Filipino storytelling in a film festival

There’s always something about a film festival that draws people in, rousing their interest as to what a select mix of movies has to offer. Maybe it’s the idea that the movies went through a rigorous screening process and had to earn the majority votes of a panel of experts before they are actually released for public enjoyment.

We see it happen every year, be it in the commercial movie arena of the Metro Manila Film Festival or in the independent film cliques of the Cinemalaya, Cinemanila and Cinema One film festivals. In fact, the indie film scene is not as exclusive as it used to be. Gone are the days when indie film festivals only attracted the interest of a small audience of film connoisseurs. Just as alternative music has infiltrated the pop market, indie films have gained a wider following among a growing audience of movie enthusiasts who crave for more intelligent and substantial content which they rarely get from the hackneyed blockbuster formula of most mainstream movies.

Indeed, Filipino moviegoers have become more discerning and they crave for films that have more social relevance, movies that offer enlightenment albeit in an entertaining, absorbing and visually compelling approach. It is for this reason that PLDT-Smart Foundation, MediaQuest, Studio 5 and Unitel Entertainment conceptualized and spearheaded the CineFilipino Film Festival to encourage filmmakers to submit screenplays that reflect their passion and their truly Filipino way of storytelling.

Ten months after CineFilipino initially opened its doors last August, 2012, not to mention the meticulous process of screening 146 entries submitted by interested filmmakers all across the country and awarding the seed grant of P1.5M for each selected project, the eight movie finalists are all set to be showcased at the film festival’s special run from June 26 to July 23.

According to CineFilipino festival director Vince Nebrida, the committee was surprised with the quality of the screenplays they received. “The early ones were good but not great, and then as we got more submissions we were surprised at the high caliber of the scripts. We chose the eight finalists on the basis of originality of material and freshness of approach, the authentic reflection of Filipino culture and human experience, and their good potential for audience engagement,” Nebrida shared.

When asked how he would describe all eight films that comprise CineFilipino’s first batch of festival finalists, Nebrida simply replied, “Great stories. They’re all worth watching.” Great seems to be an apt word to define CineFilipino’s roster of finalists — from the exciting list of movie entries, to the filmmakers themselves, and to the cast who topbill each film.

Speaking of cast, saying that CineFilipino has a stellar line-up of artists may still be an understatement. Stellar may not be brilliant enough a word to describe a film festival that has Superstar Nora Aunor in its maiden offering. What can be a more heart-gripping experience than seeing the Superstar in the most distinct place where she shines brightest — on the big screen!

The Superstar will be seen playing the titular role in Mes De Guzman’s CineFilipino entry Ang Kuwento Ni Mabuti. Shot in the scenic province of Nueva Vizcaya, the movie is a compelling family drama that tells the story of a healer named Mabuti who still maintains a positive outlook in life despite her poverty. Her personal principles and ideologies are put to the test, however, when she finds a bag containing a huge sum of money. The script calls for Nora to speak the Ilocano dialect throughout the movie, another first for the Superstar, another reason why we should see the film.

Ang Kuwento Ni Mabuti is just one of the finalists a lot of movie enthusiasts are looking forward to when CineFilipino opens on June 26. The other seven entries also have their own cinematic strengths and roster of stars to rave about. Sigrid Bernard’s Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita tells the story of a blossoming girlhood crush as 12-year-old Anita (Jay Bordon) falls in love with the new woman in town, Pilar (portrayed by seasoned actress Angel Aquino).

TV5’s primetime princess Jasmine Curtis-Smith makes her film debut in Mike Alcazaren’s suspense-thriller Puti, which also stars Ian Veneracion, Lauren Young and Bryan Pagala. Another TV5 newcomer, Artista Academy grand finalist Akihiro Blanco, also makes his first movie stint in Ato Bautista’s coming-of-age love story Mga Ala-ala Ng Tag-Ulan, where he portrays a young man who experiences his first love, romance and heartbreak with the sexy Mocha Uson playing his character’s object of affection.

Tuesday Vargas, who is also a TV5 talent regularly seen in Talentadong Pinoy and Loko Moko U, takes the lead role in Randolph Longjas’ cross-cultural romantic comedy Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin, with Travis Kraft playing Tuesday’s American husband as they portray a Filipino-American couple celebrating life with karaoke music, superstitious in-laws, immigration laws, unexpected pregnancies, brown-outs, Thanksgiving turkey, with love on the side.

Ron Bryant’s Bingoleras is also a comedy film based on the intersecting lives of six women playing bingo. The movie also has an impressive line-up of stars led by Eula Valdez, Max Eigenmann, Charee Pineda, Mercedes Cabral, Hazel Orencio, Liza Diño, Lou Veloso, Junjun Quintania, Art Acuña, Cita Astals, Amay Bisaya and Coco Martin in a special role.

Rock artist Kitchie Nadal shows her acting chops in Janice Perez’s music-filled youth drama The Muses about sibling rivalry in the music business where two sisters discover hidden truths about fame, family and their own selves.

Rounding up CineFilipino’s lineup of eight finalists is a film megged by the sibling duo of Sari Raissa Dalena and Kiri Dalena, the controversial entry Guerilla Is A Poet, a daring docu-drama based on the life of martial law activist Joma Sison.

With all these eight movies covering a range of genres and rarely explored themes, the first CineFilipino Film Festival has already achieved a milestone. This early, the films are already generating attention for their content and the track record of the filmmakers themselves. Many of these films have the potential of gaining international acclaim, and it pays to be first to see them at the CineFilipino Film Festival before they go on to make their mark in different parts of the world.