NEW BREED CATEGORY
BABAGWA (The Spider’s Lair) – by Jason Paul Laxamana
An Internet scammer falls in love with a wealthy spinster while trying to swindle her using a fake Facebook profile.
Cast: Alex Vincent Medina, Joey Paras, Alma Concepcion, and introducing Kiko Matos. Starring: Nico Antonio, Chanel Latorre, Garry Lim, Raqs Regalado, Marx Topacio, and Sunshine Teodoro
DEBOSYON by Alvin Yapan
Mando, a Bicolano devotee of Ina, Virgin of Peñafrancia, injures himself. He will be nursed back to health by a mysterious woman, Salome, living at the foot of Mount Mayon. They will fall in love with each other. Salome holds a secret that will devastate Mando’s love for her; while Mando relies on his devotion to the Virgin of Peñafrancia to lift a curse that involves his life.
Cast: Paulo Avelino and Mara Lopez
NUWEBE by Joseph Israel Laban
Inspired by the actual story of one of the youngest mothers in Philippine history, “Nuwebe” follows the story of Krista who at the tender age of 9 got pregnant from the sexual abuse perpetrated by her own father… Her story is complex. Krista refuses to see herself as a victim. With an almost documentary style, “Siyam” follows Krista’s story as she demonstrates a level of resilience uncommon to her age. Her mother on the other hand is torn between her love for her child and her love for her husband.
Cast: Nadine Samonte, Jake Cuenca, Anita Linda, Manny Castañeda, Mikael Liwag, and Barbara Miguel
THE DIPLOMAT HOTEL by Christopher Ad Castillo
A disgraced reporter seeks redemption by leading his documentary crew to spend one night and tell the story of what really happened at the haunted and infamous The Diplomat Hotel (Baguio City).
Cast: Gretchen Barretto, Art Acuña, Mon Confiado, Joel Torre, Sue Prado, Nico Antonio, Abe Pagtama, and introducing Sarah Gaugler.
TRANSIT by Hannah Espia
“TRANSIT” begins and ends in an airport during a father and son’s transit flight from Tel Aviv to Manila. It tells the story of Moises, a Filipino single-dad working as a caregiver in Herzliya, Israel, who comes home to his son Joshua’s 4th birthday. It was on that day that Moises, together with their Filipino neighbors, Janet and her daughter Yael, find out that the Israeli government is going to deport children of foreign workers. Afraid of the new law, Moises and Janet decide to hide their children from the immigration police by making them stay inside the house.
Cast: Irma Adlawan, Ping Medina, Mercedes Cabral
Introducing: Marc Justine Alvarez and Jasmine Curtis – Smith
REKORDER by Mikhail Red
“REKORDER” tells the story of a former 1980’s film cameraman who now currently works as a movie pirate operating in present day Manila. He routinely smuggles a digital camcorder into movie theaters in order to illegally record films. One night he records something else… And the footage goes viral.
Cast: Ronnie Quizon, Suzette Ranillo, Earl Ignacio, Mike Lloren, Joe Gruta, and Belinda Mariano
QUICK CHANGE by Eduardo Roy, Jr.
Dorina believes she is a lady incarcerated inside a male body. She’s got herself a flourishing career, albeit in an illegal cosmetic surgery business. She is a mother figure to Hero, her eight year old nephew. She acts as a devoted wife to Uno. Between her job and her family, Dorina feels that she is one lucky woman. Until Uno falls in love with another tranny (transvestite)
Cast: Mimi Juareza, Junjun Quintana, Migs Cuaderno, Natashia Yumi, Felipe Martinez, John Relucio, Giggle Esmeralda, Francine Garcia, and Rolando Inocencio
PUROK SIETE by Carlo Obispo
A countryside dramedy (drama-comedy) that follows 14-year-old Diana and her younger brother who live by themselves after their mother went abroad and their father lived with another woman. Set in a remote purok, where people display positive outlook in life despite daily struggles, the film features the light side of country lifestyle as the main characters take advantage of the fun and thrills of the town festival to take hold of their sweet childhood.
