Tuesday, April 24, 2018

CineFilipino Film Festival 2018 in 10 cinema venues | May 9-15, 2018


Five years after its debut in the industry, the CineFilipino Film Festival (CFFF) continues to showcase new filmmakers churning out exceptional stories. Organized by Cignal Entertainment and Unitel Productions, Inc. CFFF has rolled out the finalists for this year’s search for indie greats. The lineup of features reveals a wide spectrum of genres exceptionally created by a dynamic group of young and imaginative filmmakers.


CineFilipino Film Festival will be held on May 9-15, 2018 in the following cinemas:

CINE LOKAL:  SM North Edsa / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / SM Manila / SM Mall of Asia / SM Southmall

PLUS: GREENBELT 1 Cinema 1 / GATEWAY Cinema 4 / CINEMA CENTENARIO / BLACK MARIA

CineFilipino Film Festival 2018
The eight (8) feature length films are:


1.  Delia & Sammy 
directed by Theresa Cayaba
An ill-tempered old actress Delia, has to find family to leave her equally difficult husband with before she dies, forcing themselves back.
SYNOPSIS
Delia, 76, just found out she is dying. Her husband, Sammy, 81 relies on her to take care of him as they’ve never had children. Sammy has diabetes, gout, and showing signs of Alzheimer's. Both have never been good people their whole lives. Delia was the stuck-up ex-movie star, and Sammy was a hard ex-military man. With Sammy having severed his ties with his remaining family long ago, the now old, frail and dying Delia has to track them down. Using their trusty old Mercedes Benz, the two will travel far and out in the hopes to find forgiveness and acceptance during their last days.



2.  Excuse Me Po 
directed by Ronald Espinosa Batallones

To live is to deceive.

SYNOPSIS
Ang EXCUSE ME PO ay kuwento ni Hilda (65) isang Senior Citezen na nanlilimos sa loob at sa labas ng kilalang mall. Nagkukunwaring naiwan siya ng kanyang mga kasamahan at nandoon sa kanila ang kanyang perang pamasahe. Dati siyang Extra sa pelikula noong dekada otsenta kaya malaking tulong ang kanyang kaalaman sa pag-arte sa panlilinlang ng mga tao. Gagawin niya ang lahat para sa kanyang asawang may sakit na Parkinson’s disease at para maitaguyod ang kabutihan ng tatlong apo. 

Sa lansangan, iba’t ibang tao ang kanyang nakakasalamuha. Si Mang Efren ang matandang bendor ng sigarilyo na may alagang aso. Si Stella ang dating sikat na boldstar na naging palabuy at si Luisa ang kanyang partner sa mga raket. Para sa kanya ang kanyang raket na panlilinlang ay parang shooting na may nakatutok na camera sa kanya. Pag may nagbigay ng malaking pera sa kanya ay pakiramdam niya ay “good take” at pag kinukutya siya ay galit naman sa kanya ang director. Bago nag viral ang letrato ni Hilda sa internet ay sinusubaybayan na siya ni Ruel, isang baguhang manunulat ng pelikula. Nangyari na ang dapat na mangyari. Pumayag si Hilda na gamitin ang kuwento ng kanyang buhay para sa isang pelikula. Magsisimula na ang shooting ng pelikula na pinamagatang "Excuse Me Po" kaso may malaking problema, hindi na pupuwede si Ms. Elizabeth Oropesa para sa papel na Hilda. Sa bandang huli si Hilda na rin ang gumanap sa kuwento ng kanyang buhay. 



