My Take on Local Films of 2013

Fiction writer-columnist-editor Jessica Zafra says that this year might be considered as the Third Golden Age of Philippine Cinema. And I am so grateful that I am living in this era and very active supporting our local films in its current prime. One of the big factors we may consider that’s why we can say that this is the best year ever for Filipino movies is the numerous independent local film festivals that we have. Aside from the established local film festivals like Metro Manila Film Festival, Cinemalaya, Cinema One originals and Cinemanila, we also have film festival that premiered this year, Cine Filipino supported by TV 5 and Q Cinema supported by Quezon City government, 3^rd MMFF New Wave and the second year of now nationwide Sineng Pambansa with its theme ALL MASTERS EDITION featuring our very own award winning directors. 

These festivals became the factory of quality local films that we are enjoying, weaved the ideas of our film makers to create their own masterpiece and provided grant and venue to showcase their films. I am just really hoping and praying that all of these festivals will continue to prosper in 2014. Despite the difficulties to catch the festivals due to its limited run that you need to plan your schedule and sometime inaccessible venue as long as they continue to cater quality films, I still support and enjoy all quality Filipino movies. On that note let's start to rundown the highlights of our local films for
2013:


Eight Filipino films were exhibited on Cannes International Film Festival. Two of which is selected on Un Certain Regard section: Lav Diaz's Norte Hangganan ng Kasaysayan and Adolf Alix's Death March. On the other hand the Director's Fortnight section of Cannes chooses the Filipino Film On the Job helmed by the Director, Erik Matti. Cannes Classic sections featured are own Filipino Film Classic: Maynila Sa Kuko ng Liwanag helmed by the award winning director Lino Brocka. Tyrone Acierto’s “The Grave Bandits (Zombie Island)” had a “market premiere” at the Marché du Film of Cannes. And lastly three Filipino short films have made it to the Cannes Short Film Corner: “Katapusang Labok” by Aiess Alonso, “Oasis Redux” by Carlo Manatad and “Mga Engkantong Laog sa Mahabang Dapithapon”by Roderick Cabrido.

The domination of the quality action crime genre in our local films. Seems that the film OTJ by Erik Matti started the trend and raised the action genre in our local films. After OTJ we got Kabisera, my best film for Cinema One Originals, Saka-Saka from MMFF New Wave, and 10,000 Hours and Boy Golden, the best films for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

The comeback of the acclaimed director Peque Gallaga via the film Sedcution and Sonata. Direk Peque also cater his talent as actor in the films Island and Woman of the Ruins that gave him Best Supporting Actor Award.

 

Another major comeback in film making is director Elwood Perez via the film Otso and the recipient of Philippine Cinema One Originals achievement awards

The quality local Coming Of An Age film: Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, Mga Alalala ng Tag-Ulan, Ang Tag-araw ni Twinkle, Hello, World, Saturday Night Chills and Must Be Love.

The controversy in selection for the film to be submitted in Oscars for Best Foreign Film Category. A 3 way battle between Transit, Thy Womb and OTJ. Though many are favorable in OTJ to be submitted due to the buzz that it created in Cannes, Direk Peque the one that break the 3 way tie advise that he chose Transit over the 2 because in this film our country was not take in bad shape. There is an exchange of sentiment as well between Direk Peque and Erik Matti because of the selection. 
 

 On the high note, besides ‘Transit’ by Hannah Espia, 2 more films about Filipinos vie for best foreign film in Oscar. Singapore’s “Ilo Ilo” by Anthony Chen and the United Kingdom’s “Metro Manila” by Sean Ellis have also been submitted to the Oscars by their respective countries.

Films that have non-linear story telling that I am now started to appreciate: Sana Dati, Transit, Lukas Niño, Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na, Riddles of My Homecoming, Otso, Alamat Ni China Doll and Dukit.

Nora vs. Vilma rivalry now in the indie film industry. Two of our own actress gem has their own indie film for this year Ang Kwento ni Mabuti for Nora Aunor and Ekstra for Vilma Santos. Both of them were active in supporting the indie film industry and I got a chance to meet them personally during the Gala
of their respective films.

 

Box Office Flops for 2013: Alfredo Lim Story, Miri: Ang Huling Henya, Raketeros, Seduction, The Bride and The Lover, Kaleidoscope World ;In terms of Star Cinema Standards: OTJ (On The Job) and Kung Fu Divas

Box Office Hit for 2013: It Takes a Man and a Woman, Four Sisters and a Wedding, She's the One, Bakit Hindi ka Crush ng Crush Mo?, My Little Bossings, Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy and Pagpag.

