‘Fearful’ forecast of Cinemalaya X winners

Since Friday, August 1, we have been going to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for the annual Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival which is now on its tenth year. When we discovered several years ago, probably during the second year of Cinemalaya, that majority, if not all the film entries were of high quality and does not insult the sensibility of viewers, we gave it our unwavering support.

It is unlike another festival we know that says it is a festival but is actually a money-making venture and as a result, accepts entries that are sure winners at the box-office but is bereft of artistry that festivals ought to have.

We have been supporting Cinemalaya until it has achieved its current status as the most prestigious festival of indie films in the country. Most of the films shown in Cinemalaya like “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” “Bwakaw” and “Bisperas,” just to name a few, garnered critical acclaim in international film festivals.

Cinemalaya has been the venue where new and promising filmmakers are discovered. It became the launching pad of outstanding directors and writers who churned out themes and stories that normally won’t be touched by mainstream film producers. As Cinemalaya made its mark through the years, it has attracted the attention of big stars from film studios and TV networks. They joined the prestigious festival by accepting Cinemalaya film projects. Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, Ai Ai de las Alas, Dennis Trillo, Richard Gomez, Derek Ramsay, Mylene Dizon, Ricky Davao, and Alfred Vargas are just some of the marquee stars who have lent their spark to Cinemalaya.

We’ve watched all five entries in the Director’s Showcase category – Joel Lamangan’s “Hustisya,” Jay Altarejos’ “Kasal,” Mike Tuviera’s “The Janitor,” Louie Ignacio’s “Asintado” and Carlos Siguion Reyna’s “Hari ng Tondo.”

Among the performances we have seen, the most noteworthy were given by Nora Aunor, Rosanna Roces, Chynna Ortaleza and Rocco Nacino in “Hustisya”; the entire cast of “The Janitor” with special mention to Dennis Trillo, Richard Gomez and Nicco Manalo; Aiko Melendez, Jake Vargas, Miggs Cuaderno and Rita De Guzman in “Asintado”; Arnold Reyes, Oliver Aquino, and Maureen Mauricion in “Kasal,” and Robert Arevalo and Rez Cortez in “Hari ng Tondo.”

In the New Breed Category, we’ve watched “Sundalong Kanin,” “Byawa,” “Mariquina,” “Children’s Show,” “Dagitab,” “Ronda,” “Separados,” “K’Na The Dreamweaver,” and “#Y.” We missed the screening of “1st Ko si 3rd” because of heavy traffic as we arrived 45 minutes after the movie started.

For us, the acting standouts were Miggs Cuaderno and Buboy Villar (“Children’s Show”), Angeli Bayani (“Bwaya”), the four kids in “Sundalong Kanin,” Ricky Davao and Mylene Dizon in “Mariquina,” Eula Valdez and Nonie Buencamino (“Dagitab”) and the entire cast of “Separados” with special mention going to Victor Neri, Ricky Davao, Alfred Vargas, Ritz Azul and Erik Santos. For “#Y,” although we didn’t quite like the movie directed by Gino Santos, we’d like to give special mention to the performances of Elmo Magalona, Coleen Garcia, Sophie Albert and Keith Thompson. At least, they were able to deliver what was expected of them.

The Awards Night of Cinemalaya X will be held at the CCP Main Theater this Sunday, August 10 at 7 p.m. Congratulations in advance to the winners.

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We’d like to give our fearful forecast. Fearful because it might not be the same as the choice of the jurors that include Emily Abrera, film critic Mario Hernando, director-writer Jose Javier Reyes and two foreign critics.

For best actress in the Director’s Showcase, our choice is Nora Aunor in “Hustisya.” No other actress comes close to the way Ate Guy portrayed her role as Biring, the foul-mouthed woman working for a human trafficking syndicate.

For best actor, we give our vote to Dennis Trillo in “The Janitor.” Another possible winner is Arnold Reyes for “Kasal.”

The Best Supporting Actor Award should be won by Nicco Manalo in “The Janitor” while the best supporting actress could be Rosanna Roces in “Hustisya.” Or Miles Kanapi also for “Hustisya.” Or Melissa Mendez for “Separados.”

Best Picture could be “Hustisya” or “The Janitor.” Best Director is a choice between Joel Lamangan and Mike Tuviera.

In the New Breed category, our choice for best actress is Angeli Bayani for “Byawa.” Possible darkhorses are Eula Valdez in “Dagitab” and Mylene Dizon in “Mariquina.”

For best actor, personally, we’d like the two brothers Miggs Cuaderno and Buboy Villar to win for “Children’s Show.” But we will also like it if Victor Neri will win for “Separados” or if the jury will decide to give an ensemble acting award for the cast of “Separados.”

Our choice for best picture is “Sundalong Kanin.” Our choice for best director is Janice O’Hara also for the same film, with Derick Cabrido for “Children’s Show” as darkhorse.

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One thing good about Cinemalaya is the chance given to performers to shine and be discovered. Because of Cinemalaya, some actors were given the chance to be seen in a different light.

For example, TV and film director Louie Ignacio was very pleased because he handpicked the stars in his entry “Asintado” and they all delivered. It was a pleasant surprise for us to see Jake Vargas holding his own, acting-wise, opposite Aiko Melendez. Same thing goes to Rita De Guzman who played her role as a girl smitten by her crush to the hilt. We hope that GMA Artist Center see and realize that Rita and Jake, given the chance, are capable of delivering the goods given the right project.

“Starstruck” runner-up Enzo Pineda looks very promising in his role as a guerilla in “Sundalong Kanin.” It had to take Cinemalaya to unmask his potential. We do hope that Enzo, Jake and Rita will get good roles in the Kapuso network from now on.

We hope they don’t suffer the same fate as Kristoffer Martin and Sef Cadayona. Both won in the Golden Screen Awards – Kristoffer as best supporting actor and Sef as Breakthrough Actor, but GMA Artist Center did not do anything to maximize the victory of the two by giving them projects that would serve notice to their potential. What they did instead was give Kristoffer the lead role in an experimental teleserye that lasted only for two months while Sef was made a mainstay in “Bubble Gang.”

We don’t have a problem with Sef in “Bubble Gang” because he is also good in comedy, but the people at GMA should have seen Sef’s potential as a dramatic actor.

After doing films in Cinemalaya, Sef, Kristoffer, Enzo and Rita were elevated to another level. It’s up to the network to give them the right project to make them shine even more.