3.  Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus 
directed by Dwein Baltazar
Sa Avenida, Manila nagsasanga-sanga ang buhay ng apat na iba't ibang lalaking may kanya-kanyang hinahanap; lahat ng ito ay matatagpuan nila.
SYNOPSIS
Pagkat hindi naman daw puso talaga ang nagdidikta kundi ang ating Hypothalamus, isang maliit na bahagi ng utak na siyang kumikilala sa pag-ibig, maging sa gutom, uhaw, pagnanais. Marahil ‘sing liit ng Avenida sa pusod ng Maynila, kung sa’n nagsasanga-sanga ang landas nina Caloy (27), trabahador sa ukayan, Lando (60’s), may-ari ng isang repair shop. Alex (19), estudyante at ni Obeng (40’s) isang magnanakaw. Anong ligoy man nila sa isa’t-isa siyang naman pag-uugnay sa kanila ng isang dalagang si Aileen. Una nating makikilala si Aileen sa mata ng probinsyanong si Caloy, para sa kanya si Aileen ay ang tipo ng babaeng pwede niyang iuwi sa probinsya at ipakilala sa kanyang mga magulang. Caloy desires “The Wife” . Sunod sa mata ng malibog at biyudong si Lando. Nakikita ni Lando si Aileen, bilang isang kasangkapan, sagot sa tawag ng kanyang laman. Lando desires “The Whore”. Matatagpuan naman ni Alex, kay Aileen lahat ng mga katangiang hinahanap niya sa kanyang x- girlfriend na si Pam. He desires “The Soulmate”. Huli, sa mata ng magnanakaw na si Obeng, na madalas pinagnanakawan si Aileen dahil ito lang ang paraan niya para mahawakan, malapitan ang dalaga. At sa tuwing nagagawa niya ito’y pakiramdam niya’y hindi na siya nag-iiisa. Obeng desires “The Companion” Magkakaiba man ang hinahanap ng bawat lalaki’ymakikita nilang lahat ito kay Aileen: ang wife, ang whore, soulmate at companion. Parang tubig na nag-iibang anyo depende sa hulma, ito si Aileen. Pero sino nga ba siya? Walang sagot sa dulo, ngunit isang bagay lang ang tiyak. Lahat ng lalaki’y ninais si Aileen with all their Hypothalamus. 



4.  Hitboy 
directed by Bor Ocampo
At 16, Hitboy Alex is a full-time kid who plays a game of survival as a part time gun for hire.
SYNOPSIS
Alex lives in an impoverished area of informal settlers and works as a low-rent gun-for-hire. Upon finding out that he is to have a baby with his girlfriend, he makes a choice of doing one last hit before he leaves the life of crime for good. 


5.  Mata Tapang 
directed by Rod Marmol
An absolutist soldier who lost an eye in battle opens a new "eye" that makes him see his fallen brothers and accomplish their life missions. 
SYNOPSIS
Para kay HARDROCK na isang sarhentong sanay sa bakbakan, malinaw ang hati sa pagitan ng mga tama at maling pinaniniwalaan niya sa buhay. Patunay dito ang pagiging istrikto niya sa panganay niyang isang pilantik na lang bago mabakla, at sa misis na pinaghihinalaang nakikipaglandian sa iba. Pero kung gaano kalamig si Hardrock tungo sa pamilya niya, ganun naman siya kakengkoy sa mga kasamahan. Lalo na sa toy collector at officer na si YULO, sa relihiyosong manyakis na si RAZON, sa pabebeng hipong si GIMO, at sa kababatang si BANGKS. Para kay Hardrock, sila ang mas “pamilya” niya. Pero sa isang mission ay mamamatay lahat ng kasamahan ni Hardrock. Dahil sa kanyang kapabayaan at pagkauhaw sa tagumpay. Dito rin siya masusugatan at matatanggalan ng kaliwang mata. Magdidilim ang paningin at puso ni Hardrock. Halos ayaw niya nang makita ang asawa’t pamilya. Pero nang matanggal na ang benda sa nagsara niyang mata ay may panibago namang magbubukas. Isa-isa niyang makikita sina Yulo, Razon, Gimo, at Bangks. Bawat isa, may huling misyon na ipapagawa kay Hardrock, ang dahilan kung bakit na-rush ang ending nila. Mas delikado pa sa kahit anong misyong kinaharap ni Hardrock ang kailangan niyang tuparin para sa mga kasamahan. May magpapa-libing ng napatay na kalaban sa Libingan ng mga Bayani, may magpapa-out sa tatay na barangay captain, may magpapabigay ng jejemon na pangalan sa sanggol, at may magrerequest ng first date sa babaeng buong-buhay niyang minahal mula sa malayo. Ang mga misyong ito ang raratrat sa mga pinaniniwalaan ni Hardrock. Pero ito rin ang magpapakilala sa tunay na pagkatao ng mga kasamahan niya, at mismong sa sarili niyang pagmamahal sa mga anak at sa asawa. Sa huli, ito ang magtuturo kay Hardrock na makita ang mga bagay sa pagitan. Kahit na isa na lang ang mata niya. 



