Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2020: Everything you need to know

Here is your guide to everything Cinemalaya 2020, from the participating films to how/ where to watch the entries online.

For the first time, Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will hold its festivities outside the cinemas. In line with its year’s theme “Stream Consciousness,” Cinemalaya goes to the streaming platform Vimeo as a way to reach out with the film festival audience amidst the pandemic.

How to watch Cinemalaya 2020 online?

Cinemalaya Foundation has announced that the 16th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will be made available mainly on Vimeo. As announced in the festival’s online press conference, Cinemalaya will have three phases, each of which will have its own respective online venue.

(1) Vimeo (August 7 to 16, 2020) – available for pay-per-view for each titles/ a subscription package to access all films and other bonus content.

Tickets are now available on The Cinemalaya Channel, with multiple bundles to choose from, including:

• Feature Bundles - PHP 75 to PHP 150 
• Basic - PHP 150 (Indie Nation Shorts, Indie Nation Full-Length, Dokyu, Cinemalaya Retrospective Shorts, Double Features)
• Standard - PHP 200 (All inclusions from Basic, Main Competition Shorts, Dokyu, Cinema Retrospective, Full-Length)
• Premium - PHP 350 (All inclusions from Standard, Premieres of new short films (with talkbacks),​ Tribute to Peque Gallaga & Anita Linda,​ Digital Classics, Experiments during Quarantine (VLF Plays), Talkbacks with Cinemalaya filmmakers, Fringe events, Priority access to Cinemalaya Campus and talkbacks)

(2) iWant (schedule to be announced) – available nationwide by subscribing to iWant.
(3) TFC (schedule to be announced) – bundles for Video-On-Demand (VOD) and subscription will be available

"[On the festival's transition to online] We see this not as a temporary thing, but something we might actually enhance in the future back to our actual venues," shared Chris Millado, the Vice President and Artistic Director of Cultural Center of the Philippines.

"Cinemalaya was born digital to begin with 15 years ago. The pioneering filmmakers produced their films because the digital technology made it possible for film to be produced in a more practical and cheaper way. This has also made the transition for online platforms as a distribution platform possible," Millado added.

Festival run of Cinemalaya 2020

Cinemalaya 2020 will be having its main festival run on August 7 to 16, 2020 thru Vimeo. Online viewers will have the chance to watch/ revisit the participating films on the festival’s partner online venues such as iWant and TFC (The Filipino Channel) shortly after the initial festivities.

Main Competition

In lieu of full-length features, this Main Competition line-up of Cinemalaya 2020 will be comprised of 10 short films.

RELATED: Dispatches from Cinemalaya’s First Online Film Festival

PROGRAM A

Ang Gasgas Na Plaka ni Lolo Bert (The Broken Vinyl Record) by Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori 

The monotonous life of a closeted gay man in his 60s takes a sudden turn when he receives an old vinyl record from a dead ex-lover. 

Starring Dido de la Paz, and Soliman Cruz.

Fatigued by James Mayo 

One night, you overslept because of too much work, now, you must wake up before your nightmare becomes a reality. 

Starring Matthew Lorenzo, Yayo Aguila, and Putol the Dog.

Pabasa Kan Pasyon by Hubert Tibi

A Bicolano family tries to make ends meet when one of them turns to religion, pushing the mother to make a living off her faith. 

Starring Buboy Aguay Jr., Rosalinda Brongos, Isabel Pedrasa Bogoc, Marife Nolasco, Jhon Paul Laban, Charise Relayo, Jhosua Laban, and Augost Borella Jr.

Quing Lalam Ning Aldo (Under the Sun) by Reeden Fajardo

A transgender Sampaguita farmer decided to renovate their neglected kitchen as soon as she heard that her son is going home.

Tokwifi by Carla Pulido Ocampo

A 1950s mestiza star who is trapped inside a television that fell from the sky – dreams up a romantic romp with a Bontok Igorot man who does not know how to kiss. 

