Cinemalaya’s New Breed full-length feature films
The local and international success of Cinemalaya 2011 films like Loy Arcenas' "Niño," Joseph Israel Laban's "Cuchera," Eduardo Roy, Jr. and Jerome Zamora's "Bahay Bata," Jeffrey Jeturian's "Bisperas," Alvin B. Yapan and Alemberg Ang's "Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Paa," and Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez's "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank" should bring a bit of pressure to the 2012 batch of independent filmmakers. But they should be able to live up to that.
The works of full length film first-timers Marie Jamora with "Ang Nawawala" ("What isn't There"), Julius Sotomayor Cena with "Mga Dayo" ("Resident Aliens"), Emmanuel Quindo Palo with "Santa Niña" and 2011 New Breed short feature finalist Gino Santos with "The Animals" tell stories from worlds apart.
Coming-of-age
Jamora presents a coming-of-age drama with the local music scene as backdrop. Cena, on the other hand, puts the spotlight on the plight of Filipino immigrants finding home in Guam. Palo, meanwhile, follows the life of a father in his journey to find purpose and resolve through a self-proclaimed miracle, while Santos chronicles high school kids going through an entirely different journey.
Staging a comeback are Arcenas with "REquieme!," Mes de Guzman with "Diablo," Aloy Adlawan with "Ang Katiwala" ("The Caretaker"), Paul Sta. Ana with "Oros," Vincent Sandoval with "Aparisyon" ("Apparition"), and Lemuel Lorca with "Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino."
Arcenas' comedy explores Philippine culture in accepting death and burying loved ones, while De Guzman pays tribute to the perpetually loving Filipina mother at a time of grief. Adlawan's caretaker ends up worshipping the long-dead owner of the house he maintains when he finds out more and more about him. Sta. Ana works with something in the same world as Arcenas'. This time, death is taken advantage of, and by sakla gamblers no less.
Sandoval's narrative moves away from other entries' motif of death by telling a story about giving life. Lorca, on the other hand, creates an adaptation of Eros S. Atalia's short story that won the 2001 Palanca Grand Prize.
Gala premieres
The schedules of gala premieres at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) are:
"Ang Nawawala" - July 21 at 3 p.m.
"Intoy" - July 21 at 6:15 p.m.
"Diablo" - July 22 at 12:45 p.m.
"REquieme!" - July 22 at 6:15 p.m;
"Oros" - July 23 at 6:15 p.m.
"Santa Niña" - July 24 at 9 p.m.
"Ang Katiwala" -July 25 at 6:15 p.m.
"Aparisyon" - July 26 at 6:15 p.m
"Mga Dayo" - July 27 at 6:15 p.m.
"The Animals" - July 27 at 9 p.m.
