"1st Ko si 3rd," an official entry to the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival

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First, Second, Third. . . Ms. Nova Villa "takes a chance with the one that got away" in the movie "1st Ko si 3rd, an official entry to the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival.

Cory, the lead character, is played by veteran comedienne Ms. Nova Villa.  Cory is in her 60's, as she takes a leap to reignite an old flame in a story that would give an interestingly different look at love in 1st Ko si 3rd, an official entry to the 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival.

The movie is about that "what if" of the heart and giving it a second chance.  Ms. Nova Villa who once again is partnering with her on-screen duo, Mr. Freddie Webb. The latter is playing Cory's love interest, Third.

For the first time in years the duo brings back to life their chemistry in cinemas by reliving their love team. This time however the comic antics are tamed to a level of serious but light depiction of sensible situations.

1st Ko si 3rd is written and directed by Real Florido and will be showing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Cinemas on August 1 to 10, 2014.

Instant Mommy

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“Instant Mommy”, written and directed by Leo Abaya is a movie with mix of drama and comedy with a huge range of emotions - happiness, excitement, anxiety, sacifice, lost, sad, grief, fury. This is a long distance love story with dreams, fairy tale and reality. 

Instant Mommy follows the story of Bechayda, a two-months-pregnant wardrobe assistant for TV commercial production. There’s a rich Japanese bachelor excited to have a child to be the heir of his family. In the fear of losing her Japanese lover and her dreams of a better life, Bechayda embarks on a plan that will get herself out of her predicament. 

Pruduced by Kris Aquino, "Instant Mommy" with main cast Eugene Domingo, Yuki Matsuzaki, Luis Alandy, Rico J. Puno, Shamaine Buencamino, Tuesday Vargas, Nicco Manalo, (cameo appearances of) Angel Aquino, Madeleine Nicolas, Suzette Ranillo, Nico Antonio

"Instant Mommy" is showing now (August 28)  in theaters nationwide. 

This was also an Official Entry to the 9th Cinemalaya Film Festival, New Breed Category

Written and directed by Leo Abaya

Story-concept by Chris Martinez and Jeffrey Jeturian

Producers - Josabeth Alonso, Kris Aquino, Chris Martinez, John Victor Tence, Leo Abaya

Cinematography - Nor Domingo, Dexter de la Peña and Jan Tristan Pandy

Editing - Glenn Ituriaga

Sound - Michael Idioma

Music - Teresa Barrozo

Supervising Producer - Alemberg Ang

Ten finalists for the Short Film Category for the 2013 Cinemalaya Competition

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The Cinemalaya Foundation has announced the finalists for the Short Film Category for the 2013 Cinemalaya Competition.

The ten finalists in the Short Film Category are:

Bakaw by Ron Segismundo

Katapusang Labok by Aiess Athina E. Alonso

Missing by Zig Madamba Dulay

Onang by Jann Eric S. Tiglao

Para kay Ama by Relyn A. Tan

Pukpok by Joaquin Adrian M. Pantaleon

Sa Wakas by Ma. Veronica Santiago

Taya by Philip Adrian Bontayam

The Houseband’s Wife by Paulo P. O’Hara

Tutob by Kissza Mari V. Campano

Bakaw is a day in the life of a child who steals at the Navotas fishport.

Katapusang Labok depicts the struggles of fishermen who must deal with environmental abuse and the effects of coral harvesting on their livelihood.

Missing tackles the subject of forced disappearances.

Onang is the classic tale of a young probinsyana who seeks her fortune in the big city.

Para kay Ama is about a young Chinese-Filipino girl who discovers she has a half-brother when she meets him on the last day of her father’s wake.

Pukpok is one adolescent’s transition to manhood as he hurdles a case characterized by excessive blood, superstition and a man with failing eyesight.

Sa Wakas is a reflection on the bond of a father and daughter tested by cultural, political and religious hypocrisy.

