Know the Sinag Maynila Films showing this week

By: Arvin Mendoza - 10 years ago

PHOTO from Sinag Maynila’s Facebook Page

MANILA, Philippines — Sinag Maynila, a fresh and diverse film festival, is set to light up cinemas come March 18 to 24, featuring quality Filipino independent movies and filmmakers.

To be showcased are Paul Sta. Ana’s “Balut Country,” Zig Dulay’s “Bambanti,” Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol,” Jim Libiran’s “Ninja Party” and Remton Zuasola’s “Swap.”

The festival will run on SM Malls namely Aura, Fairview, North Edsa, Megamall, Southmall, Manila and Mall of Asia.

Here is what you need to know about the films:

BAMBANTI (SCARECROW)

Fresh from the success of his full-length film “M. (Mother’s Maiden Name),” which won the Special Jury Prize in the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival-New Wave Section, screenwriter and director Dulay is back with his latest opus, “Bambanti (Scarecrow)”.

Shot during the week-long Bambanti festival in Isabela, the film is about the relationship of a mother and son, and their quest for truth incited by a missing watch.

Dulay said the film, which has a dash of sadness, was inspired by his childhood experience.

“Bambanti still pushes [the story] of affection towards our mothers,” said Dulay. “This time we use bambanti as a metaphor for mothers because scarecrows are used to protect the crops. In the film, just like bambanti, a mother will do anything to protect her child.”

“The story is so simple, but has a heart,” added Dulay.

The film stars Alessandra de Rossi, Micko Laurente, Julio Diaz, Shamaine Buencamino and Lui Manansala.

Dulay was the director of “Huling Halik” (The Last Kiss), a NETPAC entry in the 2011 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. He also wrote the screenplays for Lawrence Fajardo’s “Posas,” Ed Lejanos’ “QWERTY,” Armando Lao’s “Ad Ignorantiam,” Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Ekstra” and Jay Altarejos’ “Kasal.” His short film “Missing” was included in the official selection of the 2013 Cinemalaya Film Festival, short film category and won the Best Short Film in 2013 URIAN Awards.

SWAP

If you are into unique forms of action-drama, then Zuasola’s “Swap” is something you should never miss, with main actors Dionne Monsanto, Matt Daclan and Mon Confiado.

“Swap” is a story of a young father torn between solving a crime and committing another crime. His only son is kidnapped and the criminals demand that he steal another child in exchange for his son’s life.

The film, with the actors speaking in Cebuano language, is loosely based on real events, as Zuasola revealed that he was a kidnap victim as a child.

“It is based on my parents’ recollection and from other people who were present when it happened,” said Zuasola.

He says the movie has a touch of fantasy because he didn’t experience everything in it firsthand.

The Cebu-based director says “Swap” induces a feeling of nostalgia.

“When pain passed, it becomes joy. When you experience something painful in the past, and when you try to recall it, you feel happy that you got through it…that’s the effect of ‘Swap’,” he said.

Zuasola also shared how he almost gave up because of the impossibility of making the movie, which was shot continuously in one hour and 30 minutes with no cuts.

He directed more or less 40 actors, coming and going in five settings including a house, an army camp, a tailoring shop, a mansion and a hospital.

He said: “I told them (the whole crew) ‘Brace yourself because we will suffer in this film. This is not an easy film to make but nonetheless we have to make it possible. We are not filmmakers, we are not artists. We are miracle makers.’”

Zuasola is a recipient of the Ani ng Dangal Award for his dedication to the cultivation of modern Cebuano cinema. In 2009, he won the Ishmael Bernal Award for most outstanding young Filipino filmmaker for his short film “To Siomai Love” from the Cinemanila International Film Festival. His first feature length film “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” bagged top awards from Gawad Urian such as best picture, best cinematography, best musical score and best director. He recently showcased his second feature “Soap Opera” under Cinema One Originals Film Festival.

IMBISIBOL

Inspired from the one-act play written by Herlyn Gail Alegre for Virgin Labfest in 2013, Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” follows the lives of four Filipinos in Japan—Linda, Benjie, Manuel and Rodel.

“Imbisibol” pertains to overseas Filipino workers, or ‘TNTs” (Tago nang Tago), the undocumented people who constantly change jobs and identities to elude immigration authorities. “Bilog,” which means zero, numberless or non-existent, is another monicker for them.

The film presents a narrative of daily challenges faced by Filipinos in Japan during a period when thousands of undocumented workers and overstayers were being deported in response to strict Japanese laws.

Amid their individual struggles, the characters will all be entangled in an agonizing game of hide and seek. They have to stay invisible, for it is the only way to survive.

As threats of arrest and deportation looms closer and everyone’s future becomes at stake, friendships are tested; loyalties are questioned; and values are eroded.

JM De Guzman, Ces Quesada, Bernardo Bernardo, Allen Dizon and Ricky Davao lead the cast of “Imbisibol”.