Quality Films of Cinemalaya: Transit, Sana Dati, Purok 7, Ekstra, Debosyon and Quick Change

As expected out of the box films from Cinema One Originals: Sitio, Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na, Riddles of My Homecoming, Saturday Night Chills, Woman Of The Ruins, Ang Pagbabalat ng Ahas, Islands, and Iskalawags.

 

Films that I gave a perfect rating: OTJ (On The Job) and Iloilo

Films that I almost gave a perfect rating: Otso and Boy Golden
 

Ensembles casts performance for the movies: Transit, Burgos, Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, Alamat Ni China Doll, Kabisera, Woman Of The Ruins

 

Rookie filmmaker of the year: Hannah Espia (Transit), Mikael Red (Rekorder), Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, Alfonso Torre III (Kabisera) Mike Alcazaren (Puti) and Carlo Obispo (Purok 7).
 

My Best Popcorn Movies: Must Be Love, It Takes A Man and A Woman, Four Sisters and a Wedding, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?, She's The One, Status It's Complicated, Call Center Girl, Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy and Pagpag

 

 
My Best TV Series: Titser

My Best TV Series in ABS-CBN: Ina,Kapatid,Anak and Got To Believe

My Best TV Series in GMA: My Husband's Lover and Mundo Mo'y Akin

My Best TV Series in TV 5: For Love or Money

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in TV Series: Maja Salvador - Ina, Kapatid, Anak

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in TV Series: Dennis Trillo - My Husband's Lover

 

 

Best Reality TV Show Program: The Voice of The Philippines

Best Short Films of 2013: Mamang Pulis, Kathang Isip, Ligaw, Missing, Onang, Katapusang Labok

Films that dominate my blog for the most number of views: It Takes A Man and A Woman, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?, Lihis,Four Sisters and a Wedding, Kabisera, Ekstra, She’s The One, Boy Golden and OTJ (On The Job).

Love Team that made noise this year on their movies that they've done.
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (Kathniel) - For the movies: Must Be Love and Pagpag

Actors that made noise this year on their movies that they've done.

 
1. Joel Torre - For excellence performance as lead actor for the movies: OTJ (On the Job) and Kabisera. Other movies  done: The Diplomat Hotel and Juana C. The Movie

2. Alex Medina - For excellence performance as lead and supporting actor for the movies: Babagwa, Angustia and Shift

3. Joem Bascon - For excellence performance as lead actor for the movies: Lihis and Blue Bustamante. Other movies done: The Bride and the Lover, Ang Misis ni Meyor, 10,000 Hours and Boy Golden

4. Enchong Dee - For the movies: Four Sisters and a Wedding, Tuhog and Call Center Girl 
  

5. Paulo Avelino - For excellence performance as lead actor for the movies: The Bride and the Lover, Sana Dati, Debosyon, Status: It's Complicated and Pagpag.

6. Jake Cuenca - For the movies: Nuwebe, Tuhog, Lihis, Status: It's Complicated and When the Love Is Gone.

7. Rocco Nacino - For excellence performance as lead actor for the movies: Burgos and Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir. Other movie done: My Lady Boss 

8. Jun Jun Quintana - For excellence performance as lead actor for the movies: Quick Change, Bingoleras and Philippino Story.

 

Actresses that made noise this year on their movies that they've done.


1. Nora Aunor - For excellence performance as lead actress for the movie: Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti

 

2. Vilma Santos - For excellence performance as lead actress for the movie: Ekstra

 

3. Eugene Domino - For excellence performance as lead actress for the movies: Instant Mommy, Tuhog, Momzillas, Status: It's Complicated, and Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel.
 

4. KC Concepcion - For excellence performance as lead actress for the movie: Boy Golden
 

5. Angel Aquino - For excellence performance as lead and supporting actress for the movies: Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, Porno, Kimmy Dora: Ang Kyemeng Prequel and OTJ (On The Job) Other movie  done:
Instant Mommy
 

6. Jasmin Curtis - For excellence performance as lead and supporting actress for the movies: Transit and
Puti
 

7. Angeli Bayani - For excellence performance as lead and supporting actress for the movies: Juana C The Movie, Purok 7, Lauriana, Tinik, The Guerilla Is a Poet, Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan and Iloilo
 

 
8. Chanel Latorre - For excellence performance as supporting actress for the movies: Babagwa, The Diplomat Hotel, Lauriana, Lihis, The Guerilla Is a Poet, Bendor, Woman of the Ruins and Island Dreams