MANILA, Philippines—Following twenty months of complete closure for its theaters and other venues, the Cultural Center of the Philippines ushers in the better normal for its patrons and audiences with the special premiere screenings of select feature and documentary films celebrating Filipino excellence.
Dubbed as “WAGI: A Celebration of Filipino World-Class Excellence,” all the special screenings will happen at 7pm, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).
Official poster courtesy of Cultural Center of the Philippines
On November 5, CCP officially lifts the curtains with the relevant and critically-acclaimed A Thousand Cuts, a social documentary by filmmaker Ramona Diaz, in celebration of the first Nobel laureate from the Philippines. A talkback with the film director and select media practitioners follows.
In early October, journalist Maria Ressa and news portal founder Rappler, the central figure in Diaz’s documentary, received the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, for her commitment and efforts to uphold press freedom and democracy.
From the same director behind Imelda (2014) and Motherland, the film looks into the worldwide erosion of democracy, fueled by social media disinformation campaigns. This 2020 Sundance Film Festival documentary focuses on the battle for truth and democracy.
Filipino pride and excellence in sports then takes the spotlight in the special screening of GMA 7 documentary Team Pilipinas on November 26. Produced by broadcast journalist Atom Araullo, the docu-film honors the athletes who represented the Philippines and bagged medals at the historic 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Highlighting the Philippines’ best Olympic performance since 1924, the film draws attention to weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz who is the first Filipino to bring home an Olympic gold medal, boxer Nesthy Petecio who is the first Filipino woman boxer to win an Olympic (silver) medal, boxer Carlo Paalam who won the silver in the men’s flyweight division, and boxer Eumir Marcial who brought home a bronze medal in the men’s middleweight division.
On December 9, celebrate world-class acting talent with the Philippine premiere of On The Job: The Missing 8, a film that brought the Coppa Volpi (Volpi Cup) for Best Actor to actor John Arcilla.
At the recently concluded 78th Venice Film Festival, Arcilla bagged the award for his performance as a journalist investigating the mysterious disappearance of his colleagues, and how it relates to a prisoner who is temporarily freed to carry out assassinations (portrayed by actor Dennis Trillo). The award-winning film serves as the sequel to the 2013 film of the same title.
Directed by Erik Matti, the special screening is co-presented with the Embassy of Italy in Manila, with a talkback scheduled after the screening.
It can be remembered that in March 2020, the CCP has shut down its venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the new rulings on the government-imposed lockdowns, the CCP will open with 30 per cent audience capacity.
Only audiences who are fully vaccinated will be allowed inside the theaters. They need to present their vaccination card/ID at the entrance, fill up a health declaration form or the Stay Safe app, and present their tickets/scannable QR Codes on mobile. The guards will then perform routine temperature checks before entering.
Aiming to make viewing inside the theaters as safe as possible, the CCP has been rolling out safety measures on its premises in preparation with the re-opening.
Aside from the usual safety protocols such as wearing mask/face shields inside the venue and social distancing, the CCP has installed portable air hepa filters and automatic alcohol dispensers around the building, places social distancing markers, adapts contactless ticketing, and reduces chokepoints. Entrances and exits will be limited and controlled to reduce the risk of viral transmission.
For more information, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.