Diversity marks Cinema One finalists

Eclectic is this year’s batch of finalists in the Cinema One Originals digital film festival.

Ronald Arguelles, Cinema One channel head, notes: “We have four female directors along with five regional films in the mix. There are movies set in Mindanao, Mindoro, Cebu, even in Nueva Vizcaya.”

In terms of genre, this year’s Cinema One offers variety as well. “There are heavy and light drama entries, comedies, horror flicks, art-house films and movies about children.”

All 10 titles, said Arguelles, promise “to introduce new filmmaking talents telling exciting and relevant stories.”

The 10 finalists are: Shireen Seno’s “Big Boy;” Dennis Marasigan’s “Anatomiya ng Korupsyon;” Sari Lluch Dalena’s “Ka Oryang;” Brandon Relucio and Ivan Zaldarriaga’s “Di Ingon Na ’To (Not Like Us);” Victor Villanueva’s “My Paranormal Romance;” Earl Bontuyan’s “Sa Ilalim ng Tulay;” Mes de Guzman’s “Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa;” Ivy Universe Baldoza’s “Mga Anino ng Tanghaling Tapat;” Gutierrez Mangansakan II’s “Cartas de la Soledad;” and Antoinette Jadaone’s “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay.”

“Big Boy” is described as an experimental coming-of-age, about a kid growing up in his family’s cod liver oil business in Mindoro. “Mga Anino sa Tanghaling Tapat” is envisioned as one woman’s mystical journey to uncover her mother’s sensuous past.

“Sa Ilalim ng Tulay” tackles the plight of children; “My Paranormal Romance” tells of a schoolgirl pursuing her crush in a haunted Cebu campus. “Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa” is about street kids in Nueva Vizcaya who steal Rugby for their addiction.

Based on a play by Malou Jacob, “Anatomiya ng Korupsyon” is a satire on the roots of greed in a small government office. “Cartas de la Soledad” or “Letters of Solitude” chronicles the reverie of a recluse in Mindanao who writes letters in Spanish.

“Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” is a bittersweet homage to a perennial extra (bit-player Cuntapay) who anxiously prepares a speech after getting nominated for the first time. “Ka Oryang” focuses on female political detainees who are tortured in prison. “Di Ingon Na ’To” centers on a far-flung barangay in Cebu that is attacked by zombies.

Each of the 10 finalists, chosen from nearly 150 entries, will receive a cash grant of P1 million to produce the movie.

In its seventh year, the digital fest is spearheaded by Filipino movie cable channel Cinema One, which is operated by ABS-CBN’s Creative Programs Inc.

The fest opens in October at the Shangri-La Plaza mall, Mandaluyong City.