Cinema Rehiyon 7: Reviving Cebu cinema’s glory days

CEBU, Philippines – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts hopes to revive what used to be the bustling movie industry in Cebu with the screening of regional movies next month.

NCCA’s cinema committee headed by Teddy Co said it is showing at least 72 films, including 18 full-length feature movies and 54 other short films in Cinema Rehiyon 7 slated on August 6 to 9.

This year’s Cinema Rehiyon theme is “At the Crossroads of the Seventh Art.”

Co said Cinema Rehiyon 7 aims to promote consciousness among Cebuanos, and the Visayans in general, that Cebu’s cinema industry “has a legacy that has been lost and hidden,” and this they will try to revive.

“Cebu is a much neglected part of Philippine Cinema. We want to bring it back and show people that there is something to be proud of,” he said.

Cebu used to have a thriving film industry between 1937 and 1976, Co said. But the shift to digital revolution, which back then entailed huge investments, as well as the rise of giant movie producers in Manila, cut short Cebu’s movie industry growth.

Co said over 250 Cebuano films were produced that time.

“Cebu has a unique situation. A local industry sprung from the province around 1937 to 1976 and now we see a resurgence of a new breed of Cebuano filmmakers,” he said, adding that Cebu has been home to creative, talented and passionate filmmakers.

Bambi Beltran, festival director of Cinema Rehiyon 7, said that language and culture is best portrayed through local movies.

“We love to hear Cebuano in films. When you hear it, you feel it more. There’s a pride of place and pride of language,” Beltran said.

With the showcase, organizers hope they can attract more local filmmakers to produce movies that feature local talents, scenery and culture.

Some of the films to be screened during Cinema Rehiyon 7 highlight the Filipino trait of resiliency and are dedicated to super typhoon Yolanda victims. These films are T.M. Malones’ “Dapya Sang Paglaum,” Charena Escala and Rowena Sanches’ documentary “Nick and Chai,” and Thomas Fitzgerald’s “Tigdong.”

There are also films that feature various indigenous traditions. Among them are Nef Luczon’s documentary on the Pan-ay Bukidnon community entitled “Let’s Return Home,” Lester del Valle’s “Walang Rape sa Bontok,” Adjani Arumpac’s “War is a Tender Thing” and Ivy Universe Baldosa’s “Marciano.”

Cinema Rehiyon 7 will also screen Alec Figuracion’s “Bitukang Manok,” Bagane Fiola’s “Sonata Maria,” Charliebeb Gohetia’s “Chasing the Waves,” Lemuel Lorca’s “Mauban: Ang Resiko,” and John Paul Laxamana’s “Magkakabaung.”

Award-winning Cebuano director Remton Zuasola’s “Soap Opera” will be the festival’s pre-opening film.

Kidlat Tahimik’s “Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III,” will wrap up the fest. The film follows Enrique, a Visayan slave to Magellan and is said to be Tahimik’s tribute to pre-Hispanic Cebuanos. It was first filmed 35 years ago and went on to be intermittently shot across the decades by Kidlat, who plays Enrique.

The film won the Caligari Film Prize in the 65th Berlin International Forum of New Cinema in Germany. It will be screened on August 9 at SM City Cebu.

Aside from the full-length films, there will be screenings of contemporary Cebuano short films at the mini theater of Film and Media International Arts Academy (located along General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City), free screenings in Oriente, and a special viewing of national artist Lamberto Avellana’s rarely seen creations.

Expected to grace the showcase are Cebuano actors from the 70s and 80s like Queen of Visayan Movies Gloria Sevilla, Pilar Pilapil, Suzette Ranillo, Julian Daan and Undo Juizan, the first-ever Cebuano FAMAS Child Actor awardee.