Golden harvest showcased in Inquirer Indie Bravo! fest
Christopher de Leon and Gloria Diaz in “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon”
It’s indisputable: 2016 is a banner year for Philippine cinema.
To further highlight the unique achievements of Filipino artists, the Inquirer Indie Bravo! Film Festival will showcase the year’s most acclaimed cinematic gems—starting Dec. 9 until Dec. 24 at the Cinema ’76 in San Juan City.
Think of it as a prelude to this year’s revitalized Metro Manila Film Festival.
Leading the lineup are Lav Diaz’s triple treats: the eight-hour epic “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis,” the four-hour drama “Ang Babaeng Humayo,” and the 17-minute short “Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas.”
All three Diaz films brought home trophies from abroad. “Ang Araw” won in Germany and Croatia, while “Hele” bagged the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at the Berlinale.
Alessandra de Rossi in “Sakaling Hindi Makarating”
Lastly, “Humayo” has clinched the country’s highest accolade so far: the Golden Lion at the Venice fest.
Apart from Diaz, another acknowledged leader of the Philippine indie scene is featured: Brillante Ma Mendoza’s “Taklub,” which won in France and Spain.
Louie Ignacio, who figured prominently in the international film fest circuit this year, is fielding “Area,” which won in Kazakhstan.
The Inquirer Indie Bravo! event, now on its third edition, seeks to gather some of the finest products of various local film festivals, as well.
Sinag Maynila is presenting Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” and Zig Dulay’s “Bambanti.”
Cinemalaya is represented by the year’s most awarded film so far: Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Pamilya Ordinaryo,” which earned plaudits in Italy, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.
Nora Aunor and Bembol Roco in “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos”
Cinema One is offering Ralston Jover’s “Hamog,” which garnered trophies in two A-list fests, Shanghai and Moscow.
CineFilipino is highlighting its major winners, Ice Idanan’s “Sakaling Hindi Makarating” and Lemuel Lorca’s “Ned’s Project.” Another CineFilipino film, Allan Ibañez and Dexter Hemedez’s “1st Sem,” won in India.
The QCinema fest is featuring last year’s winners: Sheron Dayoc’s documentary, “The Crescent Rising” (which won in Busan), and Mario Cornejo’s full-length feature, “Apocalypse Child” (which won in Canada and Poland).
The top winner of this year’s QCinema, Dayoc’s “Women of the Weeping River,” is another Indie Bravo! highlight.
Also in the lineup is John Paul Su’s “Toto,” which debuted in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Fest’s New Wave section.
Lastly, to celebrate the year 1976 (considered the high point of the second golden age of Philippine cinema), two digitally restored classics will be shown: Mario O’Hara’s “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” and Eddie Romero’s “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon,” which were restored by the ABS-CBN Film Archives and Film Restoration Group.
As a bit of trivia: Cinema ’76 was named in honor of that seminal year, 1976.
Forty years later, Philippine cinema is reaping yet another golden harvest—with a string of triumphs in the world’s most prestigious film capitals.
Other titles will be included in the succeeding days. For screening schedules, check out the Cinema ’76 Facebook page, or call (02) 398-1939.
The 60-seater micro-cinema is located at 160 Luna Mencias st., Brgy. Addition Hills, San Juan City.