Cast: Arnold Reyes, Angeli Bayani, Julian Trono, Miggs Cuaderno, Krystel Valentino, Jean Judith Javier, Carlon Matobato, Olive Nieto, Karen Haniel, Max Celada, Aaron Ching, and Sheenly Gener.
DAVID F. by Emmanuel Quindo Palo
Written as a triptych with 3 short stories hinged together by the story of David Fagan, a real life historical character in the early 1900’s. He is a black American who was a member of the American regimen that was sent by the US government during the Philippine-American war. He became famous (or infamous) when he deserted the US troops and joined the sides of the Filipino revolutionaries. He was declared as a public enemy of the US government when he lead a series of battle with the Filipino revolutionaries against American soldiers. He was promoted as colonel of the Filipino troops under Emilio Aguinaldo and married a Filipina.
Cast: Quester Hannah (American theater actor), Sid Lucero, Art Acuña, Rocky Salumbides, Mitch Valdez, Jess Mendoza, Mariella Castillo, Dax Martin, and Madeleine Nicolas
INSTANT MOMMY by Leo Abaya
Story of a summer’s journey of Bechayda amidst a highly visualized world where the video screen reigns supreme. Bechayda is a wardrobe mistress in TV commercials who pretends to be pregnant to keep her Japanese fiance.
Cast: Eugene Domingo, Rico J. Puno, Luis Alandy, Archie Alemania, Shamaine Buencamino-Centenera, Tuesday Vargas, Matt Evans, Alchris Galura, and Yuki Matsuzaki (Japanese actor from Hollywood)
DIRECTORS SHOWCASE
AMOR Y MUERTE by Cesar Evangelista
Set in 16th century, “Amor Y Muerte” (means “love and death”) is an examination of the initial encounter between the Indios (natives) and their colonizers (Spaniards) and their conflicting views on love, passion, religion, and sexuality.
Cast: Althea Vega, Markki Stroem, Adrian Sebastian, and Ama Quiambao. Also starring: Mico Palanca, Kuya Manzano, Amante Pulido.
THE LIARS by Gil Portes
Based on a real-life sports scandal, “THE LIARS” traces the incredible rise and the humiliating fall of a humble Filipino baseball team of young boys in an international baseball competition in 1990s.
Cast: Jan Harley Hicana, Jim Rocky Tangco, John Michael Bonapos as the kids, with Alessandra de Rossi, Cris Villanueva, Richard Quan, Victor Basa, and Arnold Reyes.
SANA DATI by Jerrold Tarog
A love story about a woman whose wedding is thrown into disarray when a mysterious person arrives and reminds her of the man she really loves. It is the third part of Jerrold Tarog’s Camera Trilogy after CONFESSIONAL (Cinema One Originals 2007) and MANGATYANAN (Cinemalaya 2009).
Cast: Paulo Avelino, Lovi Poe, Benjamin Alves, Ria Garcia, and TJ Trinidad.
PORNO by Adolf Alix (Will only be shown at the CCP)
“PORNO” is a powerful story about individuals linked by pornography. Three souls, one explicit illusion. To find the ultimate joy in their empty lives. A safe haven, where passion and love mean humanity, ecstasy means enlightenment; and the soul is the ultimate arbiter of the truth.
Cast: Angel Aquino, Carlo Aquino, and Yul Servo
EKSTRA (THE BIT PLAYER) by Jeffrey Jeturian
EXTRA (A Bit Player) is a socio-realist drama-comedy film, which follows a seemingly usual day in the life of LOIDA MALABANAN as she embarks on yet another shooting day of a soap opera as an extra. As the shoot goes on, we get a glimpse of the truth in the ruling system of the production as well as the exploitation on the marginalized laborers like her.
Cast: Ms. Vilma Santos, Marlon Rivera, Vincent de Jesus, Ruby Ruiz, Tart Carlo… with the special participation of Piolo Pascual, Cherie Gil, Cherry Pie Picache, Richard Yap, and Marian Rivera.
Cinemalaya 2013 will be held on July 26 – August 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Cinemas at TriNoma, Greenbelt 3, and Alabang Town Center.
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