Cinemalaya 2008 Ten Full-Length Films

The screening for the Ten Cinemalaya 2008 Full-Length Films will be on July 11-20. The theme for this year is "Anong Kwento mo?"

I am now sharing to you five of the ten entries including the trailer and synopsis:

100 

Directed by Chris Martinez

Starring : Mylene Dizon, Tessie Tomas, Eugene Domingo, TJ Trinidad and Ryan Eigenmann

According to filmmaker Chris Martinez, his official entry to Cinemalaya is a "celebration of the senses and what life has to offer." His goal was to do a film about death in a young fresh way. By doing so he believes he celebrates life. 100 chronicles the last three months of a cancer-stricken woman (played by Mylene Dizon) who has a list of things to do before she dies. Her list of tasks, mostly dealing with closure and practical matters, covers the worldly and spiritual worlds as people close to her share her last days. The film examines the betrayal of the body, celebrates the senses and contemplates the end of life and how to live it. A light-hearted, briskly paced, youthful take on a classic subject, 100 stars today’s most exciting performers such as Mylene Dizon, Eugene Domingo, Tessie Tomas, TJ Trinidad, Ryan Eigenmann, Simon Ibarra, and others. Under the creative supervision of Marlon Rivera, 100 is written and directed by Chris Martinez.

MY FAKE AMERICAN ACCENT

Written and Directed by Onnah Rivera

Writer-director of this Cinemalaya entry Onnah Valera said, "I wanted to capture ang buhay na walang tulugan."

 
Set in one of the high rises of the Makati, My Fake American Accent is a look into the lives of call center personnel. It’s a slice-of-life workplace comedy following the lives of several Technical Support call center agents in the span of six months. They handle calls and provide inbound tech support for the American customers of an Internet company in the United States. Speaking with a fake American accent is a prerequisite for the job. This ensemble comedy is an inside look into the maddening, sleep-deprived, caffeine-fuelled lives of those who ply their trade in the call center industry.

JAY

Directed by Francis Pacion

Starring: Baron Geisler and Coco Martin 

Young director Francis Pasion summarizes his film as follows: "Baron Geisler’s role as a gay TV producer personifies my commentary on Philippine media." Jay is the name of two protagonists in the film. Jay Santiago is a gay TV producer documenting the family of a gay hate crime victim who happens to be his namesake, Jay Mercado. In the process of producing for his TV program, Jay Santiago intrudes into the private grief of the other Jay’s family and he is drawn to the secret life and love of his subject. Direk Francis issues a warning for his film, "Do not believe everything you see as truth." Aside from Baron, this film also stars Coco Martin as Edward.

HULING PASADA

Directed by Paul Sta. Ana and Alvin Yapan

Starring Agot Isidro, Irma Adlawan, John Manalo, Dimples Romana

The title, according to director Paul Sta. Ana, refers to the taxi driver’s shift and to a writer’s most previous work. The story follows the creative process of Ruby, a prolific writer, abandoned wife and protective mother. She writes about Mario, a taxi driver who becomes a father figure to a street child in the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. As Ruby tries to resolve Mario and child’s story, she seeks refuge in her own creative output: the line between reality and fiction is blurred, and her character’s past is entangled with her own inevitable future. Two Ateneans share the directing duties for Huling Pasada: Paul Sta. Ana and Alvin Yapan.

  NAMETS

Directed by Jay Abello

Starring Angel Jacob and Christian Vasquez 

Director Jay Abello describes his film Namets as a romantic comedy. He proudly proclaims, "It is the no angst film in Cinemalaya." He praises the acting skill of lead actress Angel Jacob who picked up the Ilonggo dialect in two months. Abello is ecstatic that they shot the dialogue almost entirely in Illonggo. Renowned director Peque Gallaga was also cast as a mafia boss. Namets (Yummy) follows the ongoing flirtation between Manuel and Lourdes, two native of the Negros province whose lives revolve around food. Along the way, we are treated to the full panorama of Ilonggo cuisine and the idiosyncrasies of appreciating it. Namets is a colorful rollicking celebration of food as well as love. Jay Abello explains, "If you notice, the love of food is very much part of our culture, not just in Negros but as Filipinos in general."

Trailers of Ranchero, Baby Angelo, Brutus, Concerto and Boses will be posted soon