16 PH films in San Francisco

“DIABLO”

Largely due to the “popular, critical and artistic success” of the first New Filipino Cinema held last year, organizers have decided to make the film fest an “annual event.”

New Filipino Cinema 2013, which will be held at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco from June 5 to 9, will showcase a diverse selection of 16 Filipino films—features, documentaries, shorts and a digitally restored classic.

Leading the lineup is Ishmael Bernal’s digitally restored “Himala.”

Acclaimed works from the Cinemalaya and Cinema One digital film festivals are on the list as well: Vincent Sandoval’s “Aparisyon,” Mes de Guzman’s “Diablo,” Marie Jamora’s “Ang Nawawala,” Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Kalayaan” and Shireen Seno’s “Big Boy.”

“BIG BOY”

Docus like Benito Bautista’s “Harana” and Jewel Maranan’s “Tundong Magiliw” will likewise be shown.

Two films from Mindanao represent the vibrant regional cinema scene: Arnel Mardoquio’s “Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim” and Gutierrez Mangansakan II’s “Qiyamah.”

Four short films by women filmmakers are in the program, too: Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo’s “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong,” Janus Victoria’s “Aurora, My Aurora,” Anna Isabelle Matutina’s “Imik” and Aiess Alonso’s “Katapusang Labok.”

An experimental film, Whammy Alcazaren’s “Colossal,” is included this year, along with a “commercial movie … the delightfully deranged (and indie in spirit) Erik Matti’s ‘Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles.’”

Its website asserted that this year’s New Filipino Cinema lineup proves that “the Philippines remains one of the most creative and exciting countries for independent filmmaking.” Bayani San Diego Jr.