Never-before-seen films by award-winning directors
Premiering in this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival are four never-before-seen films some of the country’s award-winning directors. Dubbed as Cinemalaya Premieres, the films are slated to be available for streaming online from Aug. 6 to Sept. 5, 2021 ktx.ph.
The four yet-to-be-released films are “Highest Peak” by Arnel Barbarona, “He Who Is Without Sin” by Jason Paul Laxamana, “Love and Pain In Between Refrains” by Joselito Altarejos, and “Tao Po” by Mae Paner aka Juana Change.
Streaming from Aug. 7 to 14, 2021, family drama “Highest Peak” is about a man who decides to follow through with his family’s plan to climb the highest mountain peak in the Philippines after he lost his wife and son. A journey of redemption, closure, and healing, the film was shot predominantly in Mt. Apo. It stars Dax Alejandro, Mara Lopez, Henyo Ehem, Rowena Caballes, Jea Lyka Cinco, Johnny Hager, Buggy Amplayo, Jun Alcover, Bong Artil, and Ferdinand Mesias. Davao-born director Arbi Barbarona is known for his films centered on indigenous peoples of Mindanao, most especially his debut feature film “Tu Pug Imatuy,” which won several awards in various film festivals.
“He Who Is Without Sin” takes the virtual cinema on Aug. 15 to 21, 2021. The 75-minute drama film follows what transpired during a chance meeting between a broadcasting student and a TV reporter he idolizes. In the days that follow the encounter, the young student shares with his friends separately three versions of what transpired—what happened, what really happened, and what might have actually happened. Through conversations with friends, he comes to terms with the idea that his idol, a dignified newsman who is supposed to be a paragon of virtue, is not who he appears to be on television.
Starring Elijah Canlas, Enzo Pineda, Pearl Lagman, Migs Campanilla, Lara Fortuna, Gio Gahol, Marnie Lapus, and Iman Ampatuan, the film marks the Sinag Maynila debut of director Jason Paul Laxamana, whose film “Mercury is Mine” won the Special Jury Prize and Best Screenplay in the 2016 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
Catch “Love and Pain In Between Refrains” by Joselito Altajeros from Aug. 22 to 28, 2021. An 88-minute neo-noir film dealing with the tragedy that feeds on love and co-dependency, as well as the cycle of abuse and violence, it is about high school sweethearts who lost touch with each other after graduation and met again 10 years later. With their feelings for each other were rekindled, they start living together. But what supposed to be a beautiful relationship turns into a traumatic reunion. The film cast includes Oliver Aquino, Elora Españo, Richard Quan, Anelle Durano, Suzette Doctolero, Natileigh Sitoy, Anjo Resureccion, and Jill Urdaneta.
With 2076 Kolektib production company, Altarejos aims to create and produce multimedia content that will arouse, educate, and inspire his audiences to become more vigilant and conscious of social issues and challenges they face in the age of yet another strongman rule. An advocate of “Cinema of the Social Consciousness,” Altarejos is known for his films “Kasal” (2014 Cinemalaya Best Film), “Tale of the Lost Boys” (2017), “Unfriend“ (2014), “Ang Laro sa Buhay ni Juan” (2009), and “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” (2010).
For the “Premieres” section finale, starring Mae Paner aka Juana Change, “Tao Po” will stream on Sept. 3, 2021. The film follows the social awakening of a photojournalist when he covers the tokhang beat. From several immersion trips and in-depth interviews conducted by artist-activist Mae Paner and playwright Maynard Manansala emerge four monologues that give faces to the issue of extra-judicial killings.
Tickets for the Cinemalaya Premieres are priced at P250. Get your tickets at ktx.ph.