Taya is about a 12-year-old boy who learns to play the game of life with a new set of friends. The film highlights how traditional Filipino games reflect the realities and disparities of our society.

The Houseband’s Wife is an essay about a typical OFW family, with the OFW wife as breadwinner and the husband left in the Philippines to care for the children.  Technology and the internet bridges the physical distance but shatters domestic harmony when the wife, on a Skype video call, sees a bra, not hers, hanging in the marital closet.

Tutob begins when recent bombings in the region put authorities on alert. A mysterious, strange-looking native Maranao man dressed up in Muslim attire shows up.  He is tasked to fetch a package from his boss’ contact.  From a rural area in the mountains, he rides his motorcycle to the city to get the package.  On his way back, he is stopped at an army checkpoint.  Speaking Maranao, he says he doesn’t know what’s in the package, but the Visayan-speaking soldiers don’t understand him and insist on opening it.

The short feature category finalists were selected by the Cinemalaya Selection Committee comprised of Emilio Abello, VI, Lawrence Fajardo, Nic Deocampo, Mike Sandejas and Teddy Co.

The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition seeks to discover, encourage, and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. The works are narrative features that articulate Filipino identity and culture in digital format. The competition is held in three categories, the New Breed Full Length Feature, Short Feature and the Directors Showcase.

Cinemalaya 2013 will be held on July 26 – August 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Cinemas at TriNoma, Greenbelt 3, and Alabang Town Center. It is a project of the of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Econolink Investments, Inc. (EEI).

Cinemalaya also features the Short Feature competition category as well as film exhibitions, seminars, conference, the Cinemalaya Film Congress, and other film-related events.

For more information, please visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and the CCP facebook page.

BWAKAW (Cinemalaya 2012 Official Entry)

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Family comes in all shapes and sizes.

"BWAKAW" is the film that enthrall with its emotional truth, high humor and sage assessment of the human condition. Employing frequent outrageous humor, director Jun Robles Lana elegantly captures the quality of everyday life in this backwater while crafting a superior character study of a man who has allowed most of life to pass him by until an emotional jolt emboldens him to go where he's never dared venture before.

A drama-comedy about growing old  and everyone's fear of growing old alone is among the entries in this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival. 

This is a story of Rene (Eddie Garcia) who thinks it is now too late for love, even companionship, and that all there is to look forward to is death. The movie shows evolves the characters driven into circumstances because of his love for Bwakaw, who stays with him and follows him wherever he goes. "Bwakaw" is Filipino slang for greed. 

I was privileged to have watched the Red Carpet Premiere of  2012 Cinemalaya's Best Actor (Eddie Garcia), Audience Choice Award and NETPAC Award, Bwakaw by APT Entertainment. Written and directed by Palanca Literary  Awards Hall of Famer Jun Lana and starring Eddie Garcia as Rene, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Gardo Versoza, Soxie Topacio, Alan Paule, Luz Valdez, Rez Cortez, Beverly Salviejo, Jonathan Neri, May-I Fabros, Soliman Cruz, Roni Bertubin, and Joey Paras. And introducing Princess as Bwakaw . 

Thanks to Flow Galindez  for this memorable movie. Bwakaw is one film I will never forget . While watching this drama-comedy movie,  I remember my dog named "Chance" who always stayed with me everywhere I go around our house. He was my bestfriend and protector. Sadly he got sick and died due to a heat stroke 14 years ago.

“Bwakaw,” Jun Lana’s Cinemalaya entry to its Director’s Showcase category.

