19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

Filipino independent film festival

19th Cinemalaya Independent Film FestivalOpening film| Where is the Lie? (Marupok AF) by Quark Henares

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Closing film| Third World Romance by Dwein Baltazar
Location| Metro Manila, Philippines
Film titles| 20
Festival date| August 4, 2023 (2023-08-04)–August 13, 2023 (2023-08-13)
Language| English, Filipino, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Romblomanon, Davaoeño, etc.
Website| Official Website
Cinemalaya chronology

2024

2022

The 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival was held from August 4 – 13, 2023 in Metro Manila, Philippines with the theme being “IlumiNasyon” (illumination). A total of ten full-length features and ten short films competed.[1] The festival was opened by the film Where is the Lie? (Marupok AF) by Quark Henares and its closing film was Third World Romance by Dwein Baltazar.[2][3] This year, the festival proper was held at the Philippine International Convention Center instead of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its annual venue, due to the latter being under renovation until 2025.[4][5][6]

During the press launch held on July 5, 2023, it was revealed by Cinemalaya Foundation president Laurice Guillen that each director in the feature-length category received a seed grant amounting to ₱2,000,000 (US$40,000~), the largest amount given in the history of the Festival. On the other hand, the finalists of the short film category received a total of ₱100,000 (US$1,785~) each for their finished films.[6]

## Entries

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The winning film is highlighted with boldface and a dagger.

### Full-Length Features

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Title  | Director  | Cast  | Genre  | Notes

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Ang Duyan ng Magiting (The Cradle of the Brave) | Dustin Celestino | Dolly de Leon, Bituin Escalante, Agot Isidro, Miggy Jimenez, Jojit Lorenzo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Paolo O’Hara, Joel Saracho, and Dylan Ray Talon | Drama
As if it's True | John Rogers | Khalil Ramos, Ashley Ortega, Adrianna So, John Silverio, Angellie Sanoy, Rachel Coates, and Marnie Lapus | Romance, Drama
Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer) | Kenneth de la Cruz | Ron Matthews Espinosa and John Niel Pagntalan | Drama, Fantasy
Gitling (Hyphen) | Jopy Arnaldo | Gabby Padilla and Ken Yamamura | Dramedy
Fin | Ryan Espinosa Machado | Shun Mark Gomez, Bon Andrew Lentejas, Cedrick Juan, Jay Gonzaga, Serena Magiliw, and Senandra Gomez | Drama, Coming-of-Age
Iti Mapukpukaw † | Carl Joseph E. Papa  | Carlo Aquino, Gio Gahol, and Dolly de Leon | Animation, Drama, Queer | Iti Mapukpukaw is the first full-length animated film to compete in the history of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.[7]
Maria | Sheryl Rose M. Andes | - | Documentary | Maria is the first full-length documentary to compete in the history of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.[8]
Rookie | Samantha Lee | Pat Tingjuy, Aya Fernandez, and Agot Isidro | Coming-of-age, Romantic, Comedy, LGBTQIA+, Sports
Tether | Gian Arre | Mikoy Morales, Jorrybell Agoto, Breech Mae Valencia, Olivia Banela, and Albert Briones | Romance, Horror
When This Is All Over | Kevin Mayuga | Juan Karlos Labajo, Jorrybell Agoto, Ana Abad Santos, Chaye Mogg, Nour Hooshmand, Jico Umali, Aaron Maniego, Renee Dominique, Lottie Bie, and Zara Loayan | Youth Drama

### Short films

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Title | Director

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Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambanahon Para sa Imo | Kent John Desamparado
Golden Bells | Kurt Soberano
Hinakdal | Arvin Belarmino
Hm Hm Mhm | Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan
Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019 | Diokko Manuel Dionisio
Makoko sa Baybay | Mike Cabarles
Maudi nga Arapaap | Daniel Magayon
Sibuyas ni Perfecto † | Januar Yap
Sota | Mae Tanagon
'Tong Adlaw nga Nag-snow sa Pinas | Joshua Caesar Medroso

## Awards

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The awards ceremony was held on August 13, 2023, at the Philippine International Convention Center.[9]

Under the full-length feature category, Iti Mapukpukaw won Best Film along with the special NETPAC award. Dolly de Leon also received the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in the film. The films Rookie and When This Is All Over each won three awards, with the former receiving the Best Actress award for Pat Tingjuy's performance, the Audience Choice Award, and Best Editing, and the latter receiving Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Original Music Score.

Under the short film category, Hinakdal won the most awards with three: Audience Choice Award, Best Screenplay, and the short film counterpart of the NETPAC Award. Meanwhile, Sibuyas ni Perfecto won Best Film.

