Jeers, cheers mark Cinemalaya awards

Cinemalaya 2014 winners pose with the Cinemalaya officials. PHOTO BY KIKO CABUENA

MANILA, Philippines–In keeping with the night’s defiantly indie spirit, the awards rites of the 10th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Sunday, was marked by protests from winners, past and present, and stunning victories from veterans and newcomers alike.

In their speeches, filmmakers Kanakan Balintagos, Hannah Espia and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo criticized Cinemalaya Foundation’s decision to upload past films (from the fest’s 2012 to 2013 editions) on the video-sharing web site YouTube on Saturday evening.

Producer Espia, who accepted the Best Screenplay trophy of Giancarlo Abrahan (for “Dagitab”), said in the acceptance speech: “I love Cinemalaya, but (the uploading) is a violation of our rights. It’s a wakeup call (to start a) a dialogue. We cannot remain silent.”

Presenters Balintagos and Bernardo, members of Cinemalaya’s first batch, expressed “solidarity” with their beleaguered colleagues. “We believe in Cinemalaya and what it stands for. We are asking for dialogue and some reforms.”

This year’s jury member Jose Javier Reyes, who directed the 2012 Cinemalaya film “Mga Mumunting Lihim,” told the Inquirer:  “Granting free access to films even for a few hours has given the pirates enough time to illegally copy the movies. This is tragic on the part of the filmmakers and financiers.’’

Alemberg Ang, who produced 2012’s “Debosyon,” pointed out that, in the filmmakers’ contract with Cinemalaya, there’s a provision allowing for the uploading of films on the Internet.

Reyes pointed out that the provision specified “pay-per-view” as mode of distribution and that the revenues would be shared and subject to a different contract.

Alvin Yapan, director of “Debosyon,” told the Inquirer: “I got a letter dated Aug. 7, asking permission to upload my film on YouTube. I haven’t sent back a reply. I hope my film wasn’t uploaded without my permission because we are also planning to release a DVD to recoup our investments.”

“Debosyon” was among the uploaded films, according to Ang.

Joselito Altarejos, whose “Kasal” won Best Film in this year’s Directors’ Showcase section, told the Inquirer: “I am happy and grateful . . . but I am outraged by what happened . . . There are provisions in the contract that are repressive and need to be amended. It’s high time for the filmmakers, the foundation and other stakeholders to address these issues.”

As a result of the deluge of complaints posted in social media, festival organizers blocked the YouTube channel and promised to address the issue in the awards night on Sunday.

In his welcome remarks, Nes Jardin, Cinemalaya president, “apologized for the uploading of the 2012-2013 films on YouTube.”

Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, the festival’s benefactor for the past 10 years, ditched his prepared speech and explained the fest’s financial standing.

Cojuangco said that although the fest was able to meet its target of 92,000 audience members this year, the festival has “reached a plateau . . . that going online was the only solution,” adding that “YouTube was picked as platform because it’s for free.”

He said the YouTube channel was for promotional purposes, to introduce the films to the online market, in preparation for an eventual pay-per-view scheme.

Cojuangco, however, apologized and expressed the hope that the “problem will be solved.”

“We are not dictators,” Cojuangco said. “We know the importance of filmmakers.” He concluded that “a dialogue will be held soon” between the organizers and affected filmmakers.

Filmmaker Francis Xavier Pasion, whose “Bwaya” won Best Film in the New Breed section, said in his acceptance speech that the night’s key word was “Respect. Cinemalaya should respect filmmakers and filmmakers should respect Cinemalaya.”

Still hewing closely to the night’s defiant mood, the show’s host Epy Quizon and presenter Mimi Juareza called Best Actress winner Nora Aunor, a “national artist.”

President Aquino dropped Aunor from the list of national artists drafted by the CCP and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts last June.

Host Quizon—whose father, the late comedian Dolphy, was similarly deprived of the national artist honor—deviated from the script and said that Aunor “is a national artist in my heart.”

