Cinemalaya 6: Bigger and better!

The 6th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is bigger and better. There are now 24 films entered in the competition as compared to 20 films last year.

Some of the best filmmakers out there have entries in the competition. Award-winning veteran directors Mario O'Hara, Mark Meily, and Joey Agbayani lead the pack of old guards. Meanwhile, tyro directors Francis Xavier Pasion, Sheron Dayoc, and Jerrold Tarog infuse the festival with their refreshing filmmaking styles and mesmerizing stories.

There's a lot of bad news-good news combos this year.
1) Arnel Mardoquio's Sheika withdrew from the New Breed Full-Length competition. It will be shown though and is in competition for the NETPAC award.
2) There are no film screenings scheduled at Silangan Hall. The good news is there is a whole day of screenings added to the festival. Yep! There will be screenings on Monday, July 12.
3) SineDirek didn't materialize this year. The good news is Cinemalaya created the similar Directors' Showcase. New films from O'Hara and Meily? Wonderful!
4) There will be a special screening of Raymond Red's Himpapawid during the festival. However, Erik Matti's The Arrival is also scheduled on the same timeslot. What film to watch then? There will be lots of times when a moviegoer will be confronted with the issue of what film to watch during the festival. That's great news for cinephiles.

Cinemalaya 2010 promises to be the best edition yet. Among my recommendations in the exhibition category are:

AMBISYON 2010 by Various Directors
17 July / Sat 09:00 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)
- Two of the shorts are also included in the New Breed Short Feature competition
- Catch the films of Brillante Mendoza, Jerrold Tarog, and Jon Red

ANDONG, ANGAN-ANGAN, DIAMANTE SA LANGIT, ROLYO & GABON
18 July / Sun 10:00 AM Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
- Andong is a rollicking story of a boy obsessed with television shows

BOSES by Ellen Ongkeko Marfil (from 12 up)
10 July / Sat 10:00 AM Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
- An abused boy learns about the different parts of a violin and more

DINIG SANA KITA by Mike Sandejas (for ages 12 up)
18 July / Sun 10:00 AM Tanghalang Huseng Batute
- A deaf-mute guy reaches out to a troubled female rocker

EMIR by Chito Rono
16 July / Fri 06:15 PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
EMIR by Chito Rono
17 July / Sat 10:00 AM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
- One of the best films so far this year

ENGKWENTRO by Pepe Diokno (Cinemalaya)
17 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)
- A young man tries to get out of his drug-infested and violence-ridden place

KUNDIMAN NG LAHI by Lamberto Avellana (1959)
17 July / Sat 03:30 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)
- My favorite film of National Artist Lamberto Avellana

RED SHOES by Raul Jarolan
10 July / Sat 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)
- The screening is some sort of a homecoming for the should-have-been-a-Cinemalaya-finalist

SANGLAAN by Milo Sogueco (Cinemalaya)
12 July / Mon 06:15 PM Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theatre)
- A beautiful film about relationships and mementoes

*** Complete screening schedule ***