My Metro Manila Filmfest Forecast

The Metro Manila Film Festival is not exactly a film festival to gauge the finest in Philippine Cinema. And many of you know that I have often expressed my disgust over it. But I do acknowledge the fact that this festival allows the local studios to showcase their films without the interfering competition with Hollywood films for a week or so.

The MMFF may not exactly be a source for great movies. But now and then there are indeed gems worth seeing. Many of them, you can already crap just by seeing the trailer. But others may look like they just have lousy marketing trailers that defy the filmmaker's intention.

I believe that sometimes we do need a gauge or a forecast to tell which movies do deserve some level of trust. I made my own forecast of films for this coming MMFF, in order to share it with others who may appreciate it as well... [hit the jump to continue]

Animahenasyon 2013 held in Iloilo City this Week

This week, Iloilo City is the venue for this year's Animahenasyon Philippine Animation Festival. Animahenasyon 2013. It will be held this November 19, 2013 up till November 22, 2013, at the West Visayas State University, Iloilo City. Animahenasyon 2013 and will be comprised of exhibits, animated films in competition and exhibition, master class/workshop/conference, poster-making competition and the awards night. The event will also give honor to Outstanding Emerging Artists and a Lifetime Achievement Award. [CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE]

The 7th Animahenasyon Animation Festival to be held in Iloilo City

Iloilo City will be the venue for this year's Animahenasyon Philippine Animation Festival. Animahenasyon 2013 will be held on November 19, 2013 up till November 22, 2013, at the West Visayas State University, Iloilo City. Animahenasyon 2013 will be comprised of exhibits, animated films in competition and exhibition, master class/workshop/conference, poster-making competition and the awards night. The event will also give honor to Outstanding Emerging Artists and a Lifetime Achievement Award. [CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE]

The 2013 Iloilo International Film Festival [updated SM Cinema Skeds]

The 2013 SINENG PAMBANSA is here!

It's that time once again for the ILOILO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. That time again when we Ilonggos, not only celebrate top quality cinema here and from abroad, but also promote films from our own Iloilo filmmakers. This is the fruitful result of the harmonious partnership between the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Iloilo city Government. The festival will be held on January 24 to 25, and will be held at SM Cinema in SM City Iloilo and the Iloilo Cinematheque.

Up from when it began two years ago, till now, the Festival has now seemed to be part of the Dinagyang Festival Week. This filmfest will showcase an impressive line-up of films consisting of Best Picture winners from the twin editions for the first Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival. This films are  Anac ti Pating (Martin Masadao), Qwerty (Eduardo Lejano Jr.), Ang mga Kidnaper ni Ronnie Lazaro (Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez), Huling Biyahe (Racquel Zaballero-Sanchez and Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez), Malan  (Agustin Pagusara and Benji Garcia), and Qiyamah (Gutierrez Mangansakan II).
Side-by-side the festival screenings at SM Cinema are showcase  of International titles from Spain, Israel and Venezuela, shown at the Cinematheque Iloilo.

A run-up to the festival is a Basic Cinematography Workshop to be conducted by renowned cinematographer Nap Jamir II from Jan 17 to 20 as well as screenings of Ilonggo works from the first Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival from Jan 20 to 31 at the Cinematheque Iloilo. Such Ilonggo works are Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa (Peter Solis Nery), Ang mga Aswang (John Raymund Macahilas), Beadworks  (Ronny N. Poblacion) and Asin (Aimee Apostol Escasa).

Also marking the event is a short film competition with the theme “Ang Ilonggo”  open to ilonggo directors from both  the City and the  Province of Iloilo. Non-Ilonggo participants must have at least one (1) year of residence. Cash prizes await the winners.

It was only last night when I saw the SM Cinema skeds. Here are the skeds for today:

JANUARY 25, 2013 [SM Cinema 4]
11:40AM - Qiyamah
1:40 PM - Kidnapper ni Ronnie Lazaro
4:20 PM - Huling Biyahe
6:50 PM - Anac Ti Pating
9:00 PM - Malan


[CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO CHECK OUT THE OTHER SKEDS]