6.  Mga Mister ni Rosario 
directed by Allan Habon
Sari is the perfect stage wife to his method actor husband, until he gets the role of a lifetime and threatens to kill her ‘character.’ 
SYNOPSIS
“Behind a great man is a great woman.” For Yogi Juan (32), Philippine Showbiz’s Golden Boy, that’s his wife Bea (30), na tino-tolerate ang idiosyncrasies niya sa career. Hindi iyon madali-- dahil si Yogi ay isang method actor. Dalang-dala niya ang bawat role, to the point na pag-uwi niya ng bahay, di alam ni Bea kung sino’ng tao ang papasok sa kanilang pinto. Nung si Yogi ang leading man sa rom-com na “SWEETS FOR MY SWEET”, may pa-bouquet, chocolate at sweet nothings si Yogi, kaya happy wife si Bea. Nang nakuha naman niya ang titular role sa “BONDYING: THE REVIVAL,” maghahain siya ng crispy pata for extra calories. Ginagawa niya ito sa ngalan ng sining, at dahil mabuti siyang asawa. Sa body-switch teleseryeng “TAGPI: ANG TUTANG AMA” nagpatali si Yogi sa labas at nagpraktis tumahol. Nung pari ito sa “LANGITNGIT NG LANGIT,” he abstained from having sex. Pero maaabutan ni Bea ang asawa niyang nakikipag-sex sa lalaki, for the indie na “GARDO, GARDO, ANGKININ MO AKO.” Tikom ang bibig ni Bea. Sa ngalan ng sining. At dahil mabuti siyang asawa. Sa dami ng awards ni Yogi, hindi na maalala ni Bea kung sino na talaga ang asawa. Pero lahat naman ito ay sa ngalan ng sining, at dahil mabuti siyang asawa. Hanggang mabasa ni Bea ang script sa latest project ni Yogi, ang sinasabi nitong ‘role of a lifetime’-- isang serial killer. Hahayaan pa rin ba niya ang asawa, sa ngalan ng sining? Hanggang saan ang pagiging mabait niyang asawa? Using her ‘limited’ skills as a writer, Bea literally tries to re-write the script in a bid to save her life. But as she suggests revisions to Yogi and discovers this newfound power over her husband, Bea realizes that her art is not as pure as she thought it was. 



7.  Poon 
directed by Ronie Supangan
Claudia, a religious church servant, experiences horrible things after she bought a religious image, she believes is miraculous. 
SYNOPSIS
In a Barrio Fiesta, Claudia bought an image of a saint named San Vargas, the patron of true faith, as an addition to her collection of religious images. Few days after, she notices that the image has blood. She thinks it's a miracle. Then, a series of death occured in their parish/community as Claudia starts to change from being gentle to mysterious. Her "faith" leads her darkness. 



8.  The Eternity Between Seconds 
directed by Alec Figuracion
A depressive self help author, and an anxious Filipina nurse cross paths in Incheon airport where, together, they attempt to elude time.
SYNOPSIS
ANDRES, a depressive best-selling self-help author in his mid 30’s, flies to Incheon, Korea for a book signing. Worn out from the repetitive tours, burdened by his deadlines for his next book, and nagged by his fiancé, COLIN, about the paper works for their upcoming wedding, Andres sinks deeper and deeper into his disillusionment and melancholia. However, there are still things Andres find solace in - like airports. So as a routine, he would always put his phone on silent and remove his watch, because here, time stands still. Here, he meets SAM. Sam is an anxious Overseas Filipino Worker, who is about to start a new life in Incheon as a nurse. But she hesitates to take a step out of the terminal doors, because she’s afraid of the uncertainty that lies ahead. In the airport, Sam stalls. Here, she spends her time sketching strangers. Together, they form a deep relationship as they bond over their loneliness, conversations, and neuroses inside the architectural space. But time is an unbeatable opponent. Andres has to return to Manila. Sam has to settle into a strange land. . In their last moments together, Sam sketches a portrait of Andres – him captured eternally amidst the impermanence of time. Andres reveals Colin’s miscarriage, and how it has changed him, his fiancé, and his world – where time is moving too fast, and he can’t keep up. Before leaving, Sam gives him his hand-drawn portrait, and Andres writes a mysterious note on Sam’s copy of his book. These are the only permanent tokens they have of their fleeting but lasting connection.

