My presence in the online world is hardly felt last week. I focused on watching the competing films featured at the 7th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. There are over 30+ films featured and just like the previous years, I focused on the New Breed Category. There are nine competing films under the New Breed category this year and I am proud to say that I saw ALL of them.
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)
I am happy with the line-up of indie films this year. The organizers see to it that the movies for this year are from different genres with various themes. These movies made me cry, laugh, wonder, worry, depress, grateful and learned a lot from each film. The trailers are not spoon-feeding. I noticed a number of films that gave a melodrama impression to those who viewed the teasers on YouTube, but they end up to be far from what we expected. I think that is a big plus compared to most of our mainstream films where they give too much information about the story. Why watch then?
I only missed three days in Cinemalaya: The Opening Night, the Sunday and Wednesday screening. I was present in the rest of the movie days and luckily, I got the chance to attend the Gala Premiere of the following movies: Nino by Loy Arcenas, I-Libings by Rommel Sales, Isda by Adolf Alix Jr., Ang Babae sa Septic Tank by Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez, Cuchera by Joseph Laban, Ligo Na U, Lapit na Me by Erick Salud, Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Paa by Alvin Yapan, Bahay Bata by Eduardo Roy Jr., Rakenrol by Quark Henares and Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington by Jade Castro. Whew!