March 3 to 7, 2008
At The Alliance Française
138, Charoen Prathet Road - Chiang Mai
2 Sessions every day: 5:00 p.m. and 8 p.m.
(30 Baht per person per session contribution towards the cost of room hire and advertising.)
All the films are subtitled in English. One short and one full length film per session.
Shorts are approximately 20 minutes in length - Full-length films are about 90 to 120 minutes.
All films will be introduced by Edward Delos Santos Cabagnot,
CCP Media Arts Director, Cinemalaya Festival Programmer and API Asian Cinema Researcher.
Schedule of Screenings
Monday, March 3rd 2008
Theme: New Pinoy [Filipino] Cinema
5:00 pm Session
Short film: MANSYON by Joel Ruiz (Cinemalaya 2005)
A middle-aged couple, Ambo and Dolores, are hired as caretakers of a large, opulent house for the duration of three months. The couple has fallen into a psychic rut, mechanically doing their housework. Until one day, Dolores finds a red perfume bottle...
Full-length film: BATAD: SA PAANG PALAY (Batad: At the Mountain's Edge) by Benjie Garcia & Vic Acedillo Jr. (2006)
Set in the picturesque Banawe highlands, a young dropout helps his family by selling vegetables in a local market. The only thing he yearns for is a pair of rubber sneakers. But destiny has other plans for him.
8:00 pm Session
Short film: KULTADO (Boiling Point) by Lawrence Fajardo (Best short Film, Cinemalaya 2005)
Life in a wet market in the provinces spells danger. A young vegetable vendor and his family are oppressed by the market thugs. But things always have a breaking point.
Full-length film: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) by Auraeus Solito & Michiko Yamamoto (2005) (Cinemalaya 2005)
An international film festival favourite - about a delicate young boy who falls in love with a handsome cop. Winner, 2006 Berlinale Kinder Festival.
Maxi (Nathan Lopez) is a 12-year-old effeminate gay boy who lives in the slums with his father and brothers who are petty thieves. The story primarily revolves around the conflict between his love for handsome young police officer Victor (J. R. Valentin), and his family's illegal livelihood. Neorealist in orientation, the film is a tale of lost innocence and redemption amidst the poverty of Manila's slums.
Maxi behaves like a girl, wearing clips in his hair and bangles on his wrists. He is teased by neighbors and former school friends. His sexuality is, however, fully accepted by his two brothers and by his father. One night he is accosted by two men who attempt to molest him, but his is saved by the appearance of Victor. Maxi develops on the young and handsome cop. But the latter's honesty soon gets him into trouble with Maxi's family.
The film was the official entry of the Philippines to the Academy Awards in March 2007. It holds the distinction of being one of the very few digital films released in 2005 to do well at the tills. Currently, it is still making the rounds of international film festivals.
Directed by Auraeus Solito. Writing credits : Michiko Yamamoto and Raymund Lee (through Cinemalaya Phililippine Independent Film Festival 2005 grant). Cast: Nathan Lopez, Soliman Cruz, J.R. Valentin, Ping Medina, Bodjie Pascua, Neil Ryan Sese and Pepe Smith. Produced by Raymond Lee. Line producer: Michiko Yamamoto. Original Music by Pepe Smith & Mike Villegas. Cinematography by Nap Jamir. Film Editing by Clarence Sison. Production Design by Clint Catalan Christina Dy Lily Esquillon. Camera and Electrical Department - Armin Collado, gaffer; Nor Domingo, gaffer; Pao Orendain, gaffer. Costume and Wardrobe Department: Jhek Cogama, stylist.
Awards - Asian First Film Festival: 2005 Swarovski Trophy - Best Film, Auraeus Solito. Berlin International Film Festival: 2006 Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk - Grand Prix Best Feature Film, Auraeus Solito; Glass Bear - Special Mention; Best Feature Film, Auraeus Solito; Teddy Best Feature Film, Auraeus Solito . Cinekid: 2006 Cinekid Film Award - Honorable Mention, Auraeus Solito. Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival: 2005 Balanghai Award; Best Production Design, Lily Esquillon; Special Citation, Nathan Lopez; Special Jury Prize, Auraeus Solito. Gawad Urian Awards: 2006 Gawad Urian Award, Best Cinematography (Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya), Nap Jamir; Best Editing (Pinakamahusay na Editing), Clarence Sison & Auraeus Solito; Best Picture (Pinakamahusay na Pelikula); and Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula), Michiko Yamamoto. Golden Screen Awards, Philippines: 2006 Golden Screen Award; Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama, Musical or Comedy), Soliman Cruz. Independent Spirit Awards: 2007 Nominated Independent Spirit Award; Best Foreign Film, Auraeus Solito Philippines. Las Palmas Film Festival: 2006 Audience Award, Auraeus Solito ; Best Actor, Nathan Lopez (Tied with Israel Gómez Romero for Leyenda del tiempo, La (2006)); Golden Lady Harimaguada, Auraeus Solito. Montréal World Film Festival: 2005 Montréal First Film Prize, Aureaus Solito. Rotterdam International Film Festival: 2006 Netpac Award, Auraeus Solito. Sundance Film Festival: 2006 Nominated Grand Jury Prize World Cinema – Dramatic, Auraeus Solito. Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival: 2006 Best Feature Film, Auraeus Solito.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008
Theme: The Filipino & Nature
5:00 pm Session
Short film: ROLYO (Film Roll) by Alvin Yapan (Cinemalaya 2007)
A farming family supports themselves in between harvests by catching birds and selling them each Sunday outside a provincial church.