* click the image for larger view *

Unitel Productions and Straight Shooters President and CEO Madonna Tarrayo, who also stands as CFFF Director, expresses excitement over the film entries’ variety of genre and theme. “We have five new filmmakers and three who have done feature-length films in other festivals. With this line up you can expect a rollercoaster of emotions in every frame,” she adds.

CineFilipino Film Festival 2018
Student Short Films: 6 Finalists

It comes as no surprise that in just a few years, the CFFF has become the center of championing new stories with fresh talents. It has always put an importance on the story above all else. “Kwento ang hari” is the belief that CFFF has always followed and imbibed in all of its efforts. This has definitely been noticed by Filipinos and also by the international community.

The past years’ winners have gained national and global visibility in several platforms, some even joining international film festivals. With Cignal Entertainment solidly backing up the efforts of the filmmakers, the festival is fast becoming the hub for the industry’s most creative minds. All of its finalists show a freshness of approach, strong potential for audience engagement, mass friendly without sacrificing quality, and are commercially viable.

Cignal TV executives led by President Jane Basas say that they have full confidence in the potential of these films. The festival will show not only feature length films but also short films and super shorts.

CineFilipino Film Festival 2018
Open Short Films: 11 Finalists


Programming Grid for the SHORT FILMS CATEGORY:

SHORTS A
1. Luisa at Guada
2. Rufyla
3. Binata Na
4. Boyet Loves You
5. Tugma
6. Si Aponibolinayen at ang mga Batang Lumilipad

SHORTS B 
1. .raw
2. Gabi ng Kababalaghan
3. Lasingtunado
4. Amusin Pa
5. Duyan ng Alon
6. Ate, Kuya, Gusto Kong Kape
7. Siyudad sa Bulawan

SHORTS C
1. Palabas
2. Happy Birthday, Mylene! 2023 Ka Na
3. Santa Nena!
4. Mark and Lenny

* click the image for larger view *

CineFilipino partners with FDCP
Basas also lauds an important alliance forged by CFFF this year. CFFF now boasts of a newly formed partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines chaired by Liza Diño-Seguerra.

Cignal Entertainment and CFFF executives are thrilled by this new partnership. Tarrayo says, “The FDCP has what they call a festival partnership programme which allows CFFF and the FDCP to collaborate in several projects.” Together, they will be hosting workshops and other activities to assist filmmakers find their niche and widen their target audiences.

CineFilipino to be screened in more partner cinemas
More filmgoers will also have the chance to see the final entries. CFFF is offering more screening opportunities this year as its partner cinemas expands significantly. For the first time, CFFF films we be screened in selected cinemas from the North to the South. 

CFFF Opening Night is on May 8 at the Gateway Cinema, 6:00pm. Festival dates are May 9 to 15. During the festival, CineFilipino feature length films and short films will be shown at Gateway Cinemas, SM Cinemas (under CineLokal), and Ayala Malls. The grand awards night will be held at the Kia Theater on May 12.


Filmmaker, academician and writer Direk Joey Reyes who is also CFFF’s Head of Competition is also happy that CFFF recently also became a part of the efforts of “Sandaan Taon ng Pelikulang Pilipino.” Reyes sees a bright new future for new filmmakers with CFFF’s commitment to filmmaking ideals that will continue to capture the fancy of the Filipino viewer.

Indeed the CineFilipino Film Festival with the help of Cignal Entertainment and Unitel Productions, faces a promising future as it continues its mission to achieve great things in film. #KwentoAngHari

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