Fajardo says he wants to tell how desolate the lives of Filipinos abroad are.

“They are the ones who do something illegal so they can do something good for the country and for their respective families,” he says.

Fajardo, a Bacolod native, directed “Amok”, which won Best Sound and Editing at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2011. “Amok” was shown in South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, USA, Canada and Italy. It also won Best Sound and Editing in the Natatanging Gawad Urian in 2012 and bagged the Special Prize of the Jury Award at the Detective Fest in Moscow, Russia in the same year.

Fajardo’s other movie “Posas” was the Cinemalaya’s Best Film in the Director’s Showcase Category in 2012. It was shown at 12 festivals in five continents around the globe. It became even more successful when it took home the Best Film award in the Hanoi International Film Festival in 2012.

NINJA PARTY

Libiran’s “Ninja Party” is the most daring if not the most controversial feature in the festival’s line-up.

It is a coming of age, drama movie where teens get to discover and explore their identity and sexuality.

The film is set in an elite Catholic high school, where some female students furtively join a secret orgy with anonymous boys. When rumors spread about their participation in the covert activity, they deal with the subsequent conflicts with themselves, their families and the school.

Libiran relates how he was surprised with the performance of his chosen actors.

“When it came to the point that they (the girls) are being run after by the school principal and their families, their dramatic acting is so excellent,” he said. “I believe their acting is partly confessional and revelational in a way they let us boys see the hidden side of our culture.”

Libiran says wild soirees among students has been an urban myth for years now. But a lot of people say these really happen, as attested to by some of his sources.

He says he doesn’t like the stand of different institutions about premarital sex among teenagers.

“Because when you say “No to sex”, and yet they do have sex, they just hide until they get pregnant or contacted STDs. That’s where the problem starts,” he said.

“Society should have an open-mindedness about it … that sex is not bad,” he said. “This is a hidden aspect of our culture. We Filipinos must stop being hypocrites and show in full glory that yes, we are sexual.”

“It is a social concern because if we do not discuss it, and we just prevent them from doing it, we just leave our children, our brothers and sisters, helpless,” he concluded.

Among the members of the cast of “Ninja Party” are Annicka Dolonius, Julz Savard, Bea Galvez, Elora Espano, Mariz Reyes, Japo Parcero, Odette Khan, Teresa Loyzaga and Denise Marasigan.

Jim Libiran directed the short film “Pancit Canton,” which was his directorial debut in 2006. His other full-length features are “Tribu” (2007) and “Happyland” (2010). He wrote and directed the short film “Batch 2011”, a feature in the ABS-CBN News KINSE Human Rights Film Anthology. He also worked as creative producer to Bianca Catbagan’s “Suntok sa Buwan” and “Araw,” a short film produced by SunLife Financials Asia and KymeChow Media.

BALUT COUNTRY

Do you want to know a hidden story behind our favorite street food balut?

In Sta. Ana’s “Balut Country,” actor Rocco Nacino plays the character of Jun, a bachelor who inherits a “balut” farm from his late father.

He unexpectedly impregnates his girlfriend. And with his first child on the way, he decides to be practical and begins contemplating on selling the farm.

But there are people who will be direly affected by his decision—the farm’s loyal caretakers, like Dado, played by Ronnie Quizon, who has toiled in the farm for a decade.

Sta. Ana said the story was partly rooted in his experience.

“My family has its own business but not necessarily a ‘balut’ farm,” he says. “When you are an artist usually you are more focused in your passions in life. You try as much as possible to be passionate about what your doing. But when your family leaves a business in your hands, it ignites your practicality, especially if your a man who wants to build your own family. You have to be practical in life.”

Sta. Ana shares that the poetic approach to “Balut Country” is what differentiates it from his other masterpiece “Oros.”

“‘Oros’ is very social realist. ‘Balut Country’ is very poetic since there are many objects that would symbolize something aside from the literal things. Most of the objects you’ll see in the film are metaphors,” he said.

Sta. Ana says the Philippines is rich in culture but there are so many things left unexplored. He thinks the “balut” or duck egg industry must be used as a milieu and portrayed in another light.

“We know what is ‘balut’. We know it is disgusting. But where does it come from? I think the international viewers would appreciate the ‘balut’ more if they get to see how it affects the lives of Filipinos,” he said.

Sta. Ana is a Philosophy graduate at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is a writer and director of GMA Network. In 2010, he received a Balanghai trophy from the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for “Mayohan.” He has since earned nominations from the the Young Critics’ Circle, the Star Awards for Film and the Gawad Urian for his screenplays (Mayohan, Bisperas, Oros) and direction (Oros). His film Oros (The Coinbearer) was the opening film of the 2012 Asiatica Filmediale in Rome, Italy. It also won Best Film in the DC Independent Film Festival.