World Premieres Film Festival Philippines: Filipino New Cinema Official Entries - Posters and Trailers

Eight films have been selected to vie in the Filipino New Cinema section of the World Premieres Film Festival Philippines (WPFF) 2015, organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and in partnership with SM Cinemas. The section will feature new Filipino films from contemporary filmmakers who are looking to premiere their latest works before an international audience in the Philippines.  The section further highlights the high caliber of films produced and made in the country.

Here are the following 8 Official Entries of World Premieres Film Festival Philippines : Filipino New Cinema Section

Synopsis:

As clouds begin to roll, we see the morning life of a busy city.  Cars jam the streets, as people makes squares of the side streets they walk on.  People queues in line as everyone wants to board the city train.   This is Sam’s daily picture of his long travel to school. He is a young filmmaker, who in his everyday commune, picks up his girlfriend Isa, in a station, 4 stops away from the school they go in.

The gloomy weather seems to be painting the day for the young couple. The concurring problems between them loom as they try to survive the day.  Isa is about to leave for the States after graduation and Sam gets a fellowship offer from one of the leading film schools in the world.

All these reasons make way for unspoken words of doubt and fear, on top of a bigger dilemma that they have to face.   Sam and Isa had to make a decision. They cannot stay too long in this teacher-student relationship.


Starring: Nicco Manalo, Emmanuelle Vera, Brian Corella


Written By: Nestor Aborgena and Rob Jara


Directed By: Nestor Aborgena 

  

Synopsis:

Filemon Mamon is a high school student who desires two things, to win the heart of the girl he loves and to be the lead in a musical play about his Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio.  But, he has a big problem – his weight.  His out of work father and his OFC mother leave him to adhere to the guidance of his grandmother who loves to cook and who loves to remind him that “to be fat is to be healthy, and to be healthy is to be fat.”

Is stardom only for the skinny? Through the song and dance, Filemon discovers himself by overcoming the realities of life.  He may not look the part, but Filemoin learns about heroism in the most unexpected way.  He becomes the hero not only to his family and friends, but also to himself.

Based on a popular Children’s Book of the same title by author Christine Bellen for Adarna House Publishing, Filemon Mamon is for all ages.  The movie does not only remind you to eat proper food but also to partake the universal message of loving oneself and others.
  

Starring: Jerome Ignacio (as Filemon Mamon), Miles Ocampo, Smokey Manaloto, Rayver Cruz, Nanette Inventor, Christian Bautista, Giselle Sanchez, and Joshua Colet

 
Written By: Christine Belen and Jethro Niño Tenorio

Directed By: Will Fredo

Synopsis:

Paul is a restless twenty-something who cannot get his life together. Worse, he’s been holding on to his love towards Red, his best friend Ivan’s boyfriend. Looking for a sense of direction, he goes to Siem Reap and meets Tang, who falls in love with him.

But when Ivan leaves Red without any explanation, Paul finds himself caught between chasing his unrequited love for Red or choosing Tang, the one who is always willing to give him love that he cannot return.


Starring: Joross Gamboa, Ae Pattawan (Thai actor), CJ Reyes, and Prince Stefan

Written and Directed By: Charliebebs Gohetia

 

Synopsis:

Leonardo Rossellini is a young Italian priest from Rome.  He is assigned to a parish in Payatas, headed by a courageous Spanish priest.  Payatas is one of the poorest areas of Metro Manila, where all the urban wastes of the metropolis are dumped and processed:  a place where every day children are exposed to violence and dangerous diseases.  Leonardo's mission is to counsel battered women and teach poor children English and catechism.  But soon Leonardo's peace of mind is distraught by the encounter of Merlinda, a young and charming woman he used to love when he was still a seminarian.  Merlinda is now married to Franco, and has a 6 year old son.

But Franco is a violent husband also involved in illegal activities, and her son Alejandro is now missing.  Merlinda asks for Leonardo's help. The latter decides to do his best to solve her problems.  The reason? Leonardo still has feelings for Merlinda.  But Franco doesn't like the Italian priest to mess with his family's life and Carlos, the Spanish head priest is worried about it:  he knows how dangerous Franco is.  But Leonardo is even more determined when Merlinda reveals to him that Alejandro is not Franco's son:  he is their son.  

Leonardo becomes an 'action priest':  he protects Merlinda from Franco's violence and is able to find and rescue his son, who was in the hand of a syndicate of which Franco is a member.  But now Franco plans to kill the Italian priest.

Starring: Ruben Maria Soriquez, Polo Ravales, Raymond Bagatsing, Chanel Latorre, Richard Quan, Althea Vega, and Sue Prado


Written By: Alejandro Mirasol Ramos, Ruben Maria Soriquez

Directed By: Ruben Maria Soriquez

Synopsis:

Armand, Julian and Paolo are good friends.  All three experience financial difficulties so they are finding ways to get some money.  They embark into writing the manuscript of a book similar to the books of a writer with the pseudonym Pangkoy Ong. 

However, the project fails because of an unforeseen problem.   The next plan is to blackmail Pangkoy Ong.  They are asking for a big amount of money in exchange for keeping his identity unknown to the public.  The film narrates the adventures and the misadventures of the three friends.

Starring: Kiko Matos, Paulo De Vera, Elston Jimenez, Hazel Faith dela Cruz, Coleen Perez, and LaraVillar


Directed By: Jonah Añonuevo Lim  

Synopsis:

James (Yussef Esteves) is a gym instructor by day and a student by night, who struggles to keep both ends meet.  Stands as the family bread winner, he is determined to make a difference in his troubled family.  He and his three siblings grew up without knowing who their father is, while their mother is a retired prostitute but still runs a whore house.  James works so hard to graduate.  

However, Mr. Salve, the school’s principal has set his eyes on him and is willing to do anything to get what he wants.  James refuses Mr. Salve’s offer to keep his pride and dignity.  Mr. Salve seeks revenge after getting rejected, he comes up with a plot to destroy James’ dreams.  Still, a sudden twist of faith will change everything – a scenario which will shatter James and his family.

Starring: Yussef Estevez, Krista Miller, Tessie Tomas, Bembol Roco, Rocky Salumbides, Biboy Ramirez, Teri Aunor


Written By: Carlos Morales and Zoilo Barrel


Directed By: Carlos Morales 

Synopsis:

Michelle lives in her own special world.  She has a strange love story with her house by the bamboo grave, with which she developed a language, with things functioning as words only she could understand.  Everyone is trying to convince her to abandon the house; her boyfriend trying to look for work in the city or abroad, a nosy neighbor trying to make ends meet by working as a teacher, and even a filmmaker trying to do a documentary on Michelle’s skill as a calado embroiderer, which she cling onto as strongly as she stays in the house.  

The film tells the intimate story of how Michelle’s house, along with the things around her: a river stone, a June beetle, and a can of sardines, would help her preserve the ecology of joy and peace she nurtures by the bamboo grove.  In Michelle’s world everything is interconnected, and even the smallest of things has a story to tell.

Starring: Mercedes Cabral, RK Bagatsing, Mark Felix

Written and Directed By: Alvin Yapan

 

Synopsis:

The Philippines is being geared up to be interconnected through a system called One Wired Nation (OWN).  This would allow faster and easier access to information across the country –from the smallest Baranggay to Malacañang.  With OWN progress is enevitable says Bert Javelo (Lance Raymundo), from Prime Connections, the company who won the contract to build and manage OWN. Bert promises instant service and progress to the country.  But Pia Gorospe (Ina Feleo) is not convinced and smells something wrong.

MASKARA follows the story of Pia Gorospe, an award-winning journalist, as she tries to uncover the truth behind the death of Primecon executive and author of the OWN project Willie Miranda (Rolando Inocencio).

As she slowly puts bits and pieces of the clues left by Willie to her before he was murdered, Pia gets to meet Bert Javelo, PrimeCon's suave Marketing executive and Alex Mayo (Ping Medina), a military intelligence operative.  One of them is hiding the truth and pretends to be in love with her.  The other one is defending the truth and would be willing to die for her. Their quest for truth takes them all the way to Marinduque during Holy Week.  

In this quaint town at the heart of the country, Pia witnesses the Moriones tradition – a Lenten ritual where Longinus bravely spreads that Christ has resurrected even if it means being beheaded.  Here she realizes the need to defend the truth, like Longinus, even if it means offering her life.

Starring: Ina Feleo, Ping Medina, Lance Raymundo, Lester Llansang, Rolando Inocencio, Alvin Fortuna, Dennis Coronel, and Ms. Boots Anson-Roa     

Written By: Sal Dela Tierra, Genesis Nolasco

Directed By: Genesis Nolasco

World Premieres Film Festival Philippines will run from June 24 to July 7, 2015 at selected SM Cinemas in Metro Manila