Cinemalaya, the week-and-a-half-long film festival celebrating Filipino filmmaking, returns with the theme "ilumiNasyon," promising to create a captivating cinematic experience, featuring a diverse lineup of thought-provoking films. Cinemalaya XIX is its second onsite festival since the pandemic, with a range of screenings at PICC Cinemas, the CCP Black Box Theater, and several Ayala Malls cinemas from Aug. 4 to 13.
The annually-held film festival features three Benildean students and one Benildean faculty member in the main competition, with other 12 Benildean-made films featured throughout the festival’s various programs. Screenings officially started on August 5, 2023.
Main Competition
In the short film category of the festival’s main competition, four Benildean filmmakers, namely: Diokko Manuel Dionisio, Sam Villa-Real, Kim Timan, and Mike Cabarles, produced short films occupying three out of the 10 finalist slots. The titles along with their loglines are:
Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas by Diokko Manuel Dionisio
“Two trans best friends tear through their town in search of the person who stole half of the cash prize they won in a miss gay competition.”
HM HM MHM by Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan
“A young woman returns to her childhood home where she rediscovers her makeshift dollhouse. Her touch breathes life back into the dolls, coming alive as they replay an all-too-familiar story.”
Makoko Sa Baybay by Mike Cabarles
“Noor and his younger brother go to the beach in hopes of finding the sea creature who killed their mother.”
The other films competing in the short film category are: Ang Kining Binalaybay kag Ambahanon ko para sa imo by Kent John Desamparado, Golden Bells by Kurt Soberano, Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino, Maudi Nga Arapaap (Last Dream) by Daniel James Magayon, 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.
Each of the finalists were awarded ₱100,000 for making it to the final stage of the competition, with the winning film set to receive another ₱150,000, along with the Balanghai Trophy.
In the feature-length category, Benildean film professor Dustin Celestino premiered his film, Ang Duyan ng Magiting, described as “A collection of interwoven stories about life and violence in the Philippines, following a college professor, a university chancellor, a social worker, a police chief, two students, two mothers, and a lawyer.”
Benilde Film graduand Gian Arre also premiered Tether, with the logline: "After having a one-night stand, an arrogant playboy and a timid young woman discover that any kind of pain they inflict on themselves can be felt simultaneously by the other person."
The other films competing in the feature-length category are: As If It’s True by John Rogers, Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer) by Kenneth De La Cruz, Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo, Huling Palabas by Ryan Espinosa Machado, Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing) by Carl Joseph Papa, Maria by Sheryl Rose Andes, Rookie by Samantha Lee, and When This is All Over by Kevin Mayuga. Each director in the feature-length category received a ₱2-million seed grant to fund their film—the biggest so far in the history of Cinemalaya. The winning film is set to receive an extra ₱350,000, along with the Balanghai Trophy.
Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas, HM HM MHM, Makoko Sa Baybay, Ang Duyan ng Magiting, and Tether were formally introduced by their respective filmmakers during their Gala Nights on Aug. 5, 6, and 7, 2023.
Cinemalaya: Next Gen
"Next Gen" is an exhibition films section featuring "a collection of short films by next generation filmmakers tackling discourses on memory, tradition, and possible futures.” The section features Benilde alumni Andre Joachim “Aki” Red and Lester Cristal for their films Ikaw at Aking Daigdig and #bagets, respectively, and along with Benilde Film student Vahn Leinard Pascual’s Mary Go Round, Mary Go Round. All three films were screened exclusively in PICC on Aug. 5 and 6, 2023.
Gawad Alternatibo
The Gawad CCP Para Sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, better known as “Gawad Alternatibo,” is Asia’s longest-running independent film competition. This year’s 35th edition will screen alongside Cinemalaya at the CCP Black Box Theater, with admission to the screenings being free of charge. A total of nine Benildean films made it into the competition this year, namely:
Short Feature
Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig by Vahn Leinard Pascual
Sa Mga Mata ng Bata by Cyril Chauncy Cruz
Arena by Nicole Yvonne Lee
Diak Kayat Magna Maisa (I Don't Want to Walk Alone) by Mike Cabarles
Experimental
Tears are Water Too by Giancarlo P. Barredo
Documentary
Elehiya Para sa Mga Memorya (An Elegy for the Memories) by Ryan Miguel Capili
The Secret Band of Thebes by Benildean alumnus Grant "Augustine" Franzuela
Animation
Dati by Arlo Jhan Bayot
Bakit Di Natutulog si Kael? by Eira Krizette Camara
Atin 'to by Benilde faculty Member Ms. Rianne Hill Soriano
Ticket Prices
Regular Price per screening: ₱300
Student Price per screening: ₱200
There are 20% discounts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, government and military personnel, athletes, and Cinemalaya 19 Full-length and Shorts competition filmmakers. Discounted tickets are only available at physical ticket booths.
There is also a Cinemalaya 19 Festival pass (₱2,880), which grants the holder admission to all films-in-competition at the PICC Cinemas, equivalent to 12 tickets (10 full-length and two sets of five short films). Festival pass holders also have benefits, which include, reserved seating, priority entry, discounts for merchandise, and complimentary access to various events and activities in the festival.
Cinemalaya’s daily screening schedule can be found here, while Gawad Alternatibo’s schedule can be found here.
For more information and updates, check out the Cinemalaya website, along with their Facebook page.
