“ALKANSIYA” from Bohol.
Audiences will be taken on a tour of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (not to mention, Israel) via the 1st Indie Bravo! Film Festival, Dec. 9 to 11 at My Cinema in Greenbelt 3, Makati City.
At least six documentaries and 11 short films will be screened during the inaugural fest, presented by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in cooperation with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Gathered for the exhibition were films from different film festivals in the country: Sineng Pambansa, CineFilipino, Cinemalaya, Cinema Rehiyon and Cinema One.
Dec. 9
Monday, Dec. 9, from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m., two Sineng Pambansa docus will be screened: Sherbien Dacalanio and Sheryl Manalastas’ “Ang Pagbabalik ng Bituin” and Lauren Sevilla-Faustino’s “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok.”
“ONANG” from Ilocos Sur
“Bituin” will take viewers on a Ro-Ro (Roll-on Roll-off) trip from Metro Manila to Agusan del Norte; “Mambabatok” focuses on a 92-year-old tattoo artist in Kalinga.
A gala screening of Hannah Espia’s “Transit,” the lone full-length narrative feature in the lineup, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Espia and producer Paul Soriano are expected to attend the screening.
Big winner in the Cinemalaya New Breed section, “Transit” tells the story of overseas Filipino workers whose children face deportation from Israel. “Transit” is the country’s entry in the best foreign language category of the Oscars early next year.
“TAGURI” from Sulu
Dec. 10
Tuesday, Dec. 10, a two-hour program on internationally awarded Filipino filmmakers unreels at 7.
Two films by Sheron Dayoc—the short “Mientras Su Durmida” and the docu “Chasing Fireflies”—open the program.
Set in Zamboanga, the Chavacano-language “Mientras Su Durmida” won best short at the 2nd International Short Film Festival in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia. “Chasing Fireflies,” like “Bituin” and “Mambabatok,” was a product of the second Sineng Pambansa in Davao in 2012.
Also to be shown is Raymond Red’s newly restored short “Anino,” Palme D’Or winner at the Cannes fest in 2000.
“KALON” from Cordillera
Two shorts featured this year in Venice Future Reloaded program—Lav Diaz’s “Firefly” and Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Kamera”—are likewise lined up.
Diaz’s “Prologo sa Ang Dakilang Desaparecido” was shown at this year’s San Sebastian film fest.
“Anino” and “Prologo” were screened at the recent Cinema One Film Festival.
Dec.11
Wednesday, Dec. 11, a full schedule begins with shorts featured in the CineFilipino fest this year.
Among these are: Pamela L. Reyes’ “Ligaw”; Kim Ocariza’s “Logaritmo”; Jose Ibarra Guballa and Bienvenido Ferrer II’s “Sangandaan”; JE Tiglao’s “Onang”; and Joan Cajes’ “Alkansiya.” They will be screened from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Shot in Bohol and Cebu, Cajes’ “Alkansiya” was the recipient of a best thesis citation from the International Academy of Film and Television.
“LOGARITMO” from Davao
Filmed in Ilocos Sur, Tiglao’s “Onang,” which won best director at this year’s Cinemalaya, was also featured in the CineFilipino fest.
Reyes’ “Ligaw,” CineFilipino’s best short winner, tells the story of a young couple whose New Year’s Eve celebration is marred by a stray bullet. Ocariza’s “Logaritmo,” second best short, chronicles a student’s nocturnal expeditions on the streets of Davao. Guballa and Ferrer’s “Sangandaan,” third best short, revolves around a man who crosses paths with three girls in a dark, dangerous subdivision.
From 4 to 6 p.m., two animated shorts— Blecyrezza E. Piluden’s “Kalon” (Cordillera) and Ayeen Pineda and Ramon del Prado’s “Si Pagong at si Matsing” (from Manila)—will be screened, with Lester G. Babiera’s “Bulig” (docu on education and employment in Aklan).
Two docus from Sineng Pambansa will cap the fest: Cierlito E. Tabay’s “Walay Tumoy na Punterya” tackles the backyard gun-making industry in Danao, Cebu, while Dempster Samarista’s “Taguri” (or “Kites of Sulu”) zooms in on the Tausugs’ kite culture.
All of the Sineng Pambansa films are rated PG, except for “Chasing Fireflies” which is rated R-13. All of the CineFilipino films are rated PG as well, except for “Sangandaan” which is rated R-13.
Since seats are limited, interested parties are requested to pre-register with Bianca Kasilag, via e-mail (bkasilag@inquirer.com.ph) or phone (897-8808 local 352).
(E-mail bayanisandiegojr@gmail.com)