BWAKAW theater listing starting tomorrow, September 5:

METRO MANILA:

SM MANILA 

SM STA MESA 

SM FAIRVIEW 

SM NORTH EDSA 

TRINOMA 

GATEWAY 

ROBINSON'S GALLERIA 

SM MEGAMALL 

FESTIVAL MALL

METROPOLIS

GLORIETTA 

POWERPLANT 

SM BACOOR 

SM MALL OF ASIA 

STA LUCIA 

ROBINSON'S Ermita 

ROBINSON'S Metroeast 

SM Marikina 

PROVINCIAL:

SM DASMARINAS 

SM BALIWAG 

SM MARILAO 

SM LIPA 

SM ROSARIO 

WALTERMART

WALTERMART

MEGA

NE PACIFIC

SM TARLAC 

METRO TOWN

WALTERMART

LIANAS

CSI LUCAO

WALTERMART

BQ 

GAISANO

GAISANO

EMALL

CINEFLEX

CSI LA UNION

GAISANO 

KCC GENSAN 

SM GENSAN 

MINDPRO

ROBINSON'S Dasmarinas

ROBINSON'S Imus

ROBINSON'S Pampanga

8th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Awards 2012

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The winners of the 2012 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival were announced July 29, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Mes de Guzman‘s “Diablo” and Lawrence Fajardo‘s “Posas” won Best Film in the New Breed and Director’s Showcase categories, respectively

In the  Director's Showcase category, a prize called Best Ensemble given to the lead actresses of Mga Mumunting Lihim -  Judy Ann Santos, Iza Calzado, Agot Isidro, and Janice de Belen.

Here is the complete list of winners for the 8th edition of Cinemalaya:

Director's Showcase:

Audience Choice - Bwakaw

Best Screenplay - Mga Mumunting Lihim

Best Sound - Kalayaan

Best Original Musical Score - Kamera Obskura

Best Editing - Mga Mumunting Lihim

Best Production Design - Kalayaan

Best Cinematography - Kalayaan

Best Supporting Actor - Art Acuña (Posas)

Best Ensemble - Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro, Iza Calzado, Janice de Belen (Mga Mumunting Lihim)

Best Actor - Eddie Garcia (Bwakaw)

Special Jury Prize - Kamera Obskura

NETPAC Awardee - Bwakaw

Best Director - Raymond Red (Kamera Obskura)

Best Film - Posas

New Breed:

Audience Choice - Ang Nawawala

Best Screenplay - Requieme

Best Sound - Aparisyon

Best Original Musical Score - Ang Nawawala

Best Editing - The Animals

Best Production Design - Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino

Best Cinematography - Diablo

Best Supporting Actor - Joross Gamboa (Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino)

Best Supporting Actress - Anita Linda (Sta. Nina)

Best Actor - Kristoffer King (Oros)

Best Actress - Ama Quiambao (Diablo)

Special Jury Prize - Requieme

NETPAC Awardee - Diablo

Best Director - Mes De Guzman (Diablo)

Best Film - Diablo

Short Features:

Audience Choice - Ruweda

Best Screenplay - Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong

Special Jury Prize - Manenaya

Best Director - Sheron Dayoc (As He Sleeps)

Best Short Film - Victor

The awards night marks the end of the 10-day film festival that showcased 25 films: 10 films competing at the New Breed category, 10 short films and five Director's Showcase category entries.

The ten films that competed in the New Breed full length feature category:

Aparisyon by Vincent Sandoval

Ang Katiwala by Aloy Adlawan

Ang Nawawala by Marietta "Marie" Jamora

Mga Dayo by Julius Sotomayor Cena

Diablo by Mes de Guzman

Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino by Lemuel Lorca

Oros by Paul Sta. Ana

REquieme! by Loy Arcenas

Santa Niña by Emmanuel Quindo Palo

The Animals by Gino  Santos

Five films in the Director's Showcase:

Bwakaw by Jun Robles Lana

Kalayaan (Wildlife) by Adolfo Alix Jr.

Mga Mumunting Lihim (Those Little Secrets) by Jose Javier Reyes

Posas (Shackled) by Lawrence Fajardo

Kamera Obskura by Raymond Red.

The short films selected this year were:

Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

As He Sleeps by Sheron Dayoc

Balintuna by Emmanuel Escalona Jr.

Bohe Sons of the Waves by Nadjoua Bansil

Manenaya by Richard Legaspi

Pasahero by Mario Celada

Ruweda by Hannah Espia

Sarong Aldaw by Marianito Dio Jr.

