Philippine Showbiz Today
July 22 - August 7, 2016
11
Cinemalaya 2016:
9 entries, what to watch
The full-length films category has been
reinstated with a lineup of nine films
As the Cinemalaya Philippine
Independent Film Festival celebrates its
12th year, it also expands its horizons.
This year, the festival goes beyond Metro
Manila to include screening venues in
Laguna and Cebu.
Cinemalaya is slated to open on
August 5 to 14 at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP), as well as in Ayala
Cinemas in Makati City; Trinoma and UP
Town Center, Quezon City; and Nuvali,
Sta Rosa, Laguna. Meanwhile, the film
festival will also run in Ayala Center Cebu
from August 9 to 14.
Aside from 10 short film entries, the
full-length films category is reinstated
in this year’s festival, which is themed
“Break the Surface.” Here, 9 films vie for
the trophies:
Ang
Bagong
Pamilya
Ni
Ponching
by Inna Miren Salazar and Dos
Ocampo
Synopsis: A religious man who
does petty crimes, Ponching, gets
into a new venture, text scamming,
thinking it will not really hurt anyone.
One day, his seemingly “innocent” text
scam accidentally cons a recipient into
thinking he is the bastard child of their
late relative.
Cast: Janus Del Prado, Ketchup
Eusebio, Odette Khan, Lollie Mara, Jojo
Alejar, Joyce Burton-Titular, Jackie Lou
Blanco, Alibreza Libre, Phynne Barnett,
Richard Manabat, Mimi Juareza, Sam
Thurman, Ria Garcia, Joanna Bago,
Manuel Velasco, Ricky Sanchez
Dagsin
by Atom Magadia
Synopsis: After surviving the
Death March, Martial Law and the loss
of his legs, Justino became an atheist.
But when his wife dies, a part of him is
yearning to believe in life beyond death;
just for a chance to be with her again.
Searching for parts of her he can still
hold on to, he devours her diaries for
information into their past – opening a
Pandora’s Box of secrets.
Cast: Tommy Abuel, Lotlot De
Leon, Benjamin Alves, Janine Gutierrez,
Alex Diaz, Sue Prado, Marita Zobel,
Rolando Inocencio, Yoshihiko Hara,
Arpee Bautista
Hiblang Abo
by Ralston Jover
Synopsis: Hiblang Abo speaks
volumes of muted memories and infinite
struggles among four men in their twilight
years, confined in a hospice facility or
home for the aged. Their gray hair grows
and fades unnoticed, their lives enter
the void of oblivion. Everything unfolds
so naturally into their swan song until
their body pains and heartaches yield
the same intensity, when their hearing
and their feelings become perman ently
impaired; and when their blurry vision
and memories become “clear” signs that
the inevitable state of death is as fleeting
as the vibrancy of life itself.
Cast: Lou Veloso, Jun Urbano, Leo
Rialp, Nanding Josef, Matt Daclan, Lui
Manansala, Flor Salanga, Cherry Malvar,
Angela Cortez, Mike Liwag, Rommel
Luna, Rener Concepcion, Anna Luna
I America
by Ivan Andrew Payawal
Synopsis: I America is a dramedy
about a complex half-Pinay, half-
Caucasian lady looking for American
living in Olongapo City (Philippines) who
tries to get her passport and US visa in
order to meet her father personally for
the first time.
Cast: Bela Padilla, Rob Rownd, Matt
Evans, Thou Reyes, Sheena Ramos, Joe
Vargas, Raflesia Bravo, Julz Savard, Lui
Manansala, Ms. Elizabeth Oropesa, Kate
Bautista, Rhyzza Kafilas
Kusina
by David Corpuz and Cenon
Palomares
Synopsis: Kusina (The Kitchen)
is the silent witness to the life and love
of Juanita. It is her sanctuary, the place
where she creates dishes for her family,
her friends, even enemies and strangers.
Through cooking, she gets to know the
people around her, and in return, reveal
herself to them.
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Gloria
Sevilla, Joem Bascon, Luis Alandy, Elora
Españo, Mike Liwag, Bong Cabrera,
Karen Gaerlan, Jane Biton, Isha Salic,
Trina Legaspi, Lala Padilla, Czarina Yecla,
Princess Ortiz
Lando at Bugoy
by Vic Acedillo, Jr.
Synopsis: Disrespected by his
teenage son, a 40-year-old high school
dropout tries to solve this problem by
returning to school which only makes
his son hate him even more. Amidst the
struggle between them, an unexpected
event changes everything.
Cast: Allen Dizon, Gold Azeron,
Roger Gonzales, Rachel Anne Ang
Rosello, Maricar Semitara, Carlos
Penaloza, Benjie Criss Estrella, Reynald
Mangao, Camilo Apugan
Mercury Is Mine
by Jason Paul Laxamana
Synopsis: Carmen, a middle-aged
cook, is about to close down her eatery
at the foot of Mt. Arayat when a white
American teenage boy named Mercury
approaches her and begs for work in
exchange of nothing but shelter.
Cast: Pokwang, Bret Jackson,
Vincent De Jesus, Lee O’Brian, Maey
Bautista, Bea Vega, Mitzi Ong, Leo
Sarmiento, Justine Dizon, Waka
Hasegawa, Uzziel Delamide, Kristof
Garcia
Pamilya Ordinaryo
by Eduardo Roy, Jr.
Synopsis: Jane and Aries are
teenage parents. They make a living out
of stealing on the streets... until fate hits
back at them
Cast: Ronwaldo Martin, Hasmine
Killip, Maria Isabel Lopez, Sue Prado,
Ruby Ruiz, Moira Lang, Karl Medina,
Erlinda Villalobos, Domingo Cobarrubias,
Paolo Rodriguez, John Bon Andrew
Lentejas, John Vincent Servilla, Rian
Magtaan, Myla Monido, Alora Sasam,
Ruth Alferez
Tuos
by Derick Cabrido
Synopsis: A woman chosen to
keep an age-old tradition alive must now
choose between her granddaughter’s life
and a belief that shackled her in solitary
confinement.
Cast: Nora Aunor, Barbie Forteza,
Flor Salanga, Ron Martin, Elora Españo,
Ronnie Martinez, Al Bernard Garcia,
Elora Españo, Casimira Cabilitasan
There are other films to enjoy aside
from those in the main competition at
Cinemalaya.•
- cinemalaya.org