Cinemalaya 2012 begins Friday

The 2012 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition kicks off tomorrow, July 20, with the screening of its opening film “Ang Babae sa Breakwater,” directed by the late Mario O’Hara. The film stars Katherine Luna and Kristoffer King. The opening ceremonies will start at 6 p.m. at the CCP Main Theater lobby to be followed by the screening of the Mario O’Hara classic.

There are 10 films competing in the New Breed Full Length Feature category and five films competing in the Directors’ Showcase.

The finalists in the New Breed Section and their respective directors are Aparisyon by Vincent Sandoval, Ang Katiwala by Aloy Adlawan, Ang Nawawala by Marietta Jamora, Mga Dayo by Julius Sotomayor Cena, Diablo by Mes De Guzman, Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino by Lemuel Lorca, Oros by Paul Sta. Ana, Requieme by Loy Arcenas, Santa Nina by Manuel Palo, and The Animals by Gino Santos.

Competing in the Directors’ Showcase category are Bwakaw directed by Jun Lana, Kalayaan directed by Adol Alix, Jr., Kamera Obskura directed by Raymond Red, Mga Mumunting Lihim by Jose Javier Reyes and Posas by Lawrence Fajardo.

This year, Cinemalaya gets even bigger with the addition of a new major venue at Trinoma in Quezon City, making the reach of Cinemalaya even wider and bigger. The addition of Trinoma as a third major venue for the festival is part of the vision of Cinemalaya organizers to make the Festival more accessible to the growing number of audiences that attend Cinemalaya.

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In keeping with its mandate of supporting and enriching the local film industry, the Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC), headed by Mayor Herbert Bautista and co-headed by Vice Mayor Ma. Josefina Belmote, will launch QCinema: 1st Quezon City Film Festival.

This festival is a flagship project of the QCFDC, which aims to develop and promote the art and craft of filmmaking among Quezon City citizens. The Commission will award grants to three (3) selected independent film projects at Php 800,000 each. There must be at least one bona fide resident of QC among the project’s major proponents to join this competition.

Submission of entries is open until July 31, 2012. Interested parties may obtain the contest mechanics, application form and other pertinent documents from the QCFDC Facebook Page or may call at 444-7272 loc 8208 and look for Ms. Giana Barata for inquiries.

Fully accomplished forms together with the film script must be sent in both soft and hard copies to [email protected] and to the Office of the Vice Mayor, 2/F Legislative Wing Building, Quezon City Hall, respectively.

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After a decade, highly acclaimed Filipino writer, film producer and award-winning master director Chito S. Roño teams up once again with Philippine Cinema’s Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos for Star Cinema’s newest suspense-horror offering titled, “The Healing,” that is set to hit theaters on July 25.

The power tandem of Direk Chito and Ate Vi is back on the silverscreen after 10 years since they made the "Dekada 70” in 2002. They also teamed up in 1998 via another serious drama "Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?"

This year, the two movie stalwarts join forces once more to offer moviegoers with another unforgettable masterpiece—Ate Vi’s first-ever horror movie – that is set to introduce a new brand of Pinoy horror in Philippine cinema through “The Healing,” which features a story about the Filipino tradition of going to faith healers for guidance and treatment of ailments.

Direk Chito and Vilma’s reunion project makes the Star for All Season proud of another milestone happening in her golden anniversary in the entertainment industry. "I've been asking Chito for so long for something like this and I'm so glad that it's finally happening. With the undeniable top caliber of Star Cinema, Direk Chito, and our award-winning cast, how can I go wrong!" she remarked.

With Direk Chito at the helm, Star Cinema gathered an all-star highly acclaimed powerhouse cast to star with Ate Vi, including Kim Chiu, Janice de Belen, Mark Gil, Martin del Rosario, Allan Paule, Cris Villanueva, Daria Ramirez, Ces Quesada, Ynez Veneracion, Simon Ibarra, Abi Bautista, Joel Torre, Chinggoy Alonso, Mon Confiado, Carmi Martin and Pokwang.

“The Healing” opens in cinemas nationwide on July 25, 2012!

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GMA 7 sure did the right thing in giving Alden Richards the lead actor role in “One True Love,” opposite Louise delos Reyes whom he first worked with in “Alakdana.” Alden is getting praises for his good performance in the TV series and is said to be one of the reasons why the drama series has been getting good feedback from the public and is rating well.

“I am really very thankful for this big break,” said Alden. “I am likewise thankful to the Lord for giving me the chance to be on GMA 7.” The matinee idol in Alden has definitely surfaced.

What can he say that he has been dubbed by GMA as the next primetime prince? “Naku, sana po matupad,” Alden says with a laugh. “Sana po magampanan ko ‘yung expectations sa akin ng GMA kasi sa lahat po ng trabahong ibinibigay sa akin ng GMA talagang ibinibigay ko lahat – oras, effort, kasi po nag-stop ako ng schooling for showbiz so talagang seseryosohin ko po ito. Sana mag-pay off ang mga hardwork na ibinigay ko rito.”

In One True Love, Alden plays the character of Tisoy who was given up for adoption but ended with the short end of the deal. He was unloved yet remains optimistic that in due time the dark clouds would part to give way to a bright sunlight.

Now that he has been made the lead actor (and on primetime at that), how would he feel if GMA decides to mold him as the counterpart of ABS-CBN’s John Lloyd Cruz?

 “Proud po ako na I am being compared sa isang superstar. I am fan. Sobrang idol ko siya. Pero may pressure talaga kung ikukumpara o itatapat ako kay John Lloyd. Saka mas lalong nakaka-pressure kasi the network is investing on us,” said the future Primetime King of GMA.

“But I am excited on what I could give in terms of acting lalo na pag nakaeksena ko na the likes of Ms. Jean Garcia, Ms. Agot Isidro and Mr. Raymond Bagatsing. I won’t stop learning to make myself even better kaya nga love is the least of my concerns at the moment because I’d rather focus on giving a good account of myself. Ayoko naman mapahiya sa mga bigatin kong co-stars.”