Ulian (Senility) by Chuck Gutierrez

Victor by Jarell Serencio.

"Mga Mumunting Lihim" (Those Little Secrets)

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"Mga Mumunting Lihim" (Those Little Secrets) is the first independent film written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes. 

Reyes emphasizes that this film is about friendship created by friends.

Mga Mumunting Lihim is precisely about those seemingly trivial and insignificant events and issues that constitute  the totality of friendship, It is about the life shared through the years of four women and how, in one moment, they finally realized that they truly do not know one another despite the experiences they have shared and cherished , and even defined as friendship.

MARIEL (Judy Ann Santos)  and CARLA ( Iza Calzado) have been best friends since high school. They have shared the years and common interest - they are both creative individuals interested in writing. But the unfolding of years have opted two extremely different courses of the women: Mariel chose to give up her career as a magazine writer to be a wife and mother - while Carla, shunned marriage to become a successful advertising executive.

Into their lives came two other women: there was SANDRA (Agot Isidro) who married a man old enough to be her father so that she can afford the lifestyle that she wanted. And , OLIVE ( Janice de Belen) who was happy with her domestic bliss and married an OFW in Dubai.

The women bonded and treasured their camaraderie until fate struck its blow and bevy had to confront their mortality.

Worse than that, when one of the women exposes the truth about the real feelings and thoughts of the friends about each other, what they perceived as the security of each other's friendship turned out to be the true test of their dignity and honesty.

It is those little secrets that, when added together, constitute the most painful and irreparable damage from seemingly unimportant lies.

Some behind the scenes photos: 

Cast:   Iza Calzado, Agot Isidro, Janice de Belen and Judy Ann Santos 

Production:  Produced by Largavista Entertainment Incorporated.  

Director/Writer: Jose Javier Reyes

Executive Producer : Charyl Chan-De Guzman

Photography : Rodolfo Aves Jr. 

Design-Jay Custodio

Sound : Albert Michael Idioma and Addis Tabong

Music : Jesse Lucas

Editor: Vanessa de Leon.

FILMMAKER’S PROFILE  Jose Javier Reyes is among the finest writers and directors for film and television in the Philippines. He is a multi-awarded director, screenwriter, playwright, essayist and a highly respected educator.   His notable works as writer and director include the films “Katas ng Saudi” (Saudi Juice), “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo”, “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo”,  “I want to be Happy”, “Kutob”, “Spirit of the Glass”, “Malikmata”, “Anghel sa Lupa”, ”Kung Ako Na Lang Sana”, “Minsan May Puso”, “Live Show”, “Batang PX”, “Luksong Tinik”, “Nang Iniwan Mo Ako”, “Pare Ko”, “May Minamahal”, “Makati Avenue Office Girls”, “Hindi Kita Malilimutan”, “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin”, “Iisa Pa Lamang” and “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal?”  He has won recognition from important and major film festivals and institutions such as the Metro Manila Film Festival, Star Awards Film Festival, Young Critics Circle Awards, URIAN Awards, Gawad Tanglaw Awards, FAMAS Awards, Asia Pacific Film Festival. He was awarded Best Screenplay for his work in Oro, Plata, Mata by the Asia Pacific Film Festival in 1982 and the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines in 1981.  He won a Palanca award for his play “Lamat” (Crack) in 1983.   His film Live Show (Toro) which he wrote and directed as the official selection for the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival and twelve other international film festivals from 2000-2001.

SCREENING VENUES and SCHEDULE

July 21/12:45PM – Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

July 21/6:30PM – Greenbelt 3

July 22/11:00AM – Trinoma

July 22 /3:30PM – Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

July 23/3:30PM – Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

July 23/9:00PM – Greenbelt 5

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film festival in the Philippines held annually in the month of July at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film competition and festival that aims to encourage the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers – works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.

Other related article : Secrets Among Friends : Mga Mumunting Lihim and the "Unspoken"