The annual Cinemanila International Film Festival celebrated its 11th year last Oct. 15 to 25, 2009 at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 10 days of films, master classes, seminars, parties, and even reunions for many filmmakers, artists, and cinephiles… It has considerably become a part of their daily routine throughout the duration of the festival.
“Moving Forward with Moving Images.” Young as it is and still facing a number of challenges and tough times, Cinemanila is best known for the good films it shares to the Filipino audience every festival season – a mix of both local and international picks from the freshest and most promising to the well-renowned and critically-acclaimed.
Around 100 international and local films were screened – from the current toasts of the local independent scene to the award winners and favorites at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Rotterdam, Sundance, and Pusan.
Apart from being known for its good programming of top films from all over the world, another good part of Cinemanila is that it tries to expand itself as much as it could – which then makes itself reaching out to more people. From the outdoor screenings to the 1st Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival to the Sine Barangay project, these are valuable ways to expose more people, especially those who don’t usually get to watch art-house films, to such cinema experiences.
The parts still needing improvements mostly fall under the major concern of festival budget and funding. Market! Market! and Bonifacio High Street were definitely wonderful places to situate the festival in. However, there was just one major concern for the general audience – they were not very accessible to local public transport especially to those students and working cinephiles who would have to brace rush hour traffic with mostly expensive taxi rides in order to catch their film picks at the festival. And yet, on the brighter side, it’s truly interesting to note that the local government of Taguig has welcomed Cinemanila in their progressive city this year. Personally, I felt the kind of support the Taguig government provided for the festival. In fact, if not for the transportation issue that a number of people were not able to attend due to inaccessibility of direct public transport as MRT, LRT, jeepneys, and buses from major points/work places/schools, things were then developing rather smoothly for the festival. Perhaps, this could be one major concern that festival and the city government should attend to next time – maybe by utilizing The Fort buses with effective dissemination of pick-up points to the people intending to go the festival from work places and schools, and also maybe having additional cinemas and/or outdoor screenings near these places through the help of both private institutions and other local government units. It’s about making Cinemanila a part of the subculture of the Pinoys during this time of the year – with it being customary for them to see such great films from all over the world through the festival. And we can definitely do it if we work together and support one another to make our very own Cinemanila International Film Festival a part of our valuable events to look forward to every year.
As we acknowledge all these growth and learnings, with such a young but promising international film festival by the Filipinos, we should be proud of all these efforts. Every year, we get to see these esteemed films and acknowledge the filmmakers behind them, and we also meet such inspirational people from the industry both in the local and international scenes. Kudos to Cinemanila, the filmmakers, and the Cinemanila audience!
Highlighting the 11th Cinemanila are films including:
Opening Film – Lola by Brillante Mendoza (Philippines)
Closing Film – Himpapawid (Manila Skies) by Raymond Red (Philippines)
International Competition
Jury Members – Brillante Mendoza, chair (Philippines); and Eric Sasono (Indonesia)
Cheng Du, I Love You by Fruit Chan (China)
Hunger by Steve McQueen (UK)
Independencia by Raya Martin (Philippines)
Mammoth by Lukas Moodysson (Sweden)
Machan by Uberto Pasolini, (Italy/Sri Lanka)
Milk of Sorrow by Claudia Llossa (Peru)
Pandora’s Box by Yesim Ustaoglu (Turkey/France/Germany/Belgium)
