Cinemalaya 2014 Film Entries

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is celebrating its 10th year anniversary with ten new independent films from aspiring filmmakers in the country. Ten movies will compete to become the best film of the festival this Cinemalaya X (Cinemalaya 2014). Aside from that, 6 movies from seasoned directors and scriptwriters will compete against each other in the Directors' Showcase category.

Over the years, the Cinemalaya movie entries were graced by some of the brightest and brilliant actors and actresses in the Philippines as a bit player or as the main cast. Last year, we saw Vilma Santos in "Ekstra" as the bit player who is the main protagonist in the story. This year, the Superstar, Nora Aunor is expected to grace the festival for her role in Cinemalaya 2014 entry by Joel Lamangan entitled, "Hustisya."

Movies Included in Cinemalaya 2014

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, the first and leading independent film festival in the country, brings once again the most compelling and authentic storytelling by 10 new provocateurs in this year’s New Breed competition.

Ten powerful stories from 10 aspiring filmmakers revel in the spirit of high-quality indie filmmaking as Cinemalaya continues to stir the sensibilities of the Filipino audience on its 10th year.

The films—one epic, two comedies, and seven dramas—tackle the struggles, pains, or joy of lives in search of answers, a deeper meaning, or the truth. (Cinemalaya 2014)

Here are the ten finalist to the Cinemalaya 2014 New Breed Category:

“#Y” (“Hashtag Y”) connects the adventures of today’s teens whose lives are made complicated by their obsession with social media, the Internet, sex, drugs and alcohol, and the occasional YOLO (Better Google that). (Gino Santos, director; Jeff Stelton, writer) Starring Elmo Magalona, Coleen Garcia, Slater Young and more.

“1st ko si 3rd" proves that a long separation, even for four decades, could not be more powerful than a 65-year-old woman’s first love. Find out what happens on her first date with her first love. (Real Florido, director and writer) Starring Nova Villa, Dante Rivero, Freddie Webb and more.

“Bwaya” searches for answers as a mother desperately seeks her 13-year-old daughter whose body went missing after a crocodile attacked her in the marshlands of Agusan del Sur. Divina learns a lesson more tragic than her daughter Rowena’s fate: not all predators lie underwater. (Francis Xavier Pasion, director and writer) Starring Angeli Bayani, Karl Medina, RS Francisco, and Jolina Salvado.

“Children’s Show” unravels the real-life story of children aged 10 to 15 who are involved in underground wrestling matches organized by a syndicate. (Roderick Cabrido, director; Ralston Jover, writer) Starring Allen Dizon, Gloria Sevilla, Suzette Ranillo, Nathan Lopez and more.

“Dagitab” (“Sparks”) lights up the truth in the marriage of two professors. As their relationship falls apart, the woman is dragged into a scandal with a young student, while the man falls in love with his research—a deity or supernatural being that appears to him as the ghost of an old flame. (Giancarlo Abrahan V, director and writer) Starring Eula Valdez, Nonie Buencamino, Martin del Rosario and more.

“K’na, The Dreamweaver” weaves the story of a young T’boli woman who becomes a dream weaver, giving her the chance to unite the warring clans in her village. But will Kana give up true love to do so? (Ida Anita Del Mundo, director and writer) Starring Mara Lopez, Bembol Roco, Nonie Buencamino and mre.

“Mariquina” reveals why Imelda, unlike the former Philippine First Lady who is her namesake, is indifferent towards shoes. They remind of bittersweet childhood memories from a difficult relationship with her shoemaker-father who made all her shoes growing up. Now, Imelda is looking for a perfect pair for her dead father. The deeper she searches, the more she finds herself. (Milo Sogueco, director; Jerrold Tarog, writer) Starring Mylene Dizon, Ricky Davao, Bing Pimentel and more.

“Ronda” shows the gripping encounter between a woman police officer who patrols Manila at night and her teenage son. She arrests him for killing his lover. (Nick Olanka, director; Adolfo Alix, Jr. and Jerome Zamora, writers) Starring Ai-Ai delas Alas, Perla Bautista, Carlo Aquino, Cogie Domingo and more.

“Separados” reunites six men who were separated from their wives. Their parallel, often overlapping, lives make up a saga that is partly comic, partly tragic, but mostly bittersweet, framed at a church wedding of one of them who takes another shot at marital bliss. (GB Sampedro, director; Eric Ramos, writer) Starring Victor Neri, Ricky Davao, Jason Abalos, Anjo Yllana, Erik Santos, Alfred Vargas, and many more.

“Sundalong Kanin” tests how far friendships can endure at a time of war. Nitoy, Benny, Carding, and Badong aspire nothing more than to become soldiers to fight the Japanese, but they later learn that harsh realities of war could destroy their families, even their friendship. (Janice O’Hara and Denise O’Hara, directors and writers) Starring Nathaniel Brit, Ian de Leon, Marc Abaya, Gardo Verzosa, and more.

Meanwhile, the Directors' Showcase in Cinemalaya 2014 is composed of five movies who will compete in different award categories. The 5 films from the seasoned writers, filmmakers, and directors are as follows:

“Asintado” by Louie Ignacio;
“Hari ng Tondo” by Carlos Siguion-Reyna;
“Hustisya” by Joel Lamangan;
“The Janitor” by Michael Tuviera; and
“Kasal” by Joselito Altarejos.

The 10th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (Cinemalaya 2014) will run from August 1-10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Ayala Cinemas at Greenbelt 3, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center and Fairview Terraces. The movie schedules of Cinemalaya 2014 screenings are can be found here.

Cinemalaya is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.