Starring Adrienne Vergara, and Kurt “Ayeo-eo” Lumbag Alalag. 

PROGRAM B

Ang Pagpakalma sa Unos (To Calm the Pig Inside) by Joanna Vasquez Arong

A contemplation on the effects a typhoon leaves on a seaside city. Myths are woven in to try to understand how people dealt with the trauma and devastation.

Excuse Me Miss, Miss, Miss by Sonny Calvento 

A miserable sales lady is about to lose her contractual job. But in her desperate attempt to persuade her boss not to fire her, she uncovers the shocking secret to regularization. 

Starring Angelina Kanapi, Bob Jbeili, and Phyllis Grande.

Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar

A woman wakes up and discovers that her decade-long lover has turned into a cardboard standee of himself. 

Starring Kints Kintana, and Charles Aaron Salazar.

The Slums by Jan Andrei Cobey

A documentary team progressively intervenes and trespasses into the lives of a poor family living in the slums as they try to cope with the loss of their TV. 

Starring Sunshine Teodoro, Jorrybell Agoto, Dylan Ray Talon, Kenken Nuyad, and DMs Boongaling.

Utwas (Arise) by Richard Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay

A man discovers the ocean more as he tries to learn how to dive and fish. 

Starring Rene Requiron, and Joemel Bancayan.

Exhibition films

Avid Liongoren's Jepoy

Cinemalaya 2020 has curated 20 short films as part of their exhibition titles aside from the Main Competition line-up. 

• Ang Meron Sa Wala (Beyond Nothing) by Arby and Christine Larano 
• Ang Nawalang Haligi (Pillar) by Sarah Mya Regacho 
• Dama De Noche by Lawrence Sibug
• Grand Gestures by Cody Abad 
• Gulis (LINES) by Kyle Jumayne 
• Francisco Habak by Paolo Matibag and Mia Salisbury 
• Himagsik ng Hiwaga (Revolt of the Mystic) by Geoffrey Solidum 
• Igib by Joey Paras 
• Jepoy by Avid Liongoren 
• Kung Saan Patag Ang Bundok (Where The Horizon Meets The Mountain) by Dolliete Echon
• OctoGod by Shievar Olegario 
• Paon by Seb Valdez 
• Pinakanakapagpapabagabag-Damdamin (Most Disturbing Feeling) by Jermaine Tulbo 
• Si Gloria at Si Juan by Gilliano Salvador 
• Sumasaiyo, (Yours truly) by Jermaine Tulbo 
• Tarang (Life’s Pedal) by Arvin Alindogan Belarmino 
• The Rooftop by Avirup Biswas

32nd Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video

Gawad CCP returns this year with LIGALIG: Gawad Alt 2.0, coinciding again with the festival run of Cinemalaya. The festival will shift from a three-day on-site screening event to an online streaming platform. Participating films of Gawad CCP can be viewed on Vimeo, while the talkbacks and live stream events will be at Facebook Live and Kumu.

Click here for the full line-up of films to be shown.

Cinemalaya Retrospectives

Mikhail Red's Rekorder

A retrospective of past Cinemalaya films, from full-length features to short films.

FULL-LENGTH FEATURES

• Big Time (2005) by Coreen Jimenez and Mario Cornejo
• Tribu (2007) by Jim Libiran
• 100 (2008) by Chris Martinez
• Jay (2008) by Francis Pasion
• Engkwentro (2009) by Pepe Diokno
• Mayohan (2010) by Dan Villegas and Paul Sta. Ana
• Amok (2011) by Lawrence Fajardo
• Ang Babae sa Septik Tank (2011) by Marlon Rivera
• Nino (2011) by Loy Arcenas
• Ekstra (2013) by Jeffrey Jeturian
• Rekorder (2013) by Mikhail Red
• Children's Show (2014) by Derick Cabrido

