Why not spare a minute or two delving into our vast culture through film?
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âEksena Cinema Quarantine 2 (ECQ2): Covid-19 Filmