Tag Archives: mercedes cabral

7th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival Gala Premiere Photos

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.

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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!

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GANAP NA BABAE: A Film for Women by Women

Cinemalaya Week! It is the season wherein independent filmmakers and supporters are united to watch some of the best Pinoy movies produced within the year. Now on its sixth year, Cinemalaya offers new categories that will surely make every moviegoer confused on which film to watch first.

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Mercedes Cabral is 'smoking hot' in Ganap na Babae's 'Minsan May Isang Puta' segment

The opening night happened last July 9, 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Being a part of the print media (in a way LOL) has its perks, and I was able to get a pass from the Pinoy Parazzi office. I arrived in the venue at 7pm and was able to catch the trailers of the different movies competing at the New Breed, Shorts and Director’s Showcase category. The directors of the films featured this year were also introduced, and a lot of people were interested with the different themes presented (although most of them tackle political and social issues).

The main reason why I went there is for the screening of the opening film. If last year Martin and Alix collaborated with Piolo Pascual and other mainstream artists to produce the Brocka tribute film Manila, three lady directors joined forces for a film for women by women titled ‘Ganap na Babae’.
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