‘Norte’ opens Indie Bravo!-Fully Booked film festival

ANGEL Aquino (left) and Therese Malvar in “Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita,” CineFilipino.

To help seek alternative venues for independently produced films is one of the thrusts of the annual Indie Bravo! tribute presented by the Inquirer.

This year, the Inquirer Group of Companies (IGC) teams up with Fully Booked for the first “Indie Bravo!-Fully Booked Film Festival: The Best of Filipino Films 2013 Plus.”

At least 35 films, products of various local festivals, will be presented at the U-View, Fully Booked High Street, Bonifacio Global City, from November 21 to December 12.

Like last year’s Indie Bravo! fest of documentaries and shorts, this year’s event serves as an “umbrella festival” that will showcase acclaimed and awarded full-length feature films of 2013.

Best-reviewed

Opening presentation is Lav Diaz’s four-hour epic “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan,” possibly the best-reviewed Filipino film last year. It earned plaudits from the New York Times, Washington Post and Boston Globe, and won best picture at the Gawad Urian, given annually by local critics.

“Norte” is also the country’s entry in the best foreign language film category of next year’s Academy Awards. Diaz is expected to grace the IGC-Fully Booked event opening on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.

SID LUCERO and Mae Paner in “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan,” Cannes, Un Certain Regard

Cinema One

In the lineup from Cinema One are: Borgy Torres’ “Kabisera,” Jet Leyco’s “Bukas na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na,” Whammy Alcazaren’s “Islands,” Ralston Jover’s “Bendor,” Arnel Mardoquio’s “Riddles of My Homecoming,” Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Ang Alamat ni China Doll” and Siege Ledesma’s “Shift.”

CineFilipino

CineFilipino films include Mes de Guzman’s “Ang Kwento ni Mabuti,” Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo’s “Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita,” Ron Bryant’s “Bingoleras,” Kiri and Sari Dalena’s “The Guerrilla Is a Poet,” Randolph Longjas’ “Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin” and Mike Alcazaren’s “Puti.”

Sineng Pambansa

From Sineng Pambansa: Chito Roño’s “Badil,” Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes’ “Sonata,” Jose Javier Reyes’ “Ano ang Kulay ng mga Nakalimutang Pangarap” and Elwood Perez’s “Otso.”

Cinemalaya

MIMI Juareza in “Quick Change,” Cinemalaya

Cinemalaya movies: Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Ekstra,” Alvin Yapan’s “Debosyon,” Carlo Obispo’s “Purok 7,” Jerrold Tarog’s “Sana Dati,” Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Quick Change,” Mikhail Red’s “Rekorder” and Baby Ruth Villarama-Gutierrez’s documentary “Jazz in Love” (opening film in last year’s Cinemalaya).

MMFF New Wave

Armando Lao’s “Dukit” and Yapan’s “Mga Anino ng Kahapon” are representing the MMFF New Wave.

And more

Also to be screened are the following movies that debuted in international film festivals: Erik Matti’s “On the Job” (Cannes, Directors’ Fortnight), Raya Martin’s “How to Disappear Completely” (Locarno, Fuori Concorso), Alix’s “Death March” (Cannes, Un Certain Regard) and Diaz’s “Norte” (Cannes, Un Certain Regard).

Special screening

Diaz has two other films in the fest: “Elehiya sa Dumalaw Mula sa Himagsikan” and “Walang Alaala ang mga Paru-paro.”

There will be a special screening of Michael Collins and Marty Syjuco’s docu “Give Up Tomorrow,” which won the audience award at the Tribeca Film Fest in New York three years ago.

Cinema Rehiyon

Cinema Rehiyon is fielding Keith Deligero’s “Kordero sa Dios” from Cebu, plus short films by various filmmakers from all over the country.

Master class

Also in the works are Q&A forums with filmmakers and a master class in filmmaking with Tarog.

The fest is made possible in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the filmmakers from the represented festivals, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

For tickets (P170, P200 for films with open forums) call +632-8587000 or visit fullybookedonline.com and facebook.com/fullybooked. Half of the proceeds will benefit the filmmakers. ([email protected])