SINAG MAYNILA celebrates five years of 'Sine Lokal, Pang-Internasyonal' Opens on April 3
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Sinag Maynila, the independent film festival established by Solar Entertainment mogul Mr. Wilson Tieng and Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza, is celebrating its fifth year this 2019!
One of the founders of Sinag Maynila Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza opening remarks
What began as a foray to help local indie filmmakers has now grown into one of the country's major filmfests. Sinag Maynila now features three competition sections, noteworthy international exhibition films and a variety of cinema-related activities. True to its mission of bringing "sine lokal, pang-internasyonal," Sinag Maynila has become an important pathway for Filipino film artists to communicate their stories, and an irresistible opportunity for enthusiasts to watch unique and exciting films
Heading the list of Sinag Maynila competition films are five
full-length features:
"Akin ang Korona" directed by Zig Dulay
Synopsis: A comedy about a small local gay beauty pageant show that becomes the center of attention when the organizers and the participants take things too far.
"Jesusa" directed by Ronald Carballo
Cast: Sylvia Sanchez The film is about a woman named Jesusa and how she sinks into the mire. It is set in a rundown community where she leads a normal life until circumstances drag her to be swallowed by the low lives of her neighbor.
"Jino To Mari" directed by Joselito
Cast: Oliver Aquino, Angela Cortez Two sex workers, a seventeen-year old boy, Gino, and a young mother, Marie, are hired to do a pornographic film. The day before All Saints' Day, the two travel to a tar-flung travel for the shooting during which they are made to do acts that were not previously agreed upon. Feeling trapped and isolated, the two will be pushed to the edge of their dignity.
"Pailalim" directed by Daniel Palacio
Cast: Joem Bascom, Mara Lopez Bangis, a gravedigger living inside a cemetery mausoleum, is pushed to the limit when his daughter becomes critically ill. With no other means to bring her to a hospital for proper medication, he's left with one option: to steal a newly buried corpse for money, and hope everything is not too late for his beloved daughter.
"Persons of Interest" directed by Ralston Jover
Cast: Allen Dizon, Dimples Romana A man with two personalities: one is a blind cook accused of mass poisoning that killed his older lo' and the other is the imaginary friend of his six-year-old son who is smart and jolly—his exact oppose' .
Group photo for the official full length films entries in this year's SINAG MAYNILA
Competing in the short film category are "Bisperas" by Ralph Quincena, "Dana Jung" by John Rogers, "Dude Pare Bro" by Lora Cerdan, "Kiss" by Harlene Bautista, "Kilos" by Marjon Santos, "Marian" by Brian Patrick Um, "Memories of the Rising Sun" by Lawrence Fajardo, "Nagmarnahal, Sal" by Jeff Subrctbas, "Ngiti ni Nazareno" by Louie Ignacio, and "Panaghoy" by Alvin Baloloy.
Group photo for Sinag Maynila's short film category official entries
Meanwhile, those competing in the documentary category are "At Home" by Arjanmar H. Rebeta, "En tablado" by Lie Rain Clemente and Nori Jane Isturis, "Hope Spots" by Joseph Dominic Cruz, "Hyatt: Mga Kuwento, Lihim at Katotohanan" by Jayvee V. Bucsit, and "-Tata Pilo" by Dexter Macaraeg.
Group photo for Documentary entries Sinag Maynila 2019
Sinag Maynila 5 opens on Wednesday April 3, 2019, with "Lakbayan" a three-part omnibus film by Brillante Mendoza, Lay Diaz and National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik — all of whom are awardees at the Berlin International Film Festival and have made their marks in several international film tests.
Festival proper starts on Thursday, April 4 in select cinemas
(full schedule to follow).
There will be a forum on Saturday, April 6 with speakers Ms. Joanne Goh, Chairman of the Malaysia International Film Festival, and Young-woo Kim, Programmer for the Busan International Film Festival. Winners of the competition will be announced at the Gabi ng Parangal to be held on Sunday, April 7.
During the week, FDCP will be hosting a Fellowship Night for all the filmmakers and Sinag Maynila guests. There will also be an environmental film screening and forum with resource speaker Fiona Faulkner, Environmental and Community Development Officer of The Plastic Solution.
This year, there will be a Film Editing workshop to be conducted by Mr. John Anthony Wong, Managing Director of Edge Manila Creatives. Finally, Sinag Maynila closes with the film "Journey", an Asian Three-Fold Mirror project by the Japan Foundation. Sinag Maynila 5 is presented by McDonald's and Co-presented by Nissan. In partnership with the Film Development Council of The Philippines (FDCP), and in celebration of 100 years of Philippine cinema. Special thanks to: The Plastic Solution, Cinema 76 Film Society, Black Maria Cinema, Edge Manila Creatives.
Official event venue partner: SM and SM Cinema.
For more information, log on to www.sinagmaynila.com and
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