CineFilipino Film Festival (CFF) announced on Thursday, November 21, the full list of finalists for its feature length, shorts and series categories for its 2019 competition.
The CFF is a celebration of Philippine cinema and young and aspiring Filipino filmmakers.
“Gusto naming bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga baguhang direktor. Hindi mag-e-evolve, hindi magkakaroon ng bagong hugist at hindi tutugma sa antas ng panahon ang pelikula kung hindi magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga bagong boses, pananaw at bagong pangarap ng ating mga filmmakers,” competition head direk Joey Reyes said.
Direk Joey has also emphasized that CineFilipino entries are not made for international film festivals, they are for the Filipinos.
From over 100 entries for the feature length film category, only eight finalists were selected for the P2M grant that would allow them to bring their visions to life:
- 27 EXP by Jopy Arnaldo is a story about who makes use of film camera to move from a lost love.
- Cargo by Charlson Ong and Angelo R. Lacuesta features a Tausug fast-boat pilot who finds himself involved in a murder. He struggles to choose between escaping and surrendering to the officials.
- Ilikdem Mo So Matam (Close Your Eyes) by Christopher Gozum features the life of a Filipina filmmaker in Seoul, South Korea who entangles herself in a forbidden love with two other OFWs.
- Maya-maya Paparito Na by Steven Paul Evangelio is a family drama which asks how will they survive a devastating storm when there is already a brewing storm inside their family.
- Olsen’s Day by JP Habac features a production assistant on a trip with a strange old man and his son.
- Ouroboros by Rob Jara is a coming-of-age vengeance drama where a young man waits 20 years to avenge his father’s death.
- The Boy Foretold by the Stars by Dolly Dulu shows a love driven by a fortunetellers prediction where a gay highschool student attempts to prove to a boy that they are meant to be.
Nine finalists out of dozens were chosen for the shorts category: 7-Year Itchy by Dolly Dulum, Alex & Aki by Dexter Paul de Jesus, Ang Alamat ng Sari-Saring Sari Store by Claudia Fernando, Ang’gulo (Unclear) by Zsarina Lacumba, Delta by Eluigi Macalintal and James Garcia, Kita (nalng) Duha by Lorys Plaza, Memeto Mori by Noel Tonga Jr., Tayo (Stand Up) by Ronaldo Dulatre and Elaiza Rivera, and Quing Lalam Ning Aldo (Under The Sun) by Reeden Fajardo.
For the series category, five out of the 10 finalists will be chosen by a selection panel. The 10 stories are: B124 by Jeremy Luke Bolatag, Balete by Christian Mark Vidallo, Delikado by Rob Jara, Life After College by Kris Ulrich and Maze Miranda, Manila Encounters by Ronald Dularte, Philippine Gothic: Habang Buhay by Dustin Celestino, Raket by Ronald Batallones, Sa Pusod Ng Dagat by Efren P. Malabanan, The Junkyard Hippies by Carlo Obispo, and Tindero by Jelani Maniago.
