Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival goes digital for its 16th edition!
One of the country's biggest and beloved film festivals has partnered with Vimeo to brought forth a smorgasbord of short films, full-features, documentaries, and digital classics to our screens. Available from August 7 to 16 for an affordable price, viewers will be able to enjoy old and new films and the 10 short films, selected from 244 entries, competing for the title of "Best Film" at the festival.
Here are the 10 short films contending for this year's main competition:
1.) Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert dir. Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori
Gawad Urian winner, Dido de la Paz (Respeto), stars as a closeted gay man longing for his departed ex-lover through a broken vinyl record in this light and simple movie by Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori.
Connection through music. “Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert” is about a gay man, Bert (Dido de la Paz), who in his 60s received a broken vinyl record from his dead ex-lover. In his attempt to salvage what is left from him, he enlisted the help of a record store owner, Miyo (Solomon Cruz), who is also yearning for her deceased wife. Both living in solitude and grief, the two forms an unlikely friendship through music and memories they hold dear.
“Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert” doesn't need to do much on its narrative to make it more compelling. For me, the simple story is enough to make me realized that moving on and learning to let go is part of loving. Gacosta and Marfori might've realized that to tell the story of Lolo Bert, there is no need to overwhelm the viewers with the whys and the hows of HIV. I appreciate that the movie doesn't give us any reason to stigmatized HIV, instead, it invites us to see them as people.
"Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert" is simply a sublime film. A sweet story complimented by De la Paz and Cruz stand-out performance. The two effortlessly makes beautiful melody together, complementing each other's characteristic and persona. The perfect film to start your Cinemalaya 2020 experience.
2.) Pabasa Kan Pasyon dir. Hubert Tibi's
In this short black-and-white drama, religion is put into a new light.
A story with a lot to say. “Pabasa Kan Pasyon,” is about a family in Albay, Bicol who makes a living off their faith during the Lenten season. With opportunities for work diminishing through the advancement of technology, director Hubert Tibi asks the question: is religion as a commodity wrong or not?
Honestly, “Pabasa Kan Pasyon” is edgy and interesting yet clueless of what it wants to say. His film oscillates between the commoditization of religion and the modernization of provinces, though neither are discussed deeply. Tibi's idea sway and meager along with the narrative, which left me more confused rather than enlightened.
Don't get me wrong, Tibi’s film is done with precision. It is one of the most beautifully shot short in the lineup and the use of black-and-white to represent the Holy Week is brilliant. However, his film feels incomplete with a lot of room to improve upon. Not my cup of tea in the lineup.
"Pabasa Kan Pasyon" won Best Screenplay at the 16th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
3.) Fatigued dir. James Robin Mayo
The line between nightmare and reality gets blurry in this interactive horror short film.
Probably the most unique film in the competition, “Fatigued” is an interactive horror short film that is about an overworked worker who overslept going home late at night. As the night and his sleep get deeper, his nightmare slowly becomes his reality.
As the title suggests, James Robin Mayo’s horror short film is a commentary on the exploitation of workers. "Fatigued" uses "sleep paralysis" as a metaphor to illustrate the stress and exhaustion of overworked workers. Though despite that, this movie feels like it still has more left in it to fill like a firm critique regarding capitalism and the state of the workers in the Philippines.
In essence, “Fatigued” is an experience and an excellent example of how to use the current watch-from-home set up to deliver a scary movie. Though I wish that It could’ve been more but it’s okay for now.
4.) Tokwifi dir. Carla Pulido Ocampo
A mestiza star meets a lovelorn Igorot boy in this unusual boy-meets-girl story.
Cinemalaya 2020 Best Film. “Tokwifi” is about an Igorot boy, Lummayog (Kurt 'Ayeo-eo' Alalag), who stumble upon a television that fell from the sky. Inside it is a mestiza named Laura Blancaflor (Adrienne Vergara), whose life is planned out for her through a script. Awkward at first, their accidental meeting eventually blossoms into a beautiful friendship.
“Tokwifi” is so absurd that it's so compelling. It's a story that manages to talk about Igorot as a tribe, colonialism, language barriers, cultural differences, love, and acceptance in just 20 minutes. It's also a reminder that we all love differently and that there are many reasons and ways to love someone.
It's impossible to ignore this masterpiece by director Carla Pulido Ocampo. It's sincere, beautiful, and warm. "Tokwifi" is truly deserving of what it has achieved. I will not be surprised if it earns more recognition in the future. This is a must-watch!
"Tokwifi" won both Best Film and NETPAC Jury Prize at the 16th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
5.) Quing Lalam Ning Aldo dir. Reeden Fajardo
In this short film, a gay Sampaguita vendor awaits the return of his son from overseas.
“Quing Lalam Ning Aldo” follows Budang (Jeff Gando) and his friend Georgia (Lucas Dungca) as they prepare for the return of his son, Janjan (JR Dula). However, a last-minute change of plan puts their whole preparation in haywire.
Warm, joyous, sweet, and endearing, “Quing Lalam Ning Aldo” captured what it’s like coming home. Reeden Fajardo's outstanding direction captured the warmth and the euphoria of finally reuniting with your loved one. This movie serves as a love letter and a reminder to those who work hard to give a bright future to their children, to those who wait for their loved one's return, and to those who are longing to come back home. Certainly, there is no place like home.
“Quing Lalam Ning Aldo” won Audience Choice at the 16th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
6.) Ang Pagpapakalma sa Unos dir. Joanna Vasquez Arong
This year’s very important film is a meditative revisit on what happened seven years ago.
Joanna Arong’s documentary film, “Ang Pagpapakalma sa Unos,” weaves together stills and videos of the aftermath of the Yolanda Typhoon. Considered as one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded in Philippine history, Arong's film carries the unbearable weight of sadness, distress, and hopelessness felt by the people in Tacloban.
"Ang Pagpapakalma sa Unos" is this year's bravest and hardest film to watch with 18 minutes of heartbreaking images and videos, and a haunting narration from Arong about the Yolanda disaster. It's an outright call for justice and change from the government. Nothing would be able to carry the gravity of the importance of this movie. Go and watch it!
"Ang Pagpapakalma sa Unos" won the Special Jury Prize at the Cinemalaya 2020 awarding.
7.) Living Things dir. Martika Ramirez Escobar
Martika Ramirez Escobar‘s short film is a study on romantic relationships.
The only constant in life changes. What would happen if your partner suddenly changes forever? “Living Things,” tells the story of Kints (Kints Kintana) and Charles (Charles Aaron Salazar), a couple who has been together for almost a decade. Until one day, Charles changes permanently.
Martika Ramirez Escobar‘s film is a thesis on relationships and changes. “Living Things” pictures a not so perfect relationship, contrary to what we normally see in fiction. To Escobar, relationships are established through a lot of questioning. Worries and uncertainties are part of it. To say it simply, nothing is perfect in a relationship and, also, nothing is constant. People changed. But that's okay.
There is love in acceptance and there is beauty in acknowledging that something cannot be revert back to its original form. Escobar's film comfort those who think they are changing. Her film is a reminder that it's normal for living things to change. Even if it's scary, it's okay.
"Living Things" won Best Direction at the 16th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
8.) Utwas dir. Richard Jeroui Salvadico & Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay
This short film is a coming-of-age story of a young deep diver who began to understand how man connects to the ocean.
"Utwas" follows young Toto (Joemel Bancayan) who is being mentored by his father (Rene Requiron) on how to dive and catch fishes. When suddenly the ocean's tide changes due to fishermen's use of dynamite when fishing, prompting them to quickly arise. This incident sparks some curiosity within Toto, as he began to understand the importance and connection of the ocean to people.
This Hiligaynon short is rich in production but lacks a compelling narrative to make it work. The problem with “Utwas” is that it's unsure of what it wants to tell. Yes, the film is saying that the ocean is important especially for poor families in poor provinces. Though it never feels like this idea is being supported by in the film. There are mentions about dynamite fishing but it leads to nowhere after implying that it changes the 'mood' of the ocean.
I guess this movie is trying too hard to sell a message about the current treatment of our ocean that it ended up to be an incoherent mess. Moreover, “Utwas,” for me, is the weakest among the rest. Though I like to believe that this movie just needs a little more context to be compelling.
9.) Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss dir. Sonny Calvento
Sonny Calvento’s fun short film is an easy favorite in the lineup, as it combines humor and many social issues.
“Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” follows Vangie, a saleslady, who accidentally uncovers the secret of regularization after her boss, Ma'am Charo, terminated her.
A short dark comedy film about the absurdity of employment and contractualization here in the Philippines. Sonny Calvento’s “Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” is jazzy, funny, and surprisingly relevant despite how carefree and merry it looks.
“Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” is a reflection of reality. This short film outright shows how employees are exploited for the benefit of the company they work for. The imbalance in power is apparent and the commentary about poverty is on-point. This movie is one of the many short films that you should see immediately.
10.) The Slums dir. Jan Andrei Cobey
Jan Andrei Cobey’s mockumentary is a masterclass on how to romanticize poverty.
"The Slums" chronicles the daily life of the Dela Cruz family. A poor family that lives in the slums of Tondo, Manila. They are being filmed and interviewed by a documentary crew, who slowly manipulate their reality to make them poorer.
Jan Andrei Cobey's comedy film is witty and charming on the surface but deep down it's a romanticization of poverty and a subverting of the many poverty stereotypes. Cobey's film also highlights how the camera makes us see what is non-existing. The film question the authenticity of the so-called "poverty porn" and the bleak approach of filmmakers on the subject.
Furthermore, "The Slums" thrived because of the performance of its casts. Sunshine Teodoro is a hands-down standout with her natural allure and empty stares, she manages to endear us to her character as a self-doubting but loving mother. Dylan Ray Talon, Jorrybell Agoto, Ken-ken Nuyad, and Don Melvin Boongaling are all perfect for their roles and enough to energized the narrative, their characters, and the script.
"The Slums" is an easy movie to watch. It tells a pressing issue but it doesn't take things too seriously to be overbearing. A must-see and the perfect film to cap off your Cinemalaya experience.
