What is
SINAG MAYNILA?
SINAG MAYNILA is the country’s newest independent
film festival that showcases quality and thought-provoking movies from young,
non-mainstream Filipino filmmakers.
Conceptualized and helmed by its CEO and
Founder Wilson Tieng, together with world-renowned and internationally acclaimed
film director Brillante Mendoza as Festival Director, SINAG MAYNILA gives
grants to independent filmmakers so they can develop their individual material to
a full-length film for public exhibition.
As a festival that seeks to inspire, educate
and enlighten the viewing public, SINAG MAYNILA will feature films that reflect
Filipino culture, while presenting social issues deserving of discussion among
audiences here and abroad.
What makes
Sinag Maynila different from other independent film festivals in the country?
The presence of SINAG MAYNILA in independent
cinema will allow filmmakers to showcase more of their work. It’s another venue
and opportunity for them to gain greater exposure and be more competitive.
“Mas maraming
festivals, mas maraming pagkakataong makapaghatid ng marami pang kwento, lalo
na ang mga independent filmmaker,” Mendoza said.
But unlike the rest of independent film
festivals in town, SINAG MAYNILA is committed to pushing boundaries.
For Tieng, the festival “does not only up the
ante. Working with Brillante Mendoza, we hope to give our homegrown filmmakers
the chance to tell the stories of Filipinos in the most compelling visual narrative
possible.”
This early, Tieng commends the five feature
films “for showing great promise of high recognition not just locally but in
international independent film festivals as well.”
How are
the films selected for the festival?
For the inaugural year of SINAG MAYNILA, both
Tieng and Mendoza personally handpicked five of the country’s reputable
independent filmmakers with whom they collaborated in producing this year’s selection
of definitive films.
From story concept, to scripts, filming and
editing, Tieng and Mendoza have worked closely with the directors so audiences are
assured of world-class pieces from the festival.
“We don’t want to just produce films. We want
to produce good films. Gusto namin
panonoorin ninyo hindi lang isa kundi lahat ng limang pelikula,” Mendoza
said.
Such will be the goal of SINAG MAYNILA in the
succeeding years when the festival opens itself in 2016 to any Filipino
independent filmmaker who wishes to apply for a film grant. Details of the
mechanics will be announced soon.
What
are the five films to be featured in SINAG MAYNILA?
BALUT COUNTRY, a film by Paul Sta. Ana (Oros), follows the journey of Jun, an
heir to the duck farm left to him by his late father. He must decide whether to
sell the property to secure his future, or spare the land’s loyal caretakers of
inevitable displacement.
BAMBANTI, a film by Zig Dulay (Huling Halik, M), questions the
prejudice of the rich towards the poor when a son of a househelp is suspected
to have stolen the employer’s missing golden watch.
IMBISIBOL, a
film by Lawrence Fajardo (Amok, Posas),
tells the tale of illegal Filipino immigrants in Japan and their plight to evade
authorities.
NINJA
PARTY,
a film by Jim Libiran (Suntok sa Buwan,
Happyland, Tribu), is a coming of age story of two teenage coeds who find
themselves in a comprising situation when they get involved in secret
debauchery.
SWAP, a film by Rempton Zuasola (To Siomai Love, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria,
Soap Opera), takes us to the internal conflict of a young father, torn
between solving a crime and committing another crime when one day his only son
is kidnapped and the criminals demand him to steal another kid in exchange of
his son’s life.
When
and where will the films be screened?
The films are scheduled for screening on
rotation basis daily from March 18 to 24, 2015 in a designated SM Cinema in SM
Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Manila, SM Fairview, SM Southmall, SM Mall of Asia
and in SM Aura Premier, where the red-carpet opening ceremonies will be held.
After the festival period, SINAG MAYNILA
plans to screen the films in other SM Cinemas as well as in universities and
colleges.
Will
there be a festival awards for Sinag Maynila?
The SINAG MAYNILA Awards Night will be held
on March 21, 2015 at SM Aura Premier Sky Park. In a rather intimate evening,
the festival will be recognizing excellence in Film, Direction, Performance, Screenplay,
Cinematography, and Production Design. SM will be giving a special citation to
the People’s Choice movie.
Meet The 5 Filmmakers With Their Respective Entries:
BALUT COUNTRY
Synopsis
Jun, an heir to the duck farm left to
him by his late father, must decide between selling the property to secure a
future with his partner, or sparing the family of the land’s loyal caretakers
of inevitable displacement.
Directed By: Paul Sta. Ana
Written By: Paul Sta. Ana
Cast: Rocco Nacino, Ronnie
Quizon, Angela Cortez, Nanette Inventor
and Vincent Magbanua
Also Starring: Archi Adamos, Jelson Bay,
Leo Sarmiento, and Denise Jewel Alfonso
About The Filmmaker
PAUL STA. ANA
Writer
| Director
Paul Sta. Ana graduated from the Ateneo de
Manila University with a degree in Philosophy. Currently, he is a writer and
director of GMA Network. As a screenwriter, Paul has received a Balanghai
trophy from the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for the film, Mayohan in
2010. He has since then garnered several nominations from the the Young
Critics’ Circle, Star Awards for Film and the Gawad Urian for his screenplays
(Mayohan, Bisperas, Oros) and direction (Oros).
In 2013, his film Oros (The Coinbearer) was
the opening film of the 2012 Asiatica Filmediale in Rome, Italy. It also won Best Film in the
DC Independent Film Festival. The film and its supporting actor (Kristoffer
Martin) also garnered honorable mention awards in both the Landlocked Film
Festival (Iowa) and Long Island Film Expo (New York) respectively.
BAMBANTI (Scarecrow)
Synopsis
The search for a missing watch
instigates the painful quest for the truth in Belyn’s and her son’s life.
Directed By: Zig Dulay
Written By: Zig Dulay
Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, Micko
Laurente, Julio Diaz, Shamaine Buencamino,
Lui Manansala
Also Starring: Delphine Buencamino,
Erlinda Villalobos, Celio Aquino, Abegail Edillo
and
Kiki Baento.
About The Filmmaker
ZIG DULAY
Writer
| Director
Zig M. Dulay began his career as a
filmmaker in 2011 when he directed his first full-length film Huling Halik (The
Last Kiss), a NETPAC entry in 2011 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film
Festival. In 2012, he started to write
screenplays for various directors. His screenplays include; Posas (Shackled)
directed by Lawrence Fajardo (Best Picture in 2012 Cinemalaya Film Festival and
2012 Hanoi International Film Festival); QWERTY by Ed Lejano (Special Jury
Prize in 2012 Sineng Pambansa Film Festival); Ad Ignorantiam by Armando Lao
(Jury Prize in 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival, New Wave); Ekstra (The Bit
Player) directed by Jeffrey Jeturian (Jury Prize in 2013 Cinemalaya Film
Festival and this is also the film in which he bagged the Best Screenplay; and
Kasal (The Commitment) directed by Jay Altarejos (Best Film in 2014 Cinemalaya
Film Festival). His short film ‘Missing’ was included in the official selection
of 2013 Cinemalaya Film Festival, short film category. The film won the Best
Short Film in 2013 URIAN Awards. His latest full-length film ‘M. (Mother’s
Maiden Name) won Special Jury Prize in 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival - New
Wave Section.
SWAP
Synopsis
A
young father is torn between solving a crime and committing another crime when
one day his only son is kidnapped and the criminals demand him to steal another
kid in exchange for the life of his son.
Directed By: Remton Siega Zuasola
Written By: Remton Siega Zuasola
Cast: Dionne Monsanto, Matt Daclan, Mon Confiado
Also
Starring:
Publio Briones, Ramon Bagatsing, Jesus Mendoza, Genica Ines Mijares, Charisse
Mari Fonacier, Natileigh Sitoy, Maria Cristina Mondragon, Eli Razo, and Ronyel
Compra.
About The Filmmaker
REMTON
SIEGA ZUASOLA
Writer | Director
A
Filipino film director dedicated to the cultivation of modern Cebuano cinema. A
receptient of the Ani ng Dangal award for his outstanding contribution to
National Cinema. The province of Cebu awarded him with a Governor's Citation of
the Garbo sa Sugbo Awards (pride of Cebu) for his contribution to Cebuano
Cinema.
He
first caught the attention of the Philippine film scene with his short film
"To Siomai love" which won for him the 2009 Ishmael bernal award for
most outstanding young Filipino filmmaker from Cinemanila international film
festival. In 2010 his first feature length film "Ang Damgo ni
Eleuteria". It garnered top awards
from Gawad Urian such as best picture, best cinematography, best musical score
and Remton became one of the youngest recipient of the Gawad Urian Best
Director Award. Remton has recently finished his 2nd feature "Soap
Opera" under Cinema one Originals.
IMBISIBOL
Synopsis
Imbisibol presents a narrative of a daily challenges faced by Filipino migrant workers in Japan during a period when thousands of undocumented workers and overstayers were being deported in response to strict Japanese laws.
Directed By: Lawrence Fajardo
Written By: John Paul Bedia, Herlyn
Gail Alegre
Cast: JM De Guzman, Ces
Quesada, Bernardo Bernardo, Allen Dizon and Ricky Davao
Also
Starring:
JC Santos, Only Torres, Naoki Takai, Shinpei Suzuki, May Alleman, Kaz Sawamura,
Masaharu Iwamoto, Oyee Barro and Ricky Davao
About The Filmmaker
LAWRENCE
FAJARDO
Director
Lawrence
Fajardo hails from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental where he finished
Masscommunication at the University of
St. Lasalle Bacolod.
His most prominent works to date are Amok, a finalist in the New Breed Category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2011 where it won Best Sound and Editing, followed by Posas in 2012, which won Best Film in the Director’s Showcase Category. Both of which competed in countless prestigious film festivals around the globe. Amok was shown in South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, USA, Canada and Italy. Amok won Best Sound and Editing in the Natatanging Gawad Urian in 2012 and bagged the Special Prize of the Jury Award at the Detective Fest in Moscow, Russia in the same year. Posas even became even more successful as it was shown in 12 festivals, spanning 5 different continents around the globe. It brought home pride as it won Best Film in Hanoi International Film Festival in 2012.In 2013, Lawrence rekindled his love for theater when he directed the play “Imbisibol”, which was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of the Virgin Labfest 9. It was restaged the following year as part of Virgin Labfest 10.
His most prominent works to date are Amok, a finalist in the New Breed Category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2011 where it won Best Sound and Editing, followed by Posas in 2012, which won Best Film in the Director’s Showcase Category. Both of which competed in countless prestigious film festivals around the globe. Amok was shown in South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, USA, Canada and Italy. Amok won Best Sound and Editing in the Natatanging Gawad Urian in 2012 and bagged the Special Prize of the Jury Award at the Detective Fest in Moscow, Russia in the same year. Posas even became even more successful as it was shown in 12 festivals, spanning 5 different continents around the globe. It brought home pride as it won Best Film in Hanoi International Film Festival in 2012.In 2013, Lawrence rekindled his love for theater when he directed the play “Imbisibol”, which was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of the Virgin Labfest 9. It was restaged the following year as part of Virgin Labfest 10.
NINJA PARTY
Synopsis
Top female students of an elite Catholic high
school discover their identities and sexualities amidst clashing values.
Conflicts between themselves, their families, and their school forces them to
grow up and grow in friendship. They face slutshaming when a rumor spreads
about their participation in a secret orgy.
Directed By: Jim Libran
Written By: Jim Libiran, Dominic
Lim, Iris Lee
Cast: Annicka Dolonius,
Julz Savard, Bea Galvez, Elora Espano, Mariz Reyes, Japo Parcero, Odette Khan,
Teresa Loyzaga and Denise Marasigan
About
The Filmmaker
JIM LIBIRAN
Co-Writer
| Director
Jim Libiran made his directorial debut in
2006 with PANCIT CANTON, a short film which his wrote and produced. In 2007, he
came up with his first full-length film TRIBU and followed it with HAPPYLAND in
2010. He also wrote and directed the
short film Batch 2011, a feature in the ABS-CBN News KINSE Human Rights Film
Anthology. His latest works include his contribution as creative producer to
the film SUNTOK SA BUWAN directed Bianca Catbagan, and ARAW, a short film
produced by SunLife Financials Asia and KymeChow Media.
PHOTOS AT THE PRESSCON OF SINAG MAYNILA AT SM AURA SKYPARK
 |
| Cast and Crew of Swap with Festival Director Brillante Mendoza |
 |
| Mon Confiado and Dion Monsanto for Swap |
 |
| Solar's Wilson Tieng and Festival Director Brillante Mendoza |
 |
| The 5 Filmmakers of Sinag Maynila during Presscon |
 |
| Rocco Nacino for Balut Country |
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