The annual Sinag Maynila, the independent film festival established by Solar Entertainment mogul Wilson Tieng and Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza, is celebrating its fifth year this 2019.
What began as a foray to help local indie filmmakers has now grown into one of the country’s major filmfests. Sinag Maynila now features three competition sections, noteworthy international exhibition films and a variety of cinema-related activities.
True to its mission of bringing “sine lokal, pang-international,” Sinag Maynila has become an important pathway for Filipino film artists to communicate their stories, and an irresistible opportunity for enthusiasts to watch unique and exciting films.
Heading the list of Sinag Maynila competition films are five full-length features: Akin ang Korona directed by Zig Dulay; Jesusa helmed by Ronald Carballo; Jino To Mari by Joselito ‘Jay’ Altarejos; Pailalim directed by Daniel Palacio; and Persons of Interest by Ralston Jover.
Competing in the short film category are Bisperas by Ralph Quincena, Dana Jung by John Rogers, Dude Pare Bro by Lora Cerdan, Kiss by Harlene Bautista, Kilos by Marjon Santos, Marian by Brian Patrick Lim, Memories of the Rising Sun by Lawrence Fajardo, Nagmamahal, Sal by Jeff Subrabas, Ngiti ni Nazareno by Louie Ignacio, and Panaghoy by Alvin Baloloy.
Meanwhile, those competing in the documentary category are At Home by Arjanmar H. Rebeta, Entablado by Lie Rain Clemente and Nori Jane Isturis, Hope Spots by Joseph Dominic Cruz, Hyatt: Mga Kuwento, Lihim at Katotohanan by Jayvee V. Bucsit, and Tata Pilo by Dexter Macaraeg.
Sinag Maynila 5 opens next week April 3, with Lakbayan a three-part omnibus film by Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz and National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik — all of whom are awardees at the Berlin International Film Festival and have made their marks in several international filmfests.
The Sinag Maynila Festival proper starts on April 4 in select cinemas. It’s official event venue partners are SM and SM Cinema.
There will be a forum on April 6 with speakers Joanne Goh, Chairman of the Malaysia International Film Festival, and Young-woo Kim, Programmer for the Busan International Film Festival.
Winners of the Sinag Maynila 2019 competition will be announced at the Gabi ng Parangal to be held on April 7. During the week, FDCP will be hosting a Fellowship Night for all the filmmakers and Sinag Maynila guests.
There will also be an environmental film screening and forum with resource speaker Fiona Faulkner, Environmental and Community Development Officer of The Plastic Solution.
This year, there will be a Film Editing workshop to be conducted by John Anthony Wong, Managing Director of Edge Manila Creatives.
Finally, Sinag Maynila closes with the film Journey, an Asian Three-Fold Mirror project by the Japan Foundation.
Sinag Maynila 5 is presented by McDonald’s and co-presented by Nissa, in partnership with the Film Development Council of The Philippines (FDCP), and in celebration of 100 years of Philippine cinema.
Special thanks to: The Plastic Solution, Cinema 76 Film Society, Black Maria Cinema, Edge Manila Creatives.
For more information, log on to www.sinagmaynila.com and www.facebook.com/SinagMaynila/.