Ricky by Francois Ozon (France)
Samson and Delilah by Warwick Thornton (Australia)
Tony Manero by Pablo Larrain (Chile/Brazil)
Tulpan by Sergey Dvortsevoy (Kazakhstan)
Digital Lokal (Philippines)
Jury Members – Sonja Heinen, chair (Germany); In-Seong Yoo (Korea); Sherad Anthony Sanchez (Philippines)
Anacbanua by Christopher Gozum
Biyaheng Lupa by Armando “Bing” Lao
Ang Beerhouse by Jon Red
Dolores by Lito Casaje
69 1/2 by Ted Manotoc
Iliw by Bona Fajardo
World Cinema
Adam Resurrected by Paul Schrader (USA)
A Year Ago in Winter by Caroline Link (Germany)
Baby Doll Night by Adel Adeeb (Egypt)
Black Dynamite by Scott Sanders (USA)
Broken Embraces by Pedro Almodovar (Spain)
Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino (USA)
Let the Right One In by Tomas Alfredson (Sweden)
I Come with the Rain by Anh Hung Tran (Vietnam/USA)
My Suicide by David Lee Miller (USA)
Leonera (Lion’s Den) by Pablo Trapero (Argentina/Korea)
Asian Cinema
A Matter of Size by Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor (Israel)
Beautiful by Juhn Jaihong (Korea)
Call If You Need Me by James Lee (Malaysia)
Caramel by Nadine Labaki (Lebanon)
Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno (Philippines)
Jeonju Digital Project 2009: Visitors (Korea, Japan, Philippines)
Little Zizou by Sooni Taraporevala (India)
Macabre by Mo Brothers Indonesia/Singapore)
My Magic by Eric Khoo (Singapore)
Non-ko by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri (Japan)
Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman (Israel)
Passion by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)
Young Cinema Competition (Philippines)
Jury Members – Tan Chui Mui, chair (Malaysia); Kong Rithdee (Thailand); and John Torres (Philippines)
Dalaw by Janus Victoria
Harang by Mikhail Red
Ito ang Gabing Babalikan Kita Pagkatapos ng Tatlong Taon nang Hindi Maiiyak at Masasaktan by Antoinette Jadaone
Limang Libo by Ice Idanan
Save Me!!! by Ramon del Prado
Stations by Emmanuel Quindo Palo
To Siomai Love by Remton Siega Zuasola
Young Cinema Exhibition (Philippines)
The Artist Is In by Marcus Adoro
Ang Ibig Sabihin ng ‘OK Lang’ by Ryan Nikolai Dino
Gemini by Leo Valencia
Gusto Kong Lumipad by Glenn Ituriaga
Irene F**king Jordan by Paolo Herras
Karoler by Michael Angelo Dagñalan
Technophilia by Rianne Hill Soriano
Waiting Shed by Ely Buendia
SEA (Southeast Asia) Film Competition
Jury Members – Ronnie Lazaro (chair); Joel Shepard (USA); and Bee Thiam Tan (Singapore)
Adrift by Thac Chuyen Bui (Vietnam)
Bakal Boys by Ralston Jover (Philippines)
Here by Ho Tzu Nyen (Singapore)
Jermal by Ravi Bharwani (Indonesia)
Karaoke by Chris Chong (Malaysia)
A Moment in June by O Nathapon (Thailand)
Talentime by Yasmin Ahmad (Malaysia)
Woman on Fire Looks for Water by Woo Ming Jin (Malaysia)
SEA Shorts Competition
Uwan Init Pista sa Langit (Philippines) by Remton Siega Zuasola and Keith Deligero
Focal Point (Malaysia) by Alizera Khatami & Ali Seifourri
Rat (Malaysia/Taiwan) by Lau Kek Huat
Outing (Singapore) Jow Zhi Wei
Sea Horse (Indonesia) by Shalahuddin Siregar
SEA Shorts Exhibition
Lakad ni Sammy (Philippines) by Joel P. Ruiz
Love Suicides (Malaysia) by Edmund Yeo
It’s Not Raining Outside by Yosep Anggi Noen
The 11th Cinemanila awardees are:
Main Competition
Best Actor - Alfredo Castro in Tony Manero (Chile/Brazil)
Best Actress - Tsilla Chelton in Pandora's Box (Peru/Spain)
Grand Jury Prize - Tulpan by Sergey Dvortsevoy (Germany/Kazakhstan/Switzerland/Russia/Poland)
Lino Brocka Grand Prize - Hunger by Steve McQueen (UK/Ireland)
SEA (Southeast Asia) Competition
Best SEA Short - Focal Point by Alizera Khatami and Ali Seiffouri (Malaysia)
Best SEA Film - Talentime by Yasmin Ahmad (Malaysia)
Special Mention - Woman on Fire Looks for Water by Woo Ming Jin (Malaysia)
Young Cinema (Philippines)
Best Short Film - To Siomai Love by Remton Siega Zuasola
Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema - Remton Siega Zuasola for To Siomai Love
Digital Lokal (Philippines)
Lino Grand Prize - Anacbanua by Christopher Gozum
Lino Grand Jury Prize - Biyaheng Lupa by Armando Lao
Best Director - Christopher Gozum for Anacbanua
Lifetime Achievement Award – Paul Schrader (USA)
Indie Spirit Award – Lav Diaz
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