Aunor, who won Best Actress in the Director’s Showcase section for Joel Lamangan’s “Hustisya,” told the Inquirer that she has come to terms with the presidential snub. “Baka hindi pa napapanahon. Daig ko pa ang nanalo ng national artist dahil sa lahat ng parangal na natanggap ko mula sa aking mga kapwa artista at mula sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan. Pakiramdam ko nanalo na rin ako. (Maybe it’s not yet the right time. The praise I’ve received from fellow artists and ordinary citizens seems like a bigger honor. It’s like I already won.)”

Asked about the YouTube controversy, Aunor took the filmmakers’ side. “It’s not right. They should’ve asked permission first. I know how hard it is to produce movies. You often end up in debt.”

She considered her latest award from Cinemalaya a gentle reminder, “to make me work harder. I also hope younger people would be inspired by these indie movies. Panahon na ng indies ngayon. Sana hindi rin makalimot ang mga batang artista . . . Hindi lang pera ang dahilan para gumawa ng mga pelikula.”

Veterans and newcomers alike won top awards at this year’s fest.

Like Aunor, another seasoned thespian, Robert Arevalo, won Best Actor for “Hari ng Tondo” in the Directors’ Showcase section.

Relative film newcomers figured in the supporting acting category. Nico Manalo won Best Supporting Actor for “The Janitor” and Cris Villonco, Best Supporting Actress for “Hari ng Tondo.”

Carlos Siguion-Reyna’s “Hari ng Tondo,” Special Jury Prize.

In the New Breed section, neophytes and vets shared the spotlight as well. Best Actress went to Eula Valdes for “Dagitab,” Best Actor to Dante Rivero of “1st Ko Si 3rd.’’

Best Supporting Actor went to child actor Miggs Cuaderno of “Children’s Show,” who recently turned 10 years old. GMA 7 teen star Barbie Forteza won Best Supporting Actress for “Mariquina.”

The youthful cast of Gino M. Santos’ “#Y” won Best Ensemble: Elmo Magalona, Sophie Albert, Chynna Ortaleza, Slater Young, Coleen Garcia and Kit Thompson.

Special Jury Prize in the New Breed section went to Ida Anita del Mundo’s “K’na the Dreamweaver.”

Other winners:

DIRECTOR’S SHOWCASE

Best Director: Michael Tuviera, “The Janitor “

Best Cinematography: Mycko David, “Kasal”

Best Editing: Tara Illenberger, “The Janitor “

Best Screenplay: Aloy Adlawan and Michael Tuviera, “The Janitor”

Best Sound: Mike Idioma, “The Janitor”

Best Musical Score: Richard Gonzales, “Kasal”

Best Production Design: Harley Alcasid, “Kasal”

Netpac Award: “Hustisya”

Audience Choice: “Hustisya”

NEW BREED

Best Director: Giancarlo Abrahan, “Dagitab”

Best Cinematography: Neil Daza, “Bwaya”

Best Editing: Gerone Centeno, “Children’s Show”

Best Sound: Jonathan Hee and Bryan Dumaguina, “Children’s Show”

Best Musical Score: Erwin Fajardo, “Bwaya”

Best Production Design: Toym Imao, “K’na the Dreamweaver”

Audience Choice: Janice and Denise O’Hara’s “Sundalong Kanin”

SHORTS

Best Film: Sari Estrada’s “Asan si Lolo Me”

Special Jury Prize: David R. Corpuz’s “The Ordinary Things We Do”

Best Director: Kevin Ang’s, “Lola”

Best Screenplay: “Lola”

Audience Choice Award: “Lola”

SPECIAL AWARDS

2014 Gawad Balanghai: Kidlat Tahimik, Father of Philippine Independent Cinema

Best Poster Design: Justin Besana, “Asintado”

Canon Citation/Award for Best Cinematography: Mycko David, “Children’s Show”