Mario O’ Hara
MANILA, Philippines—A special film retrospective for the late filmmaker-playwright Mario O’ Hara is included in the 2012 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, which will take place from July 20 to 29 in three venues, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt 3 Makati and Trinoma Quezon city.
“As a tribute to the legacy of the late director Mario O’ Hara, we’re going to showcase the films he collaborated in as actor, scriptwriter and director. These are films that have made an impact in the history of Philippine Cinema,” said Cultural Center of the Philippines artistic director Chris Millado on Thursday.
He cited “Insiang,” whose script O’Hara wrote with director Lino Brocka. There’s also Brocka’s “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang,” whose story and screenplay he wrote and where he acted in as Berto the leper. With Orlando Nadres and Tony Perez, he was one of the scriptwriters of Brocka’s trilogy, “Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa.” O’ Hara’s story titled “Hellow Soldier” is about a G.I. baby about to meet her father.
Millado also mentioned “Ang Paglilitis Kay Andres Bonifacio,” O’Hara’s entry for the Director’s Showcase in the 2010 Cinemalaya Film Festival and Competition.
25 new films
Based on a statement released by the CCP on Thursday, there will be five new films that will compete this year.
The main competition categories are the New Breed full length feature category and the Short Feature category featuring works by new directors. The Directors Showcase is a competition for works by established directors.
Ten films will compete in the New Breed full length feature category. These are “Aparisyon” by Vincent Sandoval, “Ang Katiwala” by Aloy Adlawan,”Ang Nawawala” by Marietta Jamora, “Mga Dayo” by Julius Sotomayor Cena, “Diablo” by Mes de Guzman, “Intoy Syokoy” ng Kalye Marino by Lemuel C. Lorca, “Oros” by Paul Sta. Ana, “REquieme!” by Loy Arcenas, “Santa Niña” by Emmanuel Quindo Palo, and “The Animals” by Gino M. Santos.
Five films will vie in the Directors Showcase. These are “Bwakaw” by Jun Robles Lana, “Kalayaan (Wildlife”) by Adolfo B. Alix Jr., “Mga Mumunting Lihim (Those Little Secrets”) by Jose Javier Reyes, “Posas (Shackled)” by Lawrence Fajardo and “Kamera Obskura” by Raymond Red.
Ten films will compete in the short film category. These are: “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong” by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, “As He Sleeps” by Sheron Dayoc, “Balintuna” by Emmanuel Escalona Jr., “Bohe Sons of the Waves” by Nadjoua Bansil, “Manenaya” by Richard Legaspi, “Pasahero” by Mario Celada, “Ruweda” by Hannah Espia, “Sarong Aldaw” by Marianito Dio Jr., “Ulian (Senility)” by Chuck Gutierrez and “Victor” by Jarell M. Serencio.
Eight year
Now on its eighth year, Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, CCP, Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments, Inc. It is an all-digital film festival that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.
Cinemalaya will run from July 20-29, 2012 at the CCP and July 21-29, 2012 at Greenbelt and Trinoma.
Cinemalaya will feature about 60 films on exhibition with twenty five in competition. It features a variety of sections, namely the NCCA Premieres, Ani, Cinemalaya Documentaries focus on Early Indies.
Millado also said this year, highlights will include a retrospective of vintage and rare Filipino film ads in the collection of art patron Danny Dolor.
The Cinemalaya Film Congress is a major part of the Festival.
This year also features guest resource person Ralph Guggenheim of Pixar Studios.
For ticket inquiries, please call CCP Film Office at 832-1125 local 1704/05 and the CCP box office at 832-3704 or visit www.cinemalaya.org and www.culturalcenter.gov.ph