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Confessional. Imburnal. Sa North Diversion Road . Altar. Yanggaw. What do these films have in common? These award-winning titles are products of Cinema One Originals, which works like its CCP-based cousin–the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
This year, seven film projects were handpicked by an eight-member selection committee from over a hundred of submitted screenplays. Each film was given a financial grant of 1 million pesos. The 2010 batch of Cinema One Originals is comprised of the following:
Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirschbaum
Directed by Remton Siega Zuasola and Bambi Beltran
Starring Suzette Ranillo
A novelty comedy of a young provincial lass who becomes a mail order bride to hoist her family from poverty.
Astro Mayabang
Directed by JP Laxamana
Starring Arron Villaflor, Megan Young, John Lapus, and Marco Morales
A social satire about a financially, socially, intellectually and sexually frustrated man who boasts of his nationalism and Pinoy pride, but ends up humiliated because of his misguided and aggressive ways.
Third World Happy
Directed by EJ Salcedo
Starring Sam Milby and Jodi Sta. Maria
A melodrama about a ‘balikbayan’ artist who has spent most of his life abroad but whose perspectives in life changes when he comes home to attend a funeral and reunites with his friends and girlfriend.
Dagim
Directed by Joaquin Valdes
Starring Marc Abaya, Luis Alandy, and Bembol Roco
A horror movie about two farm brothers whose search for their lost father lead them to a company of strange mountain inhabitants.
Ishmael
Directed by Richard Somes
Starring Ronnie Lazaro, Mark Gil, and Pen Medina
A suspense-drama about an ex-convict who is ostracized by his neighborhood. Little does he know that this neighborhood he once knew is set to awaken his past.
Tsardyer
Directed by Sig Sanchez
Starring Dimples Romana and Jhong Hilario
Based on a true-to-life story of a young boy who was tasked by rebel soldiers to charge their phones used for their negotiations with the government while holding the media people they kidnapped.
Layang Bilanggo
Directed by Michael Angelo Dagnalan.
Starring Pen Medina Miriam Quiambao, and Mailes Kanapi
A family drama about a fugitive on the run who yearns for the love of his daughter that he abandoned several years ago and disguises in an attempt to get near her.
Shang Cineplex, home of various foreign film festivals (i.e. Cine Europa, Chinese Spring Film Festival, etc.), will host the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival from November 10 to 16, 2010. Aside from the seven competing films, there will also be a tribute to Celso Ad Castillo as well as repeat screenings of some Cinema One Originals from previous years. See the screening schedule below.
UPDATED SCREENING SCHEDULE
NOV. 10 - WEDNESDAY
1200: Wanted:Border – Repeat Screening
1400: Paano Ko Sasabihin – Repeat Screening
1600: The Cinema of Celso Ad Castillo – Special Screening
1900: Confessional – Repeat Screening
2100: Ishmael – Premiere Gala
NOV. 11 - THURSDAY
1200: Ishmael – Regular Screening
1400: The Cinema of Celso Ad Castillo – Special Screening
1600: Yanggaw – Repeat Screening
1900: Third World Happy – Premiere Gala
2100: Dagim – Premiere Gala
NOV. 12 - FRIDAY
1200: Third World Happy – Regular Screening
1400: Dagim – Regular Screening
1600: Ishmael – Regular Screening
1900: Astro Mayabang – Premiere Gala
2100: Tsardyer – Premiere Gala
NOV. 13 - SATURDAY
1200: Astro Mayabang – Regular Screening
1400: Tsardyer – Regular Screening
1600: Ishmael – Regular Screening
1730: Third World Happy – Regular Screening
2000: Layang Bilanggo – Premiere Gala
2200: Ang Damgo – Premiere Gala
NOV. 14 - SUNDAY
1130: Layang Billanggo – Regular Screening
1330: Ang Damgo – Regular Screening
1530: Third World Happy – Regular Screening
1730: Astro Mayabang – Regular Screening
1930: Tsardyer – Regular Screening
2130: Dagim – Regular Screening
NOV. 15 - MONDAY
1130: Astro Mayabang – Regular Screening
1330: Dagim – Regular Screening
1530: Layang Bilanggo – Regular Screening
1730: Ang Damgo – Regular Screening
1930: Tsardyer – Regular Screening
2130: Ishmael – Regular Screening
NOV. 16 - TUESDAY
1130: Layang Bilanggo – Regular Screening
1330: Ang Damgo – Regular Screening
1530: Third World Happy – Regular Screening
1730: Tsardyer – Regular screening
1930: Dagim – Regular Screening
2130: Astro Mayabang – Regular Screening
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Yanggaw – the best aswang film of recent memory, my #1 Filipino film of 2009
Wanted: Border – last year’s winner, Rosanna Roces is wicked and sinister
TITLES I’M EXCITED TO SEE
Confessional – Jerrold Tarog’s critically acclaimed debut
Tsardyer – inspired by true-to-life events when Ces Drilon was held captive in Sulu
Ishmael – Richard Somes’ follow up to Yanggaw
Dagim – Cinema One Originals has spawned gripping horror films over the years. To name a few: Yanggaw, Wanted:Border, and Altar. This looks like a worthy addition to the list.
