Cinemalaya 19 Opens Door For Animated And Documentary Feature Films

 The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival returns this year to celebrate a fresh lineup of movies produced by talented Filipino filmmakers, including full-length animated and documentary features, which enter the competition for the first time in the history of the organization.

In its 19th season, Cinemalaya welcomes “Iti Mapupukaw,” its first animated feature film entry from software engineer, writer and director Carl Joseph Papa. It follows the story of a young, mouthless man and his introspections upon the arrival of a familiar alien.

The film used a rotoscope animation technique and stars Carlo Aquino in the lead role with award-winning actress Dolly de Leon and Gio Gahol. It is produced by independent film production companies Project 8 Corner San Joaquin Projects, Purin Pictures and Terminal 6, according to IMDb.

“Maria” from filmmaker She Andes, meanwhile, becomes the first full-length documentary feature. It chronicles former president Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs that left thousands of families grieving from the perspectives of three women – a supporter-turned-victim; a wife, mother and human rights advocate; and a woman, who became a beacon of hope – all named “Maria.”

Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. president Laurice Guillen said the addition of animated and documentary films has been a long time coming for the 19-year-old festival, which will run from Aug. 4 to 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. 

“Matagal na naming na-realize na (We have realized that) documentaries are very important and our featured documentaries ay parang pelikula na ‘yan (are like those movies), so we waited for good submission,” she said.

Cinemalaya competition chairman Jose “Joey” Javier Reyes said that they are open to more new film genres as the search for new, independent voices in Philippine cinema continues. “We are opening the doors to the various kinds of films for competition in the years to come,” he said.

Also selected as finalists for the 2023 Cinemalaya full-length feature film category are the following:

• ”Ang Duyan ng Magiting” (The Cradle of the Brave) by Dustin Celestino

• “As If It’s True” by John Rogers

• “Bulawan nga Usa” (Golden Deer) by Kenneth dela Cruz

• “Gitling” by Jopy Arnaldo

• “Huling Palabas” (Fin) by Ryan Espinosa Machado

• “Rookie” by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone

• “Tether” by Gian Arre

• “When This Is All Over” by Kevin Mayuga

“What is even more encouraging and enriching about this is that a great number of these filmmakers do not only come from what they call Imperial Manila, but rather all the regions of our country. And this is an invigorating fact which should show the direction of where cinema is going,” Reyes noted.

 Cinemalaya also announced the 10 entries that made the cut for its short film category out of 150 submissions:

• “Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon Ko Para Sa Imo” (These Rhymes and Rhythms Meant For You) by Kent John Desamparado

• “Golden Bells” by Kurt Soberano,

• “Hinakdal” (Condemned) by Arvin Belarmino

• “Hm Hm Mhm” by Sam Villa-Real and Kim Timan

• “Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019” by Diokko Manuel Dionisio

• “Makoko Sa Baybay” (I Am Going to the Beach) by Mike Cabarles

• “Maudi nga Arapaap” (Last Dream) by Daniel Magayon,

• “Sibuyas ni Perfecto” (Perfecto’s Onion) by Januar Yap

• “Sota” (Horse Caretaker) by Mae Tanago

• “Tong Adlaw nga Nag-snow sa Pinas” (The Day It Snowed in the Philippines) by Joshua Caesar Medroso.

The annual Cinemalaya film festival will be held at the PICC this time around as its original home, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), undergoes renovations. “We are all excited to be in a new location… (But) we still feel at home here,” CCP president Margie Moran-Floirendo said.

For its 10-day run, the Cinemalaya films will be screened at three meeting rooms: Cinema Rizal (Meeting Room 1), Cinema Bonifacio (Meeting Room 2 and 3), and Cinema Felipe (Meeting Room 4). Fringe events and talkbacks will be held at Cinema Palma (Meeting Room 5).

The exhibitions and filmmakers’ profiles will be on display at the Executive Lounge. Cinemalaya will also be shown in selected theaters across Metro Manila.

For more information about the festival schedule and ticket price, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org).

You may also follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya Facebook pages and other social media accounts in Twitter, TikTok and Instagram for further updates.