Cinemalaya in a nutshell

Kuwentong Peyups

IFIRST saw the film “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” when it premiered in 2005 at the First Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Set in the slums of Manila, the coming-of-age comedy-drama film by fellow UP alumnus Auraeus Solito is about a gay teen (Nathan Lopez) who is torn between his love for a young cop (JR Valentin) and his loyalty to his family.

Although it did not win the Best Film award, it became one of the icons of indie films and has been included in various lists of best gay films. It was the Philippines’ official entry to the 79th Academy Awards.

Nineteen years since Maximo was shown, this year’s Cinemalaya will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) instead of the CCP from August 4 to 13, 2023 with the theme “Iluminasyon.”

The so-called “indie films” embody Cinemalaya’s vision: “The creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.”

This year’s 10 full-length films include Ang Duyan ng Magiting by Dustin Celestino; As If It’s True by John Rogers; Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer) by Kenneth De La

Cruz; Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo; Huling Palabas by Ryan Machado; Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing) by Carl Joseph Papa; Maria by Sheryl Rose Andes; Rookie by Samantha Lee; Tether by Gian Arre; and When This is All Over by Kevin Mikhail Mayuga. The short film section also has 10 entries.

The full-length section has only one set of films from 2005 to 2009 called New Breed, with another section added from 2010 to 2014 called Director’s Showcase. It reverted back to one set as the Main Competition since 2016.

The past winning films in New Breed include Pepot Artista (2005), Tulad ng Dati (2006), Tribu (2007), Jay (2008), Last Supper No. 3 (2009), Halaw (2010), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011), Diablo (2012), Transit (2013), and Bwaya (2014).

The winners in the Directors’ showcase include Donor (2010), Bisperas (2011), Posas (2012), Sana Dati (2013) and Kasal (2014).

The winners in the Main competition include Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016), Respeto (2017), Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon (2018), John Denver Trending (2019), and The

Baseball Player (2022). There were no winners for two years (2020-2021) due to the pandemic.

Eddie Garcia won Best Actor thrice for ICU Bed#7 (2005), Bwakaw (2012), and ML (2018), while Baron Geisler won twice for Jay (2008) and Donor (2010).

Two actresses won Best Actress twice: Merylle Soriano for Room Boy (2005) and Donor (2010) and Ina Feleo for Endo (2007) and Sanglaan (2009).

Best Actress awards in the New Breed also went to Angel Aquino for Donsol (2006), Mylene Dizon for 100 (2008), Lovi Poe for Mayohan (2010), Eugene Domingo for Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011) Ama Quiambao for Diablo (2012), Irma Adlawan for Transit (2013) and Eula Valdez for Dagitab (2014).

The other Best Actors in New Breed include Alchris Galura for Batad (2006), Lou Veloso for Colorum (2009), John Arcilla for Halaw (2010), Edgar Allan Guzman for Ligo na, Lapit na Me (2011), and Dante Rivero for 1st ko si 3rd (2014).

Winners in the Main also include Hasmine Killip for Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016), Angeli Bayani for Bagahe (2017), Ai-Ai Delas Alas for School Service (2018) Ruby Ruiz for Iska (2019) and Max Eigenmann for 12 Weeks (2022) for Best Actresses, and Tommy Abuel for Dagsin (2016), and Tommy Alejandrino for Baseball Player (2022) for Best Actors.

Two persons won the Best Director award twice: Aureus Solito for Pisay (2007) and Busong (2011) and the late Eduardo Roy Jr. for Pamilya Ordinaryo (2011) and Fuccbois (2019).

Roy also directed Quick Change where transgender Mimi Juareza won as Best Actor in the 2013 New Breed. In the Directors’ showcase, Vilma Santos won Best Actress in Ekstra (2013), while Nora Aunor won the following year for Hustisya (2014). There was no winner for Best Actor in 2013.

In 2012, the best actress award was given in the Director’s showcase to an ensemble—Judy Ann Santos, Iza Calzado, Agot Isidro, and Janice de Belen of Mga Mumunting Lihim The Tribu cast grabbed the best actor award also as an ensemble in New Breed in 2007.

The youngest best actor awardee was 13-year old Noel Comia Jr. for Kiko Boksingero (2017) followed by 15-year old Jansen Magpusao for John Denver Trending (2019).

Only short films competed in 2015, 2020 and 2021. Decades before “indie films” became a trend, I had the opportunity see the works of alternative filmmakers during my college years in the late ’80s and ’90s at UP Diliman.

Some of the films include Lino Brocka’s “Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” and “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim,” Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” (1982), Mike de Leon’s “Sister Stella L.,” and Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Karnal” whose daring works portrayed revolt, labor unionism, social ostracism, and class division. Even “pene” films that had grown more pornographic and taboo were also screened. Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.