“Mga Anino sa Tanghaling Tapat” - by writer-director Ivy Universe Baldoza, an atmospheric story of woman’s mystical journey back to her hometown to discover herself and her mother’s sensuous past . An alumni of the Mowelfund Institute, Baldoza was selected in the 2008 Berlinale Talent Campus Script Station. “Sa Ilalim ng Tulay” - by writer-director Earl Bontuyan, a light comedy drama set in Metro Manila and Subic about the plight of streetchildren. “My Paranormal Romance” - by Victor Villanueva, a teenage horror-comedy about a girl who pursues her crush in their haunted school in Cebu .
“Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa” - an entry from Nueva Vizcaya by writer-producer- director Mes de Guzman revolves around a multi-ethnic group of kids looting rugby from a nearby hardware of a developing town. Mes was the Urian Best Director in 2005 for “Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong”. “Anatomiya ng Korupsyon” - a social satire set in the 80s written for the stage by Malou Jacob and adapted for the screen by scriptwriter and filmmaker Dennis Marasigan. This is Marasigan’s 2nd movie for Cinema One Originals after “Sa North Diversion Road” in 2005.
“Cartas de Soledad (Letters of Solitude)” - by writer-producer-director Teng Mangansakan II is a dramatic story about a reclusive man named Rashid who returns to his hometown in Maguindanao after studying and working in Barcelona, Spain. Mangansakan’s “Limbunan (Bridal Quarter)” was a finalist in last year’s Cinemalaya. “Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay” - by Antoinette H. Jadaone, a bittersweet homage to ‘dakilang extra’ Lilia Cuntapay on her anxiety of preparing a speech for finally getting an acting nomination. A cum laude of Film and Audio Visual Communication from the UP Film Institute, Jadaone has made award-winning short films before.
“Ka Oryang” - by Sari Lluch Dalena, a drama with a political backdrop set in Southern Tagalog. It is a glimpse into female political detainees tortured in prison.” Di Ingon Na ‘to (Not Like Us)” - by writer-director team Brandon Relucio and Ivan Zaldarriaga, a horror film that deals with how people in a far-flung barangay in Cebu deals with zombie infestation by religion, superstition or science . Relucio is a graduate of Literature from New York while Zaldarriaga won the Best Production Design for "The Leaving" in last year’s Cinemalaya Festival.
“This year’s batch of finalists is exciting because they are a mix of artists, writers, filmmakers, cinematographers, with 4 female directors in the mix, and regional films from Mindanao, Cebu and Nueva Vizcaya. We have heavy dramas, light dramas, comedies, horror, art house fare and movies dealing with children", said Cinema One channel head Ronald Arguelles. Each finalist will receive a grant of P1,000,000.00 to produce their movie and compete in the much-anticipated digital film festival to be held this October at the Shang Cineplex, Mandaluyong. We just hope they get a better panel of jurors this time. Last year, the jurors ignored “Damgo ni Eleuteria”, which was the best in the batch. It was vindicated when it got several nominations in the Golden Screen and Urian, including best picture (whereas the winner was forgotten). It’s now also competing in the Jeonju International Filmfest this May and will be shown in SM Cinemas starting May 26, 2011.
