Cinemalaya 16 Winners Bring Captivating Stories from the Regions

Art+ Staff

For the first time, Cinemalaya goes virtual with no full-length films in competition. Full length films are set to compete in 2021 as productions are put on a halt because of the ongoing health crisis. According to Director Jose Javier Reyes, the Monitoring Chair of Cinemalaya, “[this] is more of a blessing in disguise in real terms, we are highlighting of short feature film makers.” In previous editions of Cinemalaya, the short film feature are viewed as a secondary attraction of the festival.

“We give honor to the regional film makers, [this year] we see the significance of regional work,” Director Jose Javier Reyes said before announcing the winners of Cinemalay’s short feature films that happen to highlight regional perspectives.

Cinemalaya 16 winners:
Audience Choice: Quing Lalam Ning Aldo (Under the Sun) by Reeden Fajardo
Cinemalaya Citation for Best Screenplay: Pabasa Kon Pasyon by Hubert Tibi
Special Jury Prize: Ang Pagpakalama ng Unos by Joanna Vasquez
Netpac Jury: Tokwifi by Carla Pulido Ocampo
Best Direction: Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar
Best Film: Tokwifi by Carla Pulido Ocampo

Carla Pulido Ocampo’s “Tokwifi” (Star) is a story based on a Bontoc folktale of a star that fell from the sky that a Bontoc Man falls in love with. Carla gives this folktale a modern twist in her short film. “Ang kultura ng katutubong Pilipino ay palaging isinasantabi noon at hangang ngayon. Misdepicted pa rin ang mga aspeto ng kanilang buhay. Isang regalo etong Netpac award para sa lahat nang naririto. Nagreresonate din pala ang kwentong katutubo sa Asia at sa buong mundo.” (Native Filipino culture is often set-aside then and until now. Many aspects of their lives tend to be misrepresented. Receiving this Netpac award is a gift to everyone [involved in the film.] In hindsight, native folktales can resonate with audience Asia and the whole world,) Carla said as she accepted the award.

Tokwifi bags two awards: NetPac Jury Prize & Best Short Film Feature. Tokwifi was previously part of the QCinema Film Festival that won a special jury prize. Carla is also part of the team that made “Walang Rape Sa Bontoc” which is a recipient of the Gawad Urian Award for Best Documentary in 2015.

The recipient of the Cinemalaya’s Best Screenplay is “Pabasa Kon Pasyon.” Its writer and director Hubert Tibi, whose work were part of five previous editions of Cinemalaya, says “being part of this year’s Cinemalaya feels different knowing that our work would be screened virtually instead of being shown on the big screen.”

The 10 shortlisted short feature films in competition:
1. Excuse me miss miss miss by Sonny Calvento
2. Fatigued James by Robin Mayo
3. Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar
4. Pabasa Kon Pasyon by Hubert Tibi
5. Quing Lalam ning Aldo (Under the Sun) by Reeden Fajardo
6. Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert by Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori
7. Ang Pagpakalama ng Unos (To Calm The Pig Inside) by Joanna Vasquez
8. The Slums Jan Andrei Cobey
9. Tokwifi by Carla Pulido Ocampo
10. “Utwas” Richard Salvadico & Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay