The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, its full-length and short films in competition, artists, creatives, production, technicals, finance and its management deserve the sincerest pats on their collective backs and the loudest of cheers for putting up and implementing a truly significant 22nd edition.

Come hell or relentless habagat downpour, people flocked to its various cinema venues. The positive online word of mouth and reviews not only aroused the curiosity, but brought to the cinema houses warm and able paying bodies. The community that supported the festival was bigger and, yes, noisier in their appreciation and praise of what they declared as one of the best batches of films ever showcased in the festival.

A night of ties

At the Cinemalaya awards night, held at the Atrium of EDSA Shangri-la Mall, a congenial atmosphere was palpable. The applauses and reactions were instantaneous and electric. Speeches by the winners were sincere, heartfelt and laced with political statements.

For the major categories, the “Nora Auno and Vilma Santos rivalry” of actresses Ruby Ruiz and Marietta Subong was most felt in the best actress category which ended in victory for both. Ruiz brought home her fourth Balanghai trophy for Status:Rejected and Subong, her first for 2 Valid IDs.

In the best supporting actor category, first time winners as well were Lucas Andalio for Mag-Iina and K.D. Omalin for Hand of God.

Another unforgettable winner was Bituin Escalante who bagged the best supporting actress Balanghai for the movie A.ni.mal.

Martin del Rosario was adjudged as the best actor winner for Tayong Dalawa Lang ang Nakakalam. This was the actor’s second Balanghai. His first was for the movie Dagitab were he won best supporting actor.

Box office might

The most watched films in this year’s roster, according to reports from an entertainment portal, were 2 Valid ID’s, Status: Rejected, Mag-Iina and Tayong Dalawa Lang Ang Nakakalam.

During the night of the awards show, festival director Chris Millado announced that Cinemalaya had earned P18.5 million at the local box office marking a 47 percent increase compared to the P12.6 million generated from the 21st edition of the festival. There was also a 47 percent increase in attendees, from the previous year’s 17,000 total attendees, to 25,000 as of awards night.

Standouts

The major standout film in this year’s Cinemalaya was Gian Abrahan’s Mag-Iina. It bagged major awards which included best film, direction, screenplay, supporting actor for Lucas Andalio, and two technical awards, production design and music, respectively.

It cannot be ignored because it was a psychological horror drama that was able to masterfully weave a multi-generational drama about women bound by grief, madness and secrets that made their lips sealed.

Me-ann L. Asuncion’s 2 Valid IDs was the audience’s favorite for it struck an excellent balance between commercial appeal and independent artistic depth and sincerity, which was given more truth and gravitas because of Subong and the rest of the cast committed performances.

David Corpuz’s Tayong Dalawa Lang Ang Nakakalam pulled the audiences’ heart strings and stood out because of the chemistry, warmth and all the feels from the different kind of love shared by the characters of Martin del Rosario and Miguel Odron executed perfectly and its timely tackling of present-day social issues specifically HIV/AIDS and the stigma the perpetually haunts the rainbow community and their families.

For tackling loneliness, family disconnect and frustration, and online romance with a lot of heart, plus Ruby Ruiz’s emotional balance of mischievous spunk and delicate melancholy are the reasons why Vahn Leinard Pascual’s Status: Rejected was a standout.

Next please

There is clamor for next year’s Cinemalaya films to be shown outside Metro Manila. This, of course, is not easy to address, for it requires more budget for logistics, promotions and everything in between taking into consideration the reality of the financial lifeline and situation of the annual festival.

Cinemalaya’s standout films made a strong rebuttal to the prevailing perception and commentary that with Filipino films, “walang bago, pangit at paulit-ulit (nothing new, not a great watch and repetitive narratives).” Also, there are still many cinema lovers who are willing to spend their money and time to see a good Filipino film.

Yes, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival continues to bring entertainment, dazzle, hope, imagination and inspiration to Philippine cinema and its audiences.