Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa screening schedules:

16 July/Sat, 4:00PM, Greenbelt 3
17 July/Sun, 12:45PM, CCP Main Theatre
18 July/Mon, 6:15PM, CCP MKP Hall
18 July/Mon, 9:00PM, Greenbelt 3
19 July/Tue, 12:45PM, CCP Huseng Batute
20 July/Wed, 6:15PM, CCP Huseng Batute
21 July/Thu, 10:00AM, CCP Little Theatre
22 July/Fri, 6:15PM, CCP Main Theatre
23 July/Sat, 3:30PM, CCP MKP Hall
24 July/Sun, 4:00PM, Greenbelt 3

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Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, the Eugene Domingo comedy topbiller in the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, is based to a certain extent from Mario O’ Hara’s award-winning film Ang Babae sa Breakwater according to Lawyer Joji Alonzo, Quantum Films producer. “But only sa title. It’s really a satire about how filmmakers so badly to get recognized in international filmfest and they would resort to petty porn!

Eugene co-stars with JM de Guzman, Kean Cipriano and Cai Cortez. Script is written by Chris Martinez and it will be directed by Marlon Rivera. Marlon and Chris have been collaborating in films such as the award-winning 100. Atty Joji states, “Now it’s Marlon’s turn to direct solo naman.”

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is an official entry to the New Breed Full Length feature category is open to Filipino filmmakers who have not yet directed more than three full length commercial feature films while the Directors Showcase is open to full length feature works by Filipino directors who have directed at least three full-length commercial feature films.

The ten finalists of the New Breed Full Length Feature category will each receive a P500,000 seed grant from the Cinemalaya Foundation as investment for the production. The Best Full Length Feature Film will receive a prize of P200,000 and the Balanghai Trophy.

The finalists of the Directors showcase will each receive a P500,000 seed grant from the Cinemalaya Foundation. The Best Film in the Directors Showcase will receive a prize of P300,000 and the Balanghai Trophy.

Cinemalaya 2011 will be held on July 15-24 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It is a project of the of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and the Econolink Investments, Inc. (EEI). Cinemalaya also features the Short Feature competition category as well as film exhibitions., seminars, conference, the Cinemalaya Film Congress, and other film-related events. For more information, please visit www.cinemalaya.org, and the CCP facebook page.


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Here are the finalists of the Cinemalaya 2011:

New Breed Full Length Feature Category

Amok by Lawrence Fajardo
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank by Chris Martinez
Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa by Alemberg Ang and Alvin Yapan
Baby Factory by Edwardo W. Roy, Jr. and Jerome Zamora
Cuchera by Joseph Israel M. Laban and Janice O’Hara
E-libings: Your Loss, Our Luck by Rommel Andreo Sales
Ligo na U, Lapit Na Me by Noel Ferrer, Jerry Gracio and Erick Salud
Niño by Loy Arcenas
Teoriya by Alistaire Christian E. Chan
The Dog Show by Ralston G. Jover

Directors’ Showcase Category

Bisperas (Eve) by Jeffrey Jeturian
Busong (Fate) by Auraeus Solito
Henerala by Mario O’Hara
Isda (Fable of the Fish) by Adolfo Alix Jr.
Patikul by Joel C. Lamangan

Cinemalaya 2011 will be held on July 15-24, 2011 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

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THE PLOT. To Potot, Bengkong, Bungal, Paolo, Joven, and Utoy, the community of Baseco, Tondo is a happy place despite the poverty and the dangers of diving for discarded metal. Young and foolhardy, they scavenge for treasures in the murky waters despite repeated warnings that they might "get caught and eaten alive by mermaids." They continue with the dangerous practice even when a junkshop owner cheats them out of a good price for their recovered metal.

Then one day, Bungal disappears after they salvaged a sunken anchor near the parola (lighthouse). Utoy (Meljon Ginto), the youngest bakal boy and closest to Bungal (Vincent Alvin Olano) , is determined to find the missing boy even if everybody seems half-hearted or apathetic to the boy's fate. Will Utoy find Bungal? Or was Bungal taken and eaten alive by a mermaid, as the old folks say?


THE VERDICT. Baseco Bakal Boys is a poignant thesis on youth and hope in a dog-eat-dog world. It presents how a young person, full of dreams and idealism, reacts to situations in a corrupt society.

The film's power lies in its symbolisms and suggestions. Through a wide angle shot of a small boat bobbing in the dark waters of the Manila Bay, hope emits a faint glimmer against the waves of sadness and desperation. Far off the coast is a hazy view of a glittering metropolis that suggests the near impossible dream of the child divers.

Bungal believes that a mermaid's shrill call is luck. Before he disappeared, he heard an unidentified thin whistle, which sounds much like a patrol boat siren. He sets out to discover the source of the sound as he swam out once again into the bay. Viewers are left to wonder if he chose death or escape from the community.

Saddened at losing Bungal, Utoy singlehandedly convinces others to search for the missing boy. Almost everybody, even their friends, have stopped diving and refused to speak to Utoy after Bungal's disappearance, fearful that the same fate will befall them. Even grownups told about the incident stare at him blankly as if Bungal's disappearance is just a common occurrence in the community.

Utoy finds solace in Bungal's grandmother, Sylvia (Gina Pareno), who shares his grief but has quietly accepted her loss by offering up her sufferings to Allah, the Muslim God. Comforted but not defeated in his search, Utoy swims out to the bay after dark to look for his missing friend.

Baseco Bakal Boys is touching in its simplicity and sincerity. It touches the Filipino's fatalist thinking in the face of grief and defeat but at the same time, shows the new generation's unbreakable spirit.

Jover's camera understands the beauty of childhood very well, conveying it in the energy of the child divers who kick and tumble underwater, bubbles surrounding their thin bodies as they hoist a rusty anchor to the surface. It is also painful because for a person so small and helpless in an apathetic society there is only a choice between death as relief and defiance as escape.

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A scion of a local cinema legend Bembol Roco and an up-and-coming heartthrob in Pinoy showbiz, 20-year-old Felix Roco makes a mark with his internationally acclaimed performance in the Venice Film Festival double-awardee Engkwentro.

Taking the lead role of Richard, a gangster running away from the murderous City Death Squad, Felix shows an undeniable range and versatility for what many call one of the most challenging performances ever taken on by an actor. Because Engkwentro was shot a la one continuous take, Felix styled his performance like a stageplay – memorizing all his lines and deeply internalizing his character. With no room for mistakes, Felix delved into the role – doing his own stunts and narrowly avoiding injuries on set.

In order to prepare for his performance, Felix drew from his own past experiences. A former fraternity member, Felix overcame his “wild” younger days and has now transformed himself into a very professional, serious actor. He wants young viewers to follow his example of conquering challenges and chasing dreams.

Felix Roco topbills the award-winning indie film, ENGKWENTRO – in theaters December 11, 12 & 13 at SM Cinemas in Mall of Asia, North Edsa, MegaMall, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Bacoor. Inspired by true events, Engkwentro follows the last 24 hours of two teenage brothers on opposite sides of a gang war. With a career-making performance by young heartthrob Felix Roco and directed by 22-year-old Pepe Diokno, the film took home two awards at September’s Venice Film Festival — including the Horizons Prize for new trends in cinema, and the US$ 100,000 Lion of the Future – “Luigi de Laurentiis” Award for best debut film.


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ASTIG LEADS TICKET SALES. Over lunch, public relations head Irene Rada disclosed the ticket sales of the Cinemalaya main competition entries, with Astig leading the list.

During the premiere night of Astig last Saturday, July 18, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) talked with Direk GB Sampedro regarding his directorial debut. "Hindi pa nagsi-sink in sa akin," he admitted.

This is the first time that GB (short for Giuseppe Bede) has helmed a full-length film but he is currently the director of the ABS-CBN morning show Ruffa and Ai.

Astig has a lot of daring scenes (including four love scenes, one of which is a man-to-man scene between Gardo Versoza and Arnold Reyes). However, Direk GB stressed that all of them were done in good taste.



"Ako naman I have a feeling na yung pagka-ka-execute ko naman sa mga eksenang sabihin na nating pang-matured audience, tama lang at hindi ganun ka-laswa. Kailangan lang ng eksena. Hindi naman tayo um-over sa dapat."

Some people have commented that his film seems like a tribute to Manila By Night (City After Dark) helmed by Ishmael Bernal. Did he have a conscious effort to do this?

"Actually, may mga nagsabi sa akin nun pero to be honest with you, hindi ko napanood. Sabi nga nila, sa tema, e, nagkikita-kita kami pero salamat naman din at maganda naman ang reception nila."


Here is the list of Cinemalaya main competition entries (in descending order) as of July 19, 2009 (3 PM):



1. Astig
2. Ang Panggahasa ni Fe
3. Dinig Sana Kita
4. Last Supper No. 3
5. Mangatyanan
6. Colorum
7. Sanglaan
8. Engkwentro
9. Shorts A
10. Shorts B
11. Nerseri
12. 24K

The awarding ceremony of Cinemalaya Cinco will take place this Sunday, July 26, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.


Regular tickets are priced at P100 while students can buy tickets for
only P50. A day pass costs P300 (good for 5 screenings per day) while a
festival pass costs P1000 (can be used for all screenings).

For more information, please call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or
832-1125 local 1409. Tickets are also available at all Ticketworld
outlets and National bookstores at Tel No. 891-9999.

ASTIG is an episodic tale of four young men whose stories parallel and contrast with the landmarks and various images of Manila. It tells the story of Ariel, a conman who has to leave his girlfriend upon learning that she is in love with him; Boy, an expectant young father who has to sell his body to pay his wife's hospital bill; Ronald, a Chinese mestizo who is coming to grips with his identity; and Baste, an overly protective son of an OFW who has to avenge his sister. The film tells the stories of the tough guys of Manila and their resolve to survive the dirt and filth of the "Distinguished and Ever Loyal City."

Viewing Schedules :

18 July/Sat, 9:00PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
19 July/Sun, 3:30PM at Tanghalang Huseng Batute
21 July/Tue, 3:30PM at Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
22 July/Wed, 9:00PM at Tanghalang Huseng Batute
23 July/Thu, 6:15PM at Tanghalang Nicanor Aberlardo (CCP Main Theatre)
24 July/Fri, 12:45PM at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
25 July/Sat, 6:15PM at Bulwagang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)



Cinemalaya 2009

Here are the 10 finalists in the full-length feature category of the 5th edition of Cinemalaya (2009).

24K directed by Ana Agabin
Ang Nerseri (The Nursery) by Vic Acedillo, Jr.
Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin Yapan
Astig (Mga Batang Kalye) by GB Sampedro
Colorum by Jon Steffan Ballesteros
Dinig Sana Kita by Mike Sandejas
Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno
Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel
Mangatyanan (The Blood Trail) by Jerrold Tarog
Sanglaan by Milo Sogueco

Now on its fifth year, the Cinemalaya Competition is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, CCP, Econolink Investments Inc. and Film Development Council of the Philippines. It aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. For more information, call the CCP Media Arts Division at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1704/05 or visit www.cinemalaya.org

Cinemalaya 2009 will be held from July 17 to 26, 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Roxas Boulevard, Manila and the awards night will be held on July 26, 2009.