Award-winning Asian filmmakers grace 11th Cinemalaya

Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

Festival director Chris Millado invites cineastes of all ages to continue patronizing Cinemalaya this week because it has more to offer.

He emphasizes the new section called “The Independents: Asian Showcase”, which highlights new works of indie filmmakers in nearby countries.

This makes the Philippines another center of independent filmmaking in the Asia region.

The good news is that these award-winning filmmakers will be attending the 11th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition from August 8 to August 15 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Greenbelt 3 Makati.

Reis Celik, director of “The Night of Silence” (Turkey, 2012) will be present at the screening of his film on August 11, 6:15 at the CCP Main Theater.

Celik’s “The Night of Silence” tells the story of a child bride who is forced to marry a man more than fifty years older than her and who just returned to his hometown after doing years of jail time.

Sitting in the nuptial chamber with horror, she will start to face with realities after grandfather-aged groom steps into the room. “The Night of Silence” won the Netpac award in the 2012 Hanoi International Film Festival. Celik will participate in a “Meet the Artist” session on August 12, 2:30-3:15p.m. at the CCP Third Floor Hallway.

Li Zhen Hua, producer of “Poet on a Business Trip” by Ju Anqi (China, 2014) will attend the screening of the film on August 11, 9 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater. “Poet on a Business Trip” is a documentary shot more than 10 years ago. In this film, a poet sets off on a ‘business trip’ through inhospitable Xinjiang province.

The physically exhausting trip provides an existential brothel visit, bumping on bad roads, and a glimpse of a disappearing world. “Poet on a Business Trip” won the Netpac Award for the best Asian film at the International Rotterdam Festival 2015. Li Zhen Hua will interact with audiences at the “Meet the Artist” session on August 12, 5 pm to 5:45 p.m. at the CCP Third Floor Hallway.

Sotho Kulikar, director of “The Last Reel” (Cambodia, 2014) will grace the screening of her film on August 12, 6:15 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater. “The Last Reel” is all about a lost film buried beneath the killing fields that reveals different versions of the truth.

“The Last Reel” is a contemporary story about love, family and ghosts of Cambodia’s past. “The Last Reel” won The Black Dragon Award, Udine Film Festival, 2015). Kulikar will speak with audiences at the Meet the Artist session on August 13, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the CCP Third Floor Hallway.

The Maw Naing, director of “The Monk” (Myanmar/Czech Republic/2014), will be attending the screening of his film on August 12, 9 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater.

“The Monk” is a sensitive coming-of-age tale that revolves around a young monk, Zawana, who had spent most of his life in a monastery in the Burmese countryside.

When his superior falls ill, Zawana is faced with the dilemma of deciding if the life of a monk is still his destiny. “The Monk” was the Netpac winner in International Festival of Asian Cinema in Vesoul 2015. Maw Naing will be discussing his film with audiences at the Meet the Artist session on August 13, 5-5:45 p.m. at the CCP Third Floor Hallway.

Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers.

To date, Cinemalaya has supported and promoted the production of 118 full feature independent films and 96 short films. Many of these films have won awards in local and international competitions and festivals. Through the annual festival, Cinemalaya has showcased over 1,000 works by independent filmmakers including full feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films.

For screening schedules of Cinemalaya, visit www.cinemalaya.org, www.culturalcenter.gov.ph and the Cinemalaya facebook page.

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