SHORT FILMS

• Babae (2005) by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
• Mansyon (2005) by Joel Ruiz
• Kultado (2005) by Lawrence Fajardo
• Liwanag sa Dilim (2007) by Lawrence Fajardo
• Rolyo (2007) by Alvin Yapan
• To Ni (2007) by Vic Acedillo, Jr.
• Andong (2008) by Milo Tolentino
• Angan-Angan (2008) by Sheron Dayoc
• Ang Iba Pang Mga Pamilya (2008) by Joel Ruiz
• Trails of Water (2008) by Sheron Dayoc
• Faculty (2010) by Jerrold Tarog
• Harang (2010) by Mikhail Red
• P (2010) by Milo Tolentino
• Debut (2011) by Pam Reyes
• Every Other Time (2011) by Gino Santos
• Hazard (2011) by Mikhail Red
• Niño Benito (2011) by Milo Tolentino
• Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong (2012) by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
• As He Sleeps (2012) by Sheron Dayoc
• Missing (2013) by Zig Dulay
• Eyeball (2014) by Thop Nazareno
• Nenok (2015) by Milo Tolentino
• The Shoemaker (2019) by Sheron Dayoc

Indie Nation

Tye Acierto's Watch Me Kill

Selection of award-winning full-length films of 2019.

• Circa by Adolfo Alix, Jr.
• Jesusa by Ronald Carballo
• Mindanao by Brillante Mendoza
• Watch Me Kill by Tyrone Acierto

Premiere

Chuck Gutierrez's Heneral Rizal

The premiere of three Filipino short films.

• Basurero by Eileen Cabiling
• Heneral Rizal by Chuck Gutierrez
• Nang Em by Maria Ranillo

Tribute to Peque Gallaga and Anita Linda

Cinemalaya 2020 will pay its respect to the Philippine cinema icons who passed away this year, Peque Gallaga and Anita Linda, with a special screening of two of their works.

• Unfaithful Wife (1986) by Peque Gallaga, starring Michael De Mesa, and Joel Torre
• Adela (2008) by Adolfo Alix, Jr., starring Anita Linda

Digital Classic: Restored, Remastered 

Limited screening of Lupita Concio's Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo in collaboration with the ABS-CBN Film Restoration.

Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Masterclass

Ricky Lee will be conducting a scriptwriting masterclass in partnership with Cinemalaya. A virtual reunion of his writing workshop alumni will also be organized."

MGA TAO AT MGA TAUHAN: A Masterclass on Storytelling by Ricky Lee will be happening this August 9 (Sunday) and August 15 (Saturday), both from 10 AM to 3 PM. Admission is at PHP 300, and can be bought here.

Experiments During Quarantine/ Virgin LabFest 2020 screenings

Jobert Landeza's Titser Kit

Special screenings of Virgin LabFest 2020 Virtual Stage Productions.

• Jenny Li by Buch Dacanay
• Papaano Turuan ang Babae Humawak ng Baril by Daryl Pasion
• Pilot Episode by Floyd Scott Tiogangco
• Titser Kit by Jobert Landeza
• Wanted: Male Borders by Rick Patriarca

Dokyu 

Two documentary films curated by Clodualdo del Mundo. 

• Elehiya sa Paglimot by Kristoffer Brugada
• Overseas by Sung A Yoon

Allied Festival Shorts 

A selection of shorts from international film programs in collaboration with the European Union, Japan Foundation, and the Embassy of Iran. 

• A Japanese Boy Who Draws by Masanao Kawajiri
• A Sunny Day by Fouzi Bensaidi
• Hungry Seagull by Leon Wang
• I Am An American by Omid Mizaei
• My Little Goat by Tomoki Misato
• Olmo by Silvio Soldini
• Tua Ingugu by Daniela Thomas

Visions of Asia

Visions of Asia serves as one of the major components of Cinemalaya 2020, wherein it will screen award-winning independent films from Asia.


This is a developing story. Visit this page for any future updates about Cinemalaya 2020.

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