The complete list of winning films are as follows:[10]

### Full-Length Features

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* Best Film – Iti Mapukpukaw by Carl Joseph E. Papa
* Special Jury Award – Ang Duyan ng Magiting by Dustin Celestino
* Audience Choice Award – Rookie by Samantha Lee
* Best Direction – Ryan Espinosa Machado for Fin
* Best Actor – Mikoy Morales for Tether
* Best Actress – Pat Tingjuy for Rookie
* Best Supporting Actor – Bon Andrew Lentejas for Fin
* Best Supporting Actress – Dolly de Leon for Iti Mapukpukaw
* Best Screenplay – Jopy Arnaldo for Gitling
* Best Cinematography – Martika Ramirez Escobar for When This Is All Over
* Best Editing – Ilsa Malsi for Rookie
* Best Sound Design – Gian Arre for Tether
* Best Original Music Score – KINDRED for When This Is All Over
* Best Production Design – Kaye Banaag for When This Is All Over

### Short films

[edit]

* Best Film – Sibuyas ni Perfecto by Januar Yap
* Special Jury Award – Hm Hm MhM by Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan
* Audience Choice Award – Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino
* Best Screenplay – Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino
* Best Direction – Mike Cabarles for Makoko Sa Baybay

### Special Awards

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* NETPAC Full-length Feature Award: Iti Mapukpukaw by Carl Joseph E. Papa
* NETPAC Short Film Award: Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cinemalaya 19 Finalists". Cinemalaya Foundation. August 10, 2023.
2. ^ Iglesias, Iza (August 10, 2023). "Cinemalaya — lighting up screens anew for 19th edition".
3. ^ "Dwein Baltazar's Third World Romance caps Cinemalaya 19". Manila Bulletin.
4. ^ "There's no stopping Cinemalaya 19". The Manila Times. August 10, 2023.
5. ^ "Cinemalaya 2023 announces list of full-length film finalists". Rappler. August 10, 2023.
6. ^ a b "Cinemalaya 19 gives biggest seed grant in its history". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
7. ^ "Carl Joseph Papa, Gio Gahol on 'Iti Mapukpukaw,' 1st full-length animation to compete in Cinemalaya". Rappler. August 10, 2023.
8. ^ "Director Sheryl Rose Andes on 'Maria,' the 1st full-length documentary to compete in Cinemalaya". Rappler. August 10, 2023.
9. ^ "There's no stopping Cinemalaya 19". The Manila Times. August 10, 2023.
10. ^ "'Iti Mapukpukaw' tops Cinemalaya 2023 with 3 wins including Best Film". ABS-CBN News. August 13, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

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Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

Ceremonies|

* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

Best Film

New Breed|

* Pepot Artista (2005)
* Tulad ng Dati (2006)
* Tribu (2007)
* Jay (2008)
* Last Supper (2009)
* Halaw (2010)
* Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011)
* Diablo (2012)
* Transit(2013)
* Bwaya (2014)
* None (2015)

Director's Showcase|

* Donor (2010)
* Bisperas (2011)
* Posas (2012)
* Sana Dati (2013)
* Kasal (2014)
* None (2015)

Full Length Feature|

* Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016)
* Respeto (2017)
* Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon (2018)

Best Director

New Breed|

* Rica Arevalo (2005)
* Ron Bryant (2006)
* Auraeus Solito (2007)
* Chris Martinez (2008)
* GB Sampedro (2009)
* Sheron Dayoc (2010)
* Marlon Rivera (2011)
* Mes De Guzman (2012)
* Hannah Espia (2013)
* Giancarlo Abrahan V (2014)
* None (2015)

Director's Showcase|

* Gil Portes (2010)
* Auraeus Solito (2011)
* Raymond Red (2012)
* Jerrold Tarog (2013)
* Mike Tuviera (2014)
* None (2015)

Full Length Feature|

* Eduardo Roy Jr. (2016)
* Joseph Israel Laban (2017)
* Che Espiritu (2018)

Best Actor

New Breed|

* Eddie Garcia (2005)
* Alchris Galura (2006)
* The Ensemble of Tribu (2007)
* Baron Geisler (2008)
* Lou Veloso (2009)
* John Arcilla (2010)
* Edgar Allan Guzman (2011)
* Kristoffer King (2012)
* Mimi Juareza (2013)
* Dante Rivero (2014)
* None (2015)

Director's Showcase|

* Baron Geisler (2010)
* Bembol Roco (2011)
* Eddie Garcia (2012)
* no winner (2013)
* Robert Arevalo (2014)
* None (2015)

Full Length Feature|

* Tommy Abuel (2016)
* Noel Comia (2017)
* Eddie Garcia (2018)

Best Actress

New Breed|

* Meryll Soriano (2005)
* Angel Aquino  (2006)
* Ina Feleo (2007)
* Mylene Dizon (2008)
* Ina Feleo (2009)
* Lovi Poe (2010)
* Eugene Domingo (2011)
* Ama Quiambao (2012)
* Irma Adlawan (2013)
* Eula Valdez (2014)
* None (2015)

Director's Showcase|

* Meryll Soriano (2010)
* Raquel Villavicencio (2011)
* Judy Ann Santos, Iza Calzado, Agot Isidro, and Janice de Belen (2012)
* Vilma Santos (2013)
* Nora Aunor (2014)
* None (2015)

Full Length Feature|

* Hasmine Killip (2016)
* Angeli Bayani(2017)
* Ai Ai delas Alas (2018)

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