Cinemanila moves to Taguig

MANILA, Philippines - Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay wanted to rename it Cinemakati. But its founder, Amable “Tikoy” Aguiluz VI, said no. They want to retain the festival’s name. So, four years after its love affair with Makati, Cinemanila decided to cut and cut clean.

It has found a new partner in Taguig City, where an initially incredulous Freddie Tinga welcomed the 11-day festival (Oct. 15 to 25) with open arms.

“Art opens minds to the future,” Tinga told the press at the launch of the 11th Cinemanila Filmfest at Fully Booked, Taguig. He may not be an art expert, but he appreciates its role in making his turf, which he calls “the fastest-growing city in the country,” more competitive.

More importantly for Cinemanila organizers, Tinga will not change its name to Cine Taguig. To top it all, the mayor’s first lady, Kaye Tinga promised her city is into the festival for the long haul.

Now, Taguig residents need not leave their comfort zones and travel all the way to Manila to watch art films. All they — and their neighbors in nearby towns — need to do is go to Bonifacio Global City, where around 100 international and local films will be screened for 11 days at Market! Market! and Serendra Mall.

Far from run-of-the-mill types, these films have won awards in Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Sundance and Pusan.

Guest film luminaries are not run-of-the-mill either. Mexican actor Diego Luna is best known for his controversial role in Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001) and for Amores Perros (2000), Nicotina (2003), Rudo Y Cursi (2008) and Milk (2008), where he played Sean Penn’s obsessed lover. Luna also founded Canana Films with Garcia Bernal and Pablo Cruz.

Raging Bull and Taxi Driver writer Paul Schrader is also coming over. Martin Scorsese must trust Schrader so much the legendary filmmaker also tapped him (Schrader) to write The Last Temptation of Christ, aside from Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, of course.

Scorsese is not alone in his belief in Schrader. The screenwriter-director has also collaborated with Sydney Pollack for The Yakuza and Brian de Palma for Obsession.

Schrader directed American Gigolo (1980) and the Patty Hearst (1988), and was nominated at the Cannes Palme D’Or for Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985). Schrader also lent his expertise to the Berlin International Filmfest, where he headed the International Jury.

Speaking of jurors, Cinemanila has chosen Cannes Filmfest Best Director Brillante Mendoza to head the Main Competition Jury which will declare the festival winners come Oct. 23 at NBC Tent, The Fort.

Mendoza owes a lot to Cinemanila. The festival was among the first few which recognized his talent when it gave him the coveted Lino Brocka Award in 2006 for Manoro. Mendoza was also the Director in Focus in last year’s Cinemanila.

And while Aguiluz points to the films, not its stars, as the focal point of the filmfest, it wouldn’t hurt to pay tribute to industry giants as well. This year, the spotlight is on the late Wouter Barendrecht, staunch supporter of Asian Cinema and independent filmmaking. Thanks to him, cinematic gems like Mendoza’s Serbis, and the works of Mel Chionglo, Wong Kar Wai, Oxide, Danny Pang, Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Zhang Yuan, gained wider exposure.

Juan dela Cruz may not recognize Barendrecht, Schrader and Luna. But that doesn’t mean this year’s filmfest is not for them and only for film experts.

Its Sine Barangay brings Cinemanila films and filmmakers to Taguig neighborhoods through free workshops and screenings.

It’s a case Mohammed going to the mountains instead of the mountains going to Mohammed. Those who cannot go to Fully Booked for the regular screenings can just go to the nearest barangay hall and watch the same films.

“We want to bring indie cinema to the people. We want to make it more accessible,” explains Aguiluz.

Just to prove how bent it is in reaching out to the man on the street, Cinemanila is offering the Machinima Film Festival not just for professional or independent filmmakers but for amateurs as well.

The contest, a search for the best “machine cinema,” or real time animation based on in-game artificial intelligence and digital puppetry, is now open for entries. Those interested may submit their entries at www.cinemanila.org.ph up to Sept. 21.

Entries to the Digital Lokal category, on the other hand, may be submitted until Sept. 4.

“Who knows,” Aguiluz wonders aloud, “we may discover the next Lino Brocka or Ishmael Bernal”

If Cinemanila produced a Brillante Mendoza, Raymond Red and Lav Diaz, it can also come up with another filmmaker who can again put Philippine cinema on the world map. History can always repeat itself.