QCinema pays tribute to Daboy

 

Organizers of the 2015 QCinema International Film Festival (QCIFF), which will be held from Oct. 22 to 31 at the Trinoma, Gateway Mall and Robinson’s Galleria cinemas, announced that the film fest will pay tribute to late actor Ruby “Daboy” Fernandez.

All roads lead to SINGKWENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

A total of 51 filmmakers and 53 films will be showcased in this year’s Singkuwento International Film Festival, which opened on February 21, 6pm, at the Tanghalang Leandro Locsin  of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, at the NCCA Building, 633 General Malvar Street Intramuros, Manila.

Three movies that tackle the harsh realities faced by impoverished Filipinos here and abroad, will open the week-long film derby on February 21.

They are, Roberto Reyes Ang’s “TNT” (Always on The Run), a short film that tells of the life of an illegal immigrant living in the United States.

Ang’s short film recently won the Best Ensemble award from the 2014 International Film Festival Manhattan in New York City.

Perry Escano’s “Ang Platinong Buhok,” a short docu-film about the late theater, TV and film actress Amable “Ama” Quiambao. The docu talks of the much missed Quiambao and her life  as mother, friend, teacher and actress.

Nash Ang’s “Paraiso,” a 60-minute documentary that follows the lives of child survivors and their remaining families one month after the tragedy of Super typhoon Yolanda. It reveals their struggles as they live on and rebuild their lives in what was once their “paraiso” or paradise.

These screenings will be followed by  Jun Lana’s award-winning drama “Barber’s Tales,” which features Eugene Domingo, Iza Calzado, Nonie Buencamino and Eddie Garcia.

The Singkuwento Film Festival, with screenings until February 28, started in 2013 as a non-competition festival that showcased short films by a small group of filmmakers.

This year, it will start its first competition that is open to the public. Fifteen short films will battle for awards for Best Short Film, Best Cultural Short Film and Best Documentary Short Film, among others.

The festival’s objective was to “give Filipinos both here and abroad a channel where they can share their impressions of the Philippines and its people,” said festival director Perry Escano.

Winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on February 28.

For his invaluable contributions to the movie industry, filmmaker Brillante Mendoza will be the recipient of this year’s Singkuwento International Lifetime Achievement Award.

Aside from the competing short films, the Singkuwento International fest will also exhibit 15 shorts and screen full-length films from directors Jason Paul Laxamana, Nick Olanka Olanka, Rica Arevalo, Ellen Ramos, Sarah Roxas,Diane Ventura, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, Mes de Guzman Will Fredo, Francis Xavier Pasion, Benito Bautista, Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.

Films by young directors Kip Oebanda (“Tumbang Preso”) and Don Gerardo Frasco (“Waves”) will likewise have their first international film fest screenings during the Singkuwento fest. Screening schedules will be announced soon.

Concluding film of the Singkuwento Film Festival is Joselito Altarejos’ “Kasal” on February 28 at 6 p.m.

 The movie, a slice of life of a gay couple played by Arnold Reyes and Oliver Aquino, bagged the Best Film award (Directors’ Showcase) at the 2014 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

After the screening, awarding of the Best Short Film, Best Cultural Short Film and Best Documentary Short Film happens at 8pm.

The weeklong event is in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and MPJ Entertainment Productions. For tickets, visit ticketworld.com.ph.

Music appreciation is all about experience

PEOPLE can easily fork four thousand bucks out of their pockets for an Anne Curtis or a Daniel Padilla concert, but they can hardly shell out a thousand pesos for a symphony orchestra concert, say at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Although still thriving, classical music has already lost the position it held on the local music scene, or to put it bluntly—people who prefer repetitive tunes and lyric believe that this genre is slowly dying in the Philippines. 

Directors Showcase: Cinemalaya features digital masterpieces

The 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, now on its 10th year and billed as Cinemalaya X, premieres a crop of 25 new digital films on August 1 to 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its main venue, and at satellite venues at Ayala Theaters in Greenbelt Makati, Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, and Fairview Terraces, the latest addition to Cinemalaya satellite venues.

New Breed: Cinemalaya X features 10 full length digital features

The 2014 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, now on its 10th year and billed as Cinemalaya X, premieres a crop of 25 new digital films on August 1 to 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its main venue, and at satellite venues at Ayala Theaters in Greenbelt Makati, Alabang Town Center, TriNoma, and Fairview Terraces, the latest addition to Cinemalaya satellite venues.

MMFF 2013: There’s cash in trash

There’s a serious gap between the taste of the movie critics and the general public. Case in point, albeit negative reviews of film entries swamped all media platforms, the Metro Manila Film Festival still ended a massive success.

Red Hot Chili Peppers headlines 7107 music fest

Legendary band Red Hot Chili Peppers headlines the 7107 International Music Festival, a two-day concert destination hosting the world’s most beloved and influential musical acts.

The 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival is on

Nine movie outfits or a total of 14 movie scripts have been submitted to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, which will open on Christmas Day. 

Cinemalaya 2011: Eugene Domingo no longer a second best

by Nickie Wang

A comedy about misguided ambitions, the art of making art and the romantisizing of poverty, that is what Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank ia all about and these are the same reasons why the jurors at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival chose the comedy feature as this year’s best full-length film, a misnomner, since it’s only a video.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank was also the big winner in the annual indie film event that took place at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater on July 24. And the brightest star of the night was Eugene Domingo who won her first Best Actress award for the title role in the comedy feature.

The dying industry’s elusive dream

by Nickie Wang

Filipino audiences have become much more discerning today than they were in the previous decades. No wonder, our local multiplexes are teeming with foreign films, mostly from Hollywood, because they are the only moving pictures that can, so far, match what audiences look for in a film.

Peace and unity through music

by Nickie Wang

We have heard clichés about music but, these are just few of the proofs that like food, water, and shelter, music is an indispensable part of our life. It’s a human experience that practically relates to our emotion either exaltation or fear or anything in between.

We cannot confine music as just a sound that we listen to or a melody that appeals to our emotion, it has a power to change lives and even make foes become allies. It sounds so unbelievable but it’s true. When I attended a press briefing on the International Rondalla Festival, I heard an interesting story about Persians and Israelis.

Cultural Center of the Philippines to showcase diverse range of artistic events

by Nickie Wang

The year 2010 was a great year for the Cultural Center of the Philippines amid curtailed budget. Its resident companies were still consistent in the quality of their performances. For this year, at the annual press appreciation lunch held on Jan. 19, key people behind the institution were delighted to announce additional activities that center in promoting and preserving Filipino arts and culture.