Cinema One Originals finalists, showcased films unveiled

“Ten years is a good round number to wrap up an era,” declared Cinema One Originals 2015 festival director Ronald Arguelles.

Reflecting on the past 10 years of the festival, Arguelles said Cinema One has since become known as a venue open to all film types. “It has the most diverse of selections—in different genres, from different regions. We welcome them all. A film that is progressive and forward-thinking will surely be included in the lineup,” said Arguelles, who is also Cinema One channel head.

Arguelles recently announced the nine films included in this year’s festival, which runs until Nov. 17 at cinemas in TriNoma, Glorietta, Resorts World and SM Megamall.

EPY QUIZON (left) and Felix Roco in “Mga Rebeldeng Walang Kaso”

The annual indie fete opens Sunday night at 7, with the screening of Erik Matti’s “Honor Thy Father,” featuring John Lloyd Cruz and Meryll Soriano, at Cinema 7 of TriNoma Mall in Quezon City.

Cinema One has produced some of the “most unique, diverse, adventurous indie films in local cinema,” Arguelles pointed out.

This year’s theme, “Kakaiba Ka Ba?” is a play on words of the Mike de Leon 1980 musical comedy “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?”

“The theme talks to the type of audience who are daring and are risk-takers,” Arguelles said.

Incidentally, the remastered version of “Kakabakaba Ka Ba?” will be shown on Dec. 9, also at the TriNoma.

EPY QUIZON (left) and Felix Roco in “Mga Rebeldeng Walang Kaso”

Cross-generational

First in the Cinema One Originals 2015 lineup is Joel Ferrer’s cross-generational screwball romantic comedy “Baka Siguro Yata,” which stars Bangs Garcia, Dino Pastrana, Ricky Davao and Cherie Gil.

Sheron Dayoc’s horror flick “Bukod Kang Pinagpala,” features real-life mother-and-daughter Bing Pimentel and Max Eigenmann as a duo in the grip of sinister forces.

Ivan Andrew Payawal’s comedy, “The Comeback,” talks of suicide and celebrity. It features Kaye Abad as a fading star whose life takes an unexpected turn.

Sari Dalena’s “Dahling Nick,” an experimental docu-fiction hybrid celebrates the life and work of Nick Joaquin with Raymond Bagatsing in the title role.

Bor Ocampo’s “Dayung Asu,” featuring Ricky Davao and Junjun Quintana as a father and a son enmeshed in a life of crime, is an homage to Filipino action films, set in a unique milieu.

Ralston Jover’s “Hamog,” with Zaijan Jaranilla and Teri Malvar as street children, blends neo-realism and magic realism.

Carl Joseph Papa’s fully animated “Manang Biring” is the touching story of a terminal patient and her estranged daughter with Erlinda Villalobos voicing the lead character.

Raymond Red’s “Mga Rebeldeng Walang Kaso” is a look back at the early days of the first wave of Philippine independent cinema with Felix Roco, Epy Quizon, Earl Ignacio and Nicco Manalo.

Lastly, Ara Chawdhury’s “Miss Bulalacao,” which introduces performance artist Russ Ligtas in his first film role, is a comedy about a young drag queen whose life is changed by a strange encounter.

Aside from the nine entries, there will also be a special screening of Sherad Sanchez’s horror film “Salvage,” with Jessy Mendiola as a reporter lost in a haunted jungle.

Cinema One Originals 2015 will also showcase foreign films like Miguel Gomez’s “Arabian Nights,” Hou Hsiao Hsien’s “The Assassin,” Hong Sang Soo’s “Right Now, Wrong Then,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Lobster” and Roy Andresson’s “A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence.”

This year’s Filipino Classics section will feature the restored versions of Ishmael Bernal’s “Ikaw ay Akin,” Lino Brocka’s “Insiang” and Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Karnal.”

Cinema One will pay tribute to the pioneers of alternative cinema, Raymond Red, Nick Deocampo, Roxlee and Joey Agbayani.