MANILA, Philippines—The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival continues to champion the growth of the local film industry and promote the talents of Filipino filmmakers. This year’s festival features a wide array of films in its Exhibition Films Section, as well as a special focus on digital classics through the Restored and Remastered Section.
The Exhibition Films Section is divided into three subsections: Anima, Gawad’s Best, and Next Gen Shorts. Anima showcases animated films in experimental and documentary genres, Gawad’s Best presents award-winning films from the 34th Gawad Alternatibo, and Next Gen Shorts screens short films exploring themes of memory, tradition, and potential futures.
Images courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The Anima subsection features nine animated films, including works like Black and White Road, I Wanna Be A Tutubi and Hazmat. Gawad’s Best presents ten winning films from various categories, such as Kasikas Sa Ganiha Ug Unya, Read-Only Memory, and A Sabbath on the Longest Day of the Year.
Next Gen Shorts is split into two programs, each featuring films with unique narratives and styles. Program 1 includes works like Ikaw at Aking Daigdig, Karkarma, and Ramon’s Special, while Program 2 presents films like Urimos (Prayer of the Dead), #bagets,” and Tawa na Lang Tayo.
The festival provides a platform for filmmakers to express their creativity and showcase their talents, furthering the development and exposure of the Philippine film industry.
Catch the iconic film May Minamahal, directed by Direk Jose Javier Reyes and starring Aga Muchlach and Aiko Melendez, in the Digital Classics Section at Cinemalaya 19: ilumiNasyon. The story follows Carlitos, who, after his father’s sudden passing, takes on the responsibility of providing for the family and paying off debts. His life takes an unexpected turn when he falls in love with Monica, a spirited and boyish woman. However, faced with his family’s disapproval of their relationship, Carlitos must make a heart-wrenching choice between love and family.
Introduced in the 2015 edition of the festival, the Digital Classics Section, in collaboration with ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula, brings forth restored and remastered films, enticing a new generation of film enthusiasts to explore cinematic treasures of the past.
Don’t miss the chance to experience “May Minamahal” and other cinematic gems at Cinemalaya 19: ilumiNasyon, running from August 4 to 13, 2023, at its new venues: Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Blackbox Theater, and selected Ayala Malls Cinemas.