Full-length film: BIYAYA NG LUPA (Blessings of the Land) - directed by Manuel Silos, produced in 1959. (Film Classic 1959)
This film represents one the great works of the "classic age" of Philippine art cinema (the late fifties and early sixties). About the struggles of a simple farming family the film presents traditional Filipino social and cultural values at their best.
"Biyaya ng Lupa" (Blessings of the Land), begins with young married couple Maria (Rosa Rosal) and Jose (Tony Santos Sr.) overseeing a lanzones orchard with their children Miguel (Leroy Salvador), Arturo (Carlos Padilla Jr), Angelita (Marita Zobel), and Lito (Danilo Jurado). The eldest, Miguel, is a deaf-mute. Just about everything is smooth in their lives and joy is never absent in their household. But when feared and tough widower Bruno (Joseph de Cordova) slowly slithers into their lives, their once peaceful life turns upside down. Little did the family of Maria and Jose, such tribulation will pave a new energy for their family to move on with life.
Produced and released theatrically by LVN in 1959, Biyaya ng Lupa became the well-deserved winner of FAMAS Best Picture 1960, Best Story and screenplay, Best Supporting Actor. Decades later, this work was honored the 1979 Natatanging Gawad Urian for Manuel Silos, and the FAP Lifetime Achievement 1985. It gained international fame for its nomination for the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1960 and at the Asian Film Festival also in 1960 held in Tokyo where the late Leroy Salvador won the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Directed by Manuel Silos. Writing credits: Celso Al Carunungan, story and screenplay; Pablo Naval, screenplay; Pablo Naval, story . Cast (in credits order) - Rosa Rosal, Leroy Salvador, Tony Santos Sr, Carmencita Abad, Carlos Padilla Jr, Marita Zobel, Joseph De Cordova, Danilo Jurado and Mila Ocampo. Original Music by Juan Silos Jr.
8:00 pm Session
Short film: GABON (Cloud) by Emmanuel Dela Cruz
The mystifying tale of a Muslim lass who is determined to attend her classes... no matter what. (Cinemalaya 2007)
Full-length film: ANG DAAN PATUNGONG KALIMUGTONG (The Road to Kalimugtong) by Mes Guzman (2006)
A simple yet stunning cinematic feat: two children in a remote mountain barrio must trek to school two hours each day. Cinemalaya 2006 & 2007 Exhibition Film (Award-Winning Film, 2006)
Two Igorot siblings living with their invalid grandfather and jobless brothers traverse the mountain fastness in order to get to school everyday. They brave rough terrain, deep forests, roaring rivers and precarious hanging bridge to be able to make it to school and learn the day’s lessons.
For Jinky and Potpot, life in Benguet is simply a trek to and from school. Every day, together with other children, they have to cross mountains, rivers and hanging bridges to get to their destination. They survive thanks to the work of their elder brothers, Manong Ramil and Manong Ronaldo, who inherited the task of looking after their siblings and grandfather on their parents' death. Both work for a mining company, leaving the younger brothers in their grandfather's care. But the elder brothers haven't been back for months. The neighbors think they may have been buried in a mine landslide. While waiting for news, the kids and their grandfather try to subsist on the herbs growing in their backyard. Meanwhile, they continue to pray for their brothers' safety and their own salvation.
Sampay Bakod Productions, 89 mins. Screenplay - Mes De Guzman. Photography (colour) - Albert Banzon. Editing - Mes De Guzman, Arasaw Kurabokov. Music - Bernard “Nio” Manzano. Sound - Bob Macabenta. Cast - Analyn Bang Si-Il, Rhenuel Ordono, Hallen Sumingwa, Jay Bassing. Production - Ramon De Guzman.
Year of production – 2005. Running time 87’. Format DV.
About the Director: Mes De Guzman is an independent film director and scriptwriter living in the Philippines. He has won four Don Carlos Palanca Awards for his scripts and the 2004 NCCA Grand Prize for his first novel Rancho Dyanggo. He made three films, all of them were screened at international festivals, the 35mm short film Batang Trapo (2001) was awarded at the festival in Marrakech and won the Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema at the Cine Manila International Film Festival. The Road to Kalimugtong got the Special Mention in San Sebastian, 11 nominations at Gawad Urian, winning the prize for Best Director and Best Production Design, and won the 2nd Prize for Best Picture in Manila.
Wednesday, March 5th 2008
Theme: Love, Death & Memory
5:00 pm Session
Short film: NINEBALL by Enrico Aragon (Special Jury Prize, Cinemalaya 2007)
Cited for “its hilarious and satiric take on the national pastime, billiards, and its engaging characterization.”
Full-length film: DONSOL by Adolf Alix (2006) (Cinemalaya 2006)
Love blossoms in a small fishing town —Donsol— that is also the sanctuary to the endangered butanding (whale sharks). Daniel, a young tourist guide, meets the beautiful yet melancholy Teresa from Manila. Beautiful spots and landscapes ot the smal coastal town of Donsol, Sorsogon.
8:00 pm Session
Short film: DOBLE VISTA (Double Vision) by Nix Lanas, Nisha Alicer & Caren Crisologo (Cinemalaya 2007)
A witty and visually exciting tribute to Godard and the Nouvelle Vague centering on a lovelorn writer and his mystery lady.
Full-length film: TULAD NG DATI (Same As Before) by Michael Sandejas (2006) (Cinemalaya 2006)
A tribute to the legendary 80’s Pinoy rock band, The Dawn, and played by the band members themselves. Jet Pangan, the band vocalist is hit on the head by a burglar... and finds himself losing his memory and retracing the memories of his past.
Thursday, March 6th 2008
Theme: Living in the City (1)
5:00 pm Session
Short film: BABAE (Woman) by Sigrid Bernardo (Cinemalaya 2005)
Two disparate (and desperate) girls are brought together by fate. As they grow up in the slums of Manila, they find solace in each other’s company. And this develops into something much deeper.
Full-length film: INSIANG - directed by national artist Lino Brocka, produced in 1976. (Film Classic, 1976)
"The first Filipino film to show at the Cannes Film Festival is set in the slums of Manila. A beautiful girl gets taken advantage of by her mother's lover, and then learns how to exact revenge." This is a favourite Brocka work and exemplifies what he is best known for - eliciting great performances from his actors (Hilda Koronel, Mona Lisa and Ruel Vernal), tight dramatic plot-lines, social realism.
8:00 pm Session
Full-length film: MANILA BY NIGHT - directed by Ishmael Bernal, produced in 1981.
This film essays the dark side of life in Imelda Marcos' city of the "true, the good and the beautiful". During its time it was known as the film which made Imelda furious and was heavily censored for its public release. This is the integral version of the Cultural Center of the Philippines!
"Manila By Night is director Ishmael Bernal's and possibly Philippine Cinema's best work. Recognized locally and abroad, it probes the city's depravity and exposes its strangeness through a string of characters played by the most competent actors of its time.
Lorna Tolentino, Alma Moreno, Gina Alajar, Rio Locsin, Cherie Gil, Mitch Valdez, Charito Solis, Orestes Ojeda, William Martinez and Bernardo Bernardo play an ensemble of desperate characters trapped between the city's lure of a better life and its dark and ghastly ways of providing for its residents. The impoverished women pin their hopes on the city and the men lure them into prostitution, drugs and crime.
Ironically, while they seem to ruin one another's lives, they also become each other's best chances for hope and survival. The drug-pushing lesbian played by Cherie Gil finds solace in the blind sauna bath employee played by Rio Locsin who in turn is led across the dismal streets of Manila by the gay couturier played by Bernardo Bernardo.
Manila by Night is a keen look into the social problems affecting Manila's underworld. With its controversial bold visual imagery, it is a brilliant reflection of the reality that the Filipino has yet to confront." (From: kabayancentral.com)
Friday, March 7th 2008
Theme: Living in the City (2)
5:00 pm Session
Short film: PUTOT (Small Fry) by Jeck Cogama (Cinemalaya 2006)
A young boy cares for his mentally challenged father in a slum area that is about to be demolished. While trying to make a living selling shellfish, he meets Mayang, a girl slightly older than him. Soon he finds himself enamoured with the lass.
Full-length film: KUBRADOR (The Bet Collector) by Jeffrey Jeturian (Cinemalaya 2006 Opening Film) (Award-Winning Film, 2006)
The movie chronicles three days in the life of Amelita, a kubrador (bookie) for the illegal numbers game jueteng. She continues to collect bets from her regular patrons every day despite a government crackdown on the game. One day, she is apprehended by the police. She joins other kubradors in the police station until their protector bails them out.
The following morning, Amelita returns to the streets and continues her illegal activities. She meets the parish priest, who informs her of a young neighbor's sudden accidental death. He asks her to collect donations from neighbors and friends. Then, a series of events turns her mundane existence into a perplexing game of life, luck and death.
Director: Jeffrey Jeturian. Screenplay: Joel Jover. Cinematography: Roberto Yniguez. Editing: Jay Halili. Music: Jerrold Tarog. Production Design: Leo Abaya. Production: Joji Alonso / MLR Film. Cast: Gina Pareño, Soliman Cruz, Nanding Josef, Johnny Manahan, Domingo Landicho, Jhong Del Rosario, Nico Antonio and Fonz Deza. 98 minutes.
Awards (Main) - Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2006 Opening Film (World Premiere). Cinemanila International Film Festival: LINO BROCKA AWARD (Grand Prize). Moscow International Film Festival 2006: FIPRESCI (International Critic's Award). Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema: FIPRESCI (International Critic's Award) Best Actress for Gina Pareño; Best Film. 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival: Nominee - Best ASEAN film. Cinema Evaluation Board - Rated A.
