THE FIRST CineFilipino Filmfest was held in 2013 and its biggest winner was “Huling Chacha ni Anita”, the sexual awakening of a lesbian girl played by Terry Malvar who won the best actress award. It was directed by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo and it opened doors for her since she has since become a blockbuster director with “Kita-Kita”.
The filmfest stopped for a while and was resumed last year. The most prominent entries were “Star na si Van Damme Stallone” that is now an entry in the current Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, “Sakaling Hindi Makarating” starring Alessandra de Rossi which had a theatrical release, and “First Sem” that won awards abroad for Lotlot de Leon.
Now, they’ve just announced the 8 finalists for the next Cine Filipino, which will be shown in theaters in March, 2018. Director Joey Reyes heads the selection committee and he hosted the announcement with Unitel head Madonna Tarrayo. This year, they have not only the MVP Group but also Cignal Entertainment as their partner. “Cignal has a lot of platforms that can give more venues for the filmmakers to screen their work later,” says Madonna.
And here are the 8 final entries culled from 150 scripts submitted that will get a seed money of P2 million each:
“Delia & Sammy” by first time director Therese Cayaba. About an aging actress who is dying and
has to find a family where she could leave her annoying husband. This forces them to reconcile with people they’ve hurt before.
“Mata Tapang” by Rod Marmol. About a brave soldier who
loses an eye in combat but opens a new one for him to see his real mission with the Lord.
“The Eternity between Seconds” by Alec Figuracion who did “Bitukang Manok” for Cinema One. About a depressed writer who meets a young woman at an airport in Korea and they get to discuss their opposite intentions in life.
“Excuse Me Po” by Ron Batallones, a former assistant director. About a retired extra in films who swindles people in the mall and her every act of deceiving people is like an effective performance in a movie.
“Poon” by Roni Benaid. A horror film about a very religious woman who serves in church and her frightening experiences after she got a religious image of San Vargas that she thought is miraculous.
“Kahit Man Lamang Kung Maaari” by Donalyn Baltazar. A film about perception involving four people looking for something and they all find it in a young woman named Aileen.
“Mga Mister ni Rosario” by Ronald Allan Habon (scriptwrtier of “Ang
Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin” and “Star na si Van Damme”). This is about a stage wife who humors her method actor husband, until he gets a plum role and he threatens to kill her character.
