Cinema One Originals fest finalists announced

Elizabeth Oropesa (left) and Gloria Diaz in “Si Chedeng at Si Apple”

More audience-friendly” was how Cinema One Originals Film Festival director Ronald Arguelles described this year’s lineup of competing films.

“This means that the narrative is more important to us—that the films are following a specific storyline—and also that the audience will be pleased with them,” said Arguelles, who’s also the Cinema One channel head.

The festival’s 13th edition carries the theme “Walang Takot,” which Arguelles said “best describes Cinema One for the longest time. We aren’t afraid to showcase films with topics that are out-of-the-box.”

“I was fearless in this film in the sense that I agreed to do lips-to-lips kissing with Enchong Dee,” said Sylvia Sanchez, lead star of “Nay,” by director Kip Oebanda.

The film is about a man suffering from a terminal disease who uncovers a dark family secret.

“I’m a fearless senior citizen,” said Dexter Doria, the lead actress of “Paki.” This was because Dexter also did a kissing scene in Giancarlo Abrahan’s film with costar Noel Trinidad.

Sylvia Sanchez (left) and Enchong Dee
in “Nay”

“It’s not just a smack on the lips, but 28 seconds of torrid kissing. I’m proud of myself. I was able to pull it off,” she added.

Fatrick Tabada and Rae Red’s “Si Chedeng at Si Apple” is a dark comedy where Elizabeth Oropeza and Gloria Diaz play old friends who become accidental criminals and embark on a road trip with a severed head in a fake Louis Vuitton bag.

“My character is fearless because she finally comes to terms with her being a lesbian, even though she’s already in her twilight years,” said Gloria Diaz, who plays Apple. “There’s really no expiration date to coming out of the closet.”

Shireen Seno’s entry is titled “Nervous Translation,” about a shy girl (Jana Agoncillo) who discovers a pen that can translate the thoughts and feelings of people when they get nervous.

Richard Somes directs Joem Bascon, Alex Medina, Maxine Eigenmann and Nathalie Hart in “Histographika Errata,” an elaborate historical mosaic that attempts to figure out why we are what we are, throwing in the mix a suicidal Jose Rizal, a cross-dressing Andres Bonifacio and the widow who became the first Makapili.

Dan Villegas adapts Vincent de Jesus’ well-received stage musical “Changing Partners” to the screen starring Agot Isidro, Anna Luna, Sandino Martin and Jojit Lorenzo. The film is a bittersweet exploration of a relationship coming apart as the huge age gap between lovers starts to take its toll.

“Throwback Today,” directed by Joseph Teoxon, features Carlo Aquino playing a disgruntled young man at the end of his rope who stumbles on an impossible way to rewrite his own history. Also part of the project are Annicka Dolonius, Empress Shuck and Allan Paule.

Two films make up the Documentary section this year: Dempster Samarita’s “Bundok Banahaw” is an exploration of the mystical mountain. Phyllis Grande’s “Haunted: A Last Visit to the Red House” focuses on the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers against comfort women during World War 2.

The festival runs from Nov. 13 to 21 at Trinoma, Glorietta, Gateway, UP Cine Adarna, Cinema 76 and Cinematheque Center, with an extended run from Nov. 22 to 28 at Power Plant Mall.