Rough Groove

The just concluded Cinemanila 2007

It seems that this year’s just concluded Cinemanila International Film Festival was better organized and a departure from the previous years. Notable is the presence of Quentin Tarantino who received his Lifetime Achievement Award and added additional color to the festivities. Second, all events in Metro Manila was held in Gateway Mall in Cubao. Schedules are posted and printed on time and their website actually was informative unlike in 2005. Of course, the festival director, Tikoy Aguiluz (photo at left) should be credited for the commendable improvements.

However, I was only able to watch 4 films and a workshop: Cinematography workshop by Nap Jamir (Maximo Oliveros), Raya Martin’s Autohystoria, the Palm d’Or 2007 winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, No Regret and Shotgun Stories. Blame it on the incessant rains and far venue that I was only able to watch the above.

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Autohystoria - Raya Martin, 2007

I’ve been raring to watch a Raya Martin work one time or the other after reading so much about this young director but haven’t really been able to do so. I missed Indio Nacional in a filmfest last year and even with an invite via flickr mail by Direk for a Monday screening at the UP Film Center a few weeks ago, I wasn’t able to go there.

Yes, his movies are not mainstream and are usually accessible only during film festivals here or abroad or screenings at UP Diliman which is another planet for me.

Thanx to Cinemanila, I finally was able to see his work Autohystoria which won the Lino award grand prize for the Digital Lokal category as well as Best Director when it was shown again on the last day of the festival.

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9th Cinemanila International Film Festival

Hot on the hills of the successful Cinemalaya that ended last 29 July, movie enthusiasts will again be treated to another smorgasbord of movies When the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival will happen this 8 - 19 August 07 at the Gateway Mall.

One of the highlights will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award (is he already that old?) of Quentin Tarantino, the famed director of Pulp Fiction.

Other than that, Dante Mendoza’s Foster Child  as well as the 2007 Palm d’Or winner, Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days will be screened.

It seems, that the film festivals are already acoming. Expect to have Pelikula not to be far behind.

Tribu is Best Picture!

What good news! Jim Libiran’s Tribu was judged as the best film in the recently concluded Cinemalaya 2007! Not only that, his actors, real gang members, got the coveted Best Actor award. This is testament to the power and significance of the director’s work. As cited:
“its grand and graphic depiction of contemporary Tondo, Manila, its raw passion and searing violence, its terrible social conditions and conflicting social mores…”

On the other hand, Ina Feleo won as Best Actress for the movie Tukso. For the rest of the winners, check out PEP as the Cinemalaya website is still not updated as of this writing.

Cinemalaya Shorts

These are shorts about death, childhood and about drugs. I was only able to watch 5 out of 10 shorts that were screened in Cinemalaya 2007 and below are the following grouped under Shorts A:

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