events in local cinema is the annual Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, which highlights productions by independent and upcoming filmmakers,
It is held from Aug. 3 to 14 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Malls Cinemas.
Finalists for this year’s full-length film category include the entries of Iar Lionel Arondaing, an AB Multimedia Arts student, and Thop Nazareno, an AB Multimedia Arts alumnus, both from the Film Program of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
Arondaing’s Sa Gabing Nanahimik Ang Mga “‹Kuliglig questions the priestly vow of secrecy when a woman admits during confession that she killed her friend in a fit of marital jealousy. Both are haunted by their conscience as they come to the terms with crime.
Written and directed by Arondaing, it stars Ruby Moreno, Alex Medina, Karl Medina, and Ronwaldo Martin.
Nazareno’s Kiko Boksingero is a coming-of-age tale of an 11-year-old boy, who idolizes Manny Pacquiao and wants to grow up as a boxer. In the course of the film the boy unravels his identity as he attempts to overcome his mother’s death.
Kiko Boksingero stars child actor Noel Comia Jr. with Yul Servo and Yayo Aguila. Nazareno directed it from Denise O’Hara and Ash Malanum’s screenplay.
Apart from screenings, the event also hosts other film-related activities, such as the Cinemalaya Film Congress, a two-day conference that looks at all aspects of independent filmmaking and distribution, and the Cinemalaya Sine Taktakan, a forum with the year’s new batch of filmmakers, among others.
To date, the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival has supported and promoted the production of 127 full feature independent films and 106 short films. Through the annual festival, it has showcased over 1,000 works by independent filmmakers including full feature films, Filipino film classics, art films, documentaries, and shorts.
Since its inception in 2005, many of the movies that debuted in the affair have won accolades for the country both in local and international competitions and festivals.
For more information about Cinemalaya, visit www.cinemalaya.org, www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and its Facebook page, or call CCP Media Arts Office at 832-1125 local 1704 to 1705 and CCP Box Office at 832-3704.
