Sineng Pambansa/ National Film Festival 2013: All Masters - Edition

 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) formally announces the staging of the Sineng Pambansa/ National Film Festival 2013: All Masters - Edition. FDCP Chairman Briccio G. Santos states, with the Masters Edition, officials of the FDCP see this as a means to recognize the artistic contributions of these filmmakers, allowing them to create personal works, as they explore the possibilities of digital filmmaking. Moreover, having them shoot on location in their respective provinces is seen as a boon to regional filmmaking and can serve as a springboard for the promotion of their locales as potential shooting locations and film development. Sineng Pambansa (National Cinema) is the FDCP’s flagship program, whose basic mission is to revitalize the Filipino film industry by encouraging and supporting the production high quality films, and by promoting the works of Filipino filmmakers to a wider public through national and international film festivals. The main theme is “Bringing the Filipino films to Filipinos”, with the aim of instilling pride in our culture and national identity by fostering growth and development of Philippine cinematic arts. These brand new films of Sineng Pambansa/ National Film Festival 2013: All Masters - Edition will be shown from Sept 7-16, 2013 exclusively in all SM Cinemas nationwide!

Twelve of our country’s master directors, each with accomplished body of work : Tikoy Aguiluz, Mel Chionglo, Maryo J. Delos Reyes, Peque Gallaga, Joel Lamangan, Elwood Perez, Gil Portes, Jose Javier Reyes, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Chito Roňo, Romy Suzara, and Jun Urbano – shall receive seed money from FDCP (under the Film Investment Program) to fund their respective feature films, utilizing their own material, to be set in their hometowns, such as: Aguiluz – Davao; Chionglo – Quezon; Delos Reyes – Bohol; Gallaga – Bacolod; Lamangan – Cavite; Perez – Pampanga; Suzara – Nueva Ecija; Urbano – Bicol. Not sure for Portes for Quezon also, Roňo for Samar, and Javier Reyes and Siguion- Reyna for their hometowns. 

List of Film Entries

May Tinik ang Huwad na Bulaklak

Directed By: Romy Suzara
Synopsis: A middle-aged gay couturier struggles to hang on to his dignity amidst dilemmas related to his sexuality.
Possible Location: Suzara’s hometown , Nueva Ecija

Enan

Directed By: Tikoy Aguiluz
Synopsis: A coming-of-age story about poet and revolutionary Emmanuel Lacaba who joined the New People’s Army. He was killed, age 27, during an encounter with the police in Asuncion, Davao del Norte in 1976. Eman’s brother, poet and journalist Pete Lacaba, now the editor of Yes! Magazine, is being tapped to write the script.
Locations: bohemian Ermita in the 60s, Davao, Mount Banahaw.

Crossroad

Directed By: Gil Portes
Synopis: Alma, a nurse in her mid-20s, is about to get married when she learns she is adopted. She postpones the wedding, sets out to find her father and in the process finds herself.
Location: Pagbilao, Quezon

Lihis

Directed By: Joel Lamangan
Synopis: Set during the dark days of Martial Law in the 70s, two gay members of the NPA find themselves entangled in  a web of frustration, despair and victory as they struggle to fight for their love, forbidden by the NPA.

Starring: Jake Cuenca, Joem Bascon, Lovi Poe, Isabelle Daza.

Lorenzita

Directed By: Mel Chionglo
Synopis: In 1955, the residents of a small village in Quezon are shocked by the disturbing secret of a soldier and his common-law wife. It takes the protagonists another 60 years to find forgiveness and retribution. Based on a true story with a script by Ricky Lee.
Location: Quezon

 Oro

Directed By: Carlitos Siguion-Reyna
Synopsis: A modern, dark comedy with elements of fantasy set in Smoky Mountain in Tondo, Manila.
Starring: Cris Villonco and Rafa Siguion-Reyna, the director’s 22-year-old son
Location: Tondo, Manila

The River

Directed By: Maryo J. de los Reyes
Synopsis: The lives of three very different people collide and intersect on the Loboc River in Bohol.
Starring: Mylene Dizon, Ryan Sese and Max Collins
Location: Bohol

Proserpina de Manila

Directed By: Elwood Perez
Synopsis: An ambidextrous, aging author calls on his Muse to get rid of his writer’s block.
Starring: Amalia Fuentes and Vangie Labalan
Possible Location:  Pampanga

Sonata

Directed By: Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes
Synopsis: An artist gives up on the world only to meet a young boy who brings the world to her doorstep
Starring: Cherie Gil, Richard Gomez
Location: the towns of Silay, Cadiz and Manapla in Negros Occidental

Badil

Directed By: Chito Roño
Synopsis: On the eve of election day, the son of an ailing party leader witnesses the corruption of the voting system in their barrio.

Possible Location: Samar

The Masters Directors of Sineng Pambansa