It has been more than a year since most of us have stepped foot inside the CCP Complex for the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. To say we miss it is an understatement. Buying those yellow tickets, lining up at the different theaters, and hearing that iconic tune that tells you an amazing film is about to start are just some of the things we can’t wait to experience again.
The 17th year of the film festival is in full swing and spans from Aug. 6 to Sept. 5. You’ve got plenty of time to catch up and binge-watch shorts, feature films, indie classics, documentaries, and international films at your leisure. And as a special treat for everyone, Cinemalaya 2021 found a way to bring their fans together in one safe, open-air venue. Plus, there are dozes of films up for free screening too. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s festival.
Cinema Under the Stars
After spending weeks cooped up at home, an evening picnic plus a good movie sounds like a treat. Tickets are at P250 for every film and can be bought at the KTXperience website.
Short Films in Competition
Cinemalaya has decided to focus on Short Films in Competition for its second year online. Below are the 13 finalists that will compete for the Balanghai Awards this year:
- The Dust in Your Place by David Olson
- Out of Body by Enrico Po
- Namnama en Lolang by Jonnie Lyn P. Dasalla
- Maski Papano by Che Tagyamon And Glenn Barit
- Kawatan sa Salog by Alphie Velasco
- Crossing by Marc Misa
- Ate O.G. by Kevin Mayuga
- Ang Pagdadalaga ni Lola Mayumi by Sheri De Leon
- Ang Mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa by Kevin Jay Ayson
- An Sadit na Planeta by Arjanmar Rebeta
- Beauty Queen by Myra Aquino
- Looking for Rafflesias and Other Fleeting Things by James Fajardo
- Kids on Fire by Kyle Nieva
These films will officially be screened at KTX.ph. Catch them in two sets with tickets at P150 for each set.
Must watch: Indie Nation
- Kintsugi by Lawrence Fajardo
- ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas) by Arlyn Dela Cruz Bernal
- Don Filipo by Tim Muñoz
- Lockdown by Joel Lamangan
Get tickets to these films for P200 each.
Meanwhile, the Indie Nation Shorts are divided into three programs with tickets priced at P150 each. Check out the titles for Program A, Program B, and Program C.
Cinemalaya Film Lab
“Those that make it to the semi-finals are going through to this three-month film lab where experts and experienced film industry professionals can lecture and mentor them on artistic, creative, technological as well as business aspects of filmmaking. By the end of the film lab, the stories and drafts will be ‘shootable’ scripts,” said Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. president and film director Laurice Guillen.
Thirty filmmakers will be selected at first. The committee will whittle it down to 10 who will compete at the 2023 Cinemalaya edition.
Cinemalaya Retrospective
Check out the schedules available here and get your ticket for P150.
Cinemalaya Dokyu
- Yugto by Joanna Reyes, Cristy Linga, Ja Turla
- A House in Pieces by Jean Claire Dy and Manuel Domes
- Paraisong Bacao by Adrian N. Manaois
- Masterpiece by Januar Yap and Kristoffer Villarino
- Last Days at Sea by Venice Atienza
Watch these documentaries here.
How can you watch Cinemalaya screenings for free?
Gawad Alternatibo features documentaries, animation, short feature, and experimental films — and all of these are available worldwide without needing to register. Meanwhile, Allied Screenings are select films from international countries you can watch for free if you register via Vimeo and use the code “CINEMALAYALIBRE.”
Cinemalaya pay-per-view
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