With this year’s theme “Kakaiba Ka Ba?”, Cinema One Originals Festival is set to showcase some of the most unique and diverse independent films in Philippine cinema from November 8 to 17.
Comprising the festival’s program are nine originals, two special presentation films, four Filipino classics, 10 short films and 12 world cinema features.
FULL LIST: Cinema One Originals Festival 2015
For all the indie enthusiasts who want to know more about the nine feature films in competition, below are the films’ respective synopses and trailers.
Baka Siguro Yata
Director: Joel Ferrer
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cast: Dino Pastrano, Valerie “Bangs” Garcia, Cherie Gil, Ricky Davao, Katrina “Hopia” Legaspi, Boo Gabunada, Anna Luna, Chanel Latorre, Nicco Manalo, Jerald Napoles and Alex Medina
Synopsis:
“Baka Siguro Yata” is a comedy drama which revolves around Carlo (Pastrano), a 29-year-old unambitious graphic designer whose only passion is to play music with his equally unambitious long-time friends. After discovering that his girlfriend of six years is a lesbian, he seeks to find refuge on a one-night stand with a high school classmate named Melissa. However, Melissa gets pregnant which turns everything in disarray. Melissa’s sister and her boyfriend mulls over their planned first sex but gets cold feet due to what happened to her sister. Carlo’s divorced parents, on the other hand, discreetly start seeing each other as they rekindle their 20-year-old relationship by having an affair and secret meetings while they cheat on their new partners. Baka Siguro Yata tells how three generations understand and perceive the idea of love.
Bukod Kang Pinagpala
Director: Sheron Dayoc,
Genre: Horror
Cast: Bing Pimentel, Max Eigenmann, Paolo Paraiso, Lou Veloso, Lui Manansala, Kiko Matos, Senon Palomares
Synopsis:
In an old house replete with images of Catholic icons and symbols, a young lady struggles with the demented religious fanaticism of her mother, who seems like she cannot differentiate between pious fervor and demonic possession- for both exist simultaneously in her being. The daughter seeks help for her mother’s behavior, but as days go by, their relationship turns from harrowing to horrific, as a strange phenomenon occurs inside the house, driving the daughter to evade and overcome her mother’s deranged machinations.
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Posted by Bukod Kang Pinagpala on Monday, November 9, 2015
Dahling Nick
Director: Sari Dalena
Genre: Docu-drama
Cast: Raymond Bagatsing, Alessandra de Rossi, Ma. Isabel Lopez, Adrian Cabido, Paul Cedric Juan, Banaue Miclat-Janssen, Che Ramos-Cocio, Ping Medina, Roli Inocencio, Kiko Matos, Angelina Kanapi, Dindi Gallardo, Lance Raymundo, Bernardo Bernardo, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, Nick Lizaso, Karl Medina, Ross Pesigan, Thea Yrastorza, Kris Lanot Lacaba, Karla Pambid, Opaline Santos, Aba Lluch Dalena, Ronah Adiel Rostata, Darwin Gordon de Roxas, Nico Bagsic, Bong Cabrera, Gabby Padilla, Hazel Faith Dela Cruz, Jasmine Capule, Jessa Lyn Capule, Cos Zicarelli, Faye Alhambra, Johnny Regana, Kino Sicat, Paris Sicat, Kirsten Moya, Rica Abad, Jane Valderama, Noemi Bayoneta
Synopsis:
“Dahling Nick” is a documentary-drama exploring the life and works of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, who only accepted the National Artist Award on the condition that the Marcos administration releases a well-known writer who was being unjustly detained during martial law. Depicting the “inner world” of this canonical writer–who wrote both novels as well as journalistic works–the juxtaposition of documentary interviews, episodes from his life, and evocative imagery from his literary pieces will create a cinematic collage. Dahling Nick is a celebration of Joaquin’s life and inimitable contributions to Philippine arts.
Dayang Asu
Director: Bor Ocampo
Genre: Action-Drama
Cast: Ricky Davao, Junjun Quintana, Inna Tuason, Lui Manansala, Bernard Laxa, Elora Españo, Kelvin Vistan, Alex Manansala, Marco Nepomuceno, Ronnie Tayag, Bajun Lacap, Gina Villa
Synopsis:
In “Dayang Asu,” Tonton, the son of a quarry master, enters the world of quarrying. A newbie to the business, he does his best to toughen up and blend in with his co-workers. At the same time, he struggles to prove to his father that he is fit to run the business. As his co-workers search for a dog to butcher for his birthday, he tries to deal with a landlord who demands for a higher cut on the earnings. However, his diplomatic attempt on swaying the landlord is futile, proving that his father’s ways are more effective. Things get out of hand and he is forced to make a decision. “Dayang Asu” is inspired by true events.
Hamog
Director: Ralston Jover
Genre: Drama
Cast: Zaijan Jaranilla, Teri Malvar, Sam Quitania, Bor Lentejas, OJ Mariano, Anna Luna, Mike Liwag, Lou Veloso, Kyline Alcantara
Synopsis:
“Hamog” is a story of four street children who got hooked in two consecutive and unexpected events in their daily routine of crime and survival on the busy streets of Manila. One of them suddenly disappears in the hands of a kidnapper, while another dies in a fatal car accident. How will the remaining street kids cope with such tragedies? Where will they go next?
Manang Biring
Director: Carl Joseph Papa
Genre: Drama-Comedy
Cast: Erlinda Villalobos, Mailes Kanapi, Alchris Galura, Patrick Sugui, Bea Benedicto, Lance Raymundo, Cherry Pie Picache, John Carlo Tan
Synopsis:
“Manang Biring” is a dark comedy-drama about a feisty, terminally ill old lady who has long accepted her imminent passing due to stage four breast cancer. Things change when she receives an unexpected letter from an estranged loved one announcing their return for Christmas.
Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso
Director: Raymond Red
Genre: Youth Drama
Cast: Felix Roco, Nicco Manalo, Epy Quizon, Earl Ignacio, Angela Cortez
Synopsis:
“Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso” is based on true events surrounding the emergence of the underground alternative cinema movement of the 1980s. Just after the February ’86 People Power revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship, a band of young filmmakers organize their own independent film and video festival and declare the legitimacy of the emerging “new wave” movement of alternative cinema. The film also touches on crossing paths with the brewing underground music scene, and their fateful collaboration with iconic pioneering Pinoy punk band Betrayed.
Miss Bulalacao
Director: Ara Chawdhury
Genre: Small town Drama
Cast: Russ Ligtas, Chai Fonacier, Ferdinand Mesias, Tessie Tomas, Keith Deligero, Mon Confiado, Nanette Inventor, Gen Mijares, Tita Chris, Paz Tabuldan, Nikki dela Paz, Ronyel Compra, Jeff Ogario
Synopsis:
“Miss Bulalacao” is about a young drag queen, Dodong, who joins a barangay (village) gay pageant to gain acceptance in his father’s community. He instead faces hostility from his father, who chases him to a jungle, where he sobs to a lone bright star. What follows is the strangest night in his entire life, and an even stranger nine months when he realizes he is pregnant. With only his stepmother, Lisa, as a support, Dodong deals with ridicule from the people who do not believe him – until his predicament becomes a tabloid headline: “BAKLA, INA NG DIOS!”.
The Comeback
Director: Ivan Andrew Payawal
Genre: Comedy-Drama
Cast: Patrick Garcia, Kaye Abad, Valeen Montenegro, Matt Evans, Adrienne Vergara, Julia Enriquez, Bea Galvez, Kate Alconga, Sheena Ramos
Synopsis:
In “The Comeback,”Angela Velasco had it all: Fame, money, expensive clothes, a mansion, true love, fans that adored her and friends that supported her. But that was before the nasty rumors, her deepest heartbreak and her never-ending debts led to her downfall. Feeling like she lost everything, on the decided day of her suicide, her attempt gets cut by the arrival of a package that contains four letters and a vase with ashes in it. She then gets the surprise of her life when she finds out that the ashes are remains of a dead man named Kiko who used to be the owner of the house she is staying in. The arrival of Kiko’s ashes serves as an unlikely good luck charm for Angela as she tries to juggle her “comeback” with her old antics while she embarks on a journey to find a home for Kiko, but in the process, finds a home for herself. IDL
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