As the world celebrates Pride Month differently this year, Cinema One Originals, pioneering independent film festival put forth by Filipino cable channel, Cinema One,seeks to wave the Progress flag boldly and proudly by delivering an impressive roster of LGBT-themed movies straight to viewers’ small screens and digital devices with the first-ever multi-platform film festival aptly called, “Cinema At Home.”
The virtual film festival’s battle cry, “Be Brave, Be Proud, Be Original,” features local Pride films that will be showcased online across different platforms like iWant and the Cinema One YouTube channel and on air via Cinema One channel and SKY Pay-Per-View.
“Cinema At Home” will stream the following movies on iWant from June 19 to July 20: Ang Paglalakbay Ng Mga Bituin Sa Gabing Madilim about a boy’s journey to safety and overwhelming adventures; Shift featuring a tomboyish call center agent who falls for her openly gay co-worker; Esprit De Corps, which portrays the game of seduction and ranks in the ROTC; Seoul Mates, the story of a Filipino transgender woman and a Korean gay man who meet and date each other; and Miss Bulalacao, a film about a drag queen who joins a gay pageant to gain acceptance in his father’s community.
The festival will also feature the comedy flick Si Chedeng at si Apple about the adventure of two women in their 60s; Paki, about an elderly woman who wants to suddenly leave her husband; Mamu; And A Mother Too about a transgender woman sex worker who unexpectedly assumes the role of motherhood; the animated musical dramedy, Paglisan; Pang MMK featuring a young man who visits his estranged father’s funeral to gain unexpected results; and Metlogs, a film about metrosexual adventures.
The slate of multi-awarded movies Sila-Sila, Metamorphosis, and Never Tear Us Apart may then be viewed on iWant Pay-Per-View for Php 50 and SKY Pay-Per-View for Php 99 spanning June 25 to July 1.
The modern-day gay rom-com Sila-Sila, starring Gio Gahol and Topper Fabregas and directed by Giancalo Abrahan, bagged the Best Picture recognition in last year’s C1 Originals.
The coming-of-age drama about an intersex person, Metamorphosis, meanwhile bagged last year’s Best Director award for J.E. Tiglao, along with Best Actor for Gold Aceron, Best Supporting Actress for Iana Bernardez, as well as technical awards like Best Sound, and Best Cinematography.
Whammy Alcazaren’s Never Tear Us Apart, a story of an aging spy, his delusional wife, and a promiscuous son driven into madness, won big in 2018’s C1 Originals, taking home the Jury Prize and Best Director award along with four technical awards. It stars Ricky Davao, Meryll Soriano, and Jasmin Curtis-Smith.
The classic coming-of-age film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros trailing the life of a young boy who falls in love with a policeman investigating his family’s criminal activities, Esprit de Corps, and the mockumentary Jay sets to stream on Cinema One’s YouTube channel from June 26 to 29.
The virtual festival also runs on air on Cinema One channel, which also celebrates the Pride film fest via C1 Exclusives, featuring the movies Mamu; and a Mother Too on June 21 and 24 and Paglisan on June 28 and July 1, and via the Restored Section with In My Life airing on June 28.
C1 Exclusives will then continue next month with films Miss Bulalacao; Quick Change about a retired entertainer who offers cosmetic fixes to other transgendered performers; Kasal, a film that explores issues surrounding calls for equality; and Paki.
A chat with filmmakers courtesy of “E-numan Live Q & A Session,” will also be set on a virtual stage, where they can meet not only the brilliant directors but also the cast of some of these notable movies.
The festival will also feature Black Sheep’s upcoming boys love (BL) series, Hello Stranger, starring JC Alcantara and Tony Labrusca.
Since 2005, C1 Originals has been producing breakthrough films with thought-provoking content for the Filipino audience. Since its inception, it has provided a platform for filmmakers, first-timers and otherwise, to create their visual masterworks.
Like @CinemaOneOriginals on Facebook and follow @c1origs on Twitter and @c1originals on Instagram for more updates. #C1Originals #CinemaAtHome