Was the local movie industry better off in 2015 than in previous years? If we go by the quantity of productions released last year, the answer veers on the negative. There were 105 shown commercially in 2014, but only about 90 films were released in 2015.
Compare those figures to the bumper crop of 142 feature films we watched (and personally listed down) in 2012—and you’ll find the disparity lamentable.
What happened? For starters, the only entries produced by Cinemalaya last year were shorts. The indie fest used to unreel at least 10 to 15 original films every year since it began. The absence of CineFilipino also contributed to the decline in the annual output.
Another notable change is the relative absence of exploitative and often execrable “pink” films, subsidized by a predominantly fly-by-night subculture that used to churn out 20 to 30 “sexplosive actioners” every year.
In fact, at some point, two particularly dreadful “directors” came up with as many as 10 “films” each in one year! The good news is, they’re no longer on the mainstream scene—and we hope they stay far away from movie cameras, as well as their “willing” victims and enablers.
Other than the scaled down Cinemalaya event, the other film festivals last year included Sinag Maynila, Cinema One, QCinema, MMFF and its underwhelming New Wave lineup and the World Premieres Film Festival.
Which films were last year’s best? Our choices, in this order: Ralston Jover’s “Da Dog Show,” Brillante Mendoza’s “Taklub,” Mihk Vergara’s “Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo,” Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol,” Erik Matti’s “Honor Thy Father,” Joel Ferrer’s “Baka Siguro Yata,” Carl Joseph Papa’s “Manang Biring,” Ara Chawdhury’s “Miss Bulalacao,” Jerrold Tarog’s “Heneral Luna” and Lem Lorca’s “Water Lemon.”
CRUZ. Exceptional portrayals in “Honor Thy Father”
In the leading actor category, John Lloyd Cruz tops our list for his exceptional portrayals in “Honor Thy Father” and “A Second Chance,” followed by Dino Pastrano (“Baka Siguro Yata”), John Arcilla (“Heneral Luna”), Allen Dizon (“Imbisibol”), Lou Veloso (“Da Dog Show”), Piolo Pascual (“The Breakup Playlist”), Raymond Bagatsing (“Dahlin’ Nick”), Jericho Rosales (“#Walang Forever”) and Junjun Quintana (“Water Lemon”).
AUNOR. Exceptional portrayals in “Taklub” .
Nora Aunor’s luminary performance in “Taklub” paces our best actress lineup, which includes the indelible turns of Teri Malvar (“Hamog”), Tessie Tomas (“Old Skool”), Bea Alonzo (“A Second Chance”), Alessandra de Rossi (“Bambanti”), Jennylyn Mercado (“#Walang Forever”), Ces Quesada (“Imbisibol”), Claudine Barretto (“Etiquette for Mistresses”), LJ Reyes (Anino sa Likod ng Buwan”) and Angeli Bayani (“Iisa”).
CRUZ. Memorable in “Honor Thy Father”
In the supporting actor race, Tirso Cruz III (“Honor Thy Father”) and OJ Mariano (“Hamog”) were memorable—but, so were Ricky Davao (“Dayang Asu”), Ronnie Quizon (“Balut Country”), RK Bagatsing (“Apocalypse Child”), JM de Guzman (“Imbisibol”) and Menggie Cobarrubias (“Kapatiran”).
PICACHE. Memorable in “Manang Biring”
Among supporting actresses, it’s hard to beat Cherry Pie Picache in her very short scene in “Manang Biring,” followed by Meryll Soriano (“Honor Thy Father”), Annicka Dolonius (“Apocalypse Child”), Anna Luna (“Hamog”), Chai Fonacier (“Miss Bulalacao”) and Rio Locsin (“Iisa”).
Also worthy of commendation were 2015’s breakout performances: Coco’s younger brother Ronwaldo Martin (“Ari”), Emmanuelle Vera and Brian Gabriel Corella (“Ang Kuwento Nating Dalawa”), Janella Salvador (“Haunted Mansion”), Janine Gutierrez (“Buy Now, Die Later”), Erlinda Villalobos (“Manang Biring”), Russ Ligtas (“Miss Bulalacao”), Francis Mangundayao (“#EwanKoSaU Saranghaeyo”) and, yes, AlDub’s lovable muse, Maine Mendoza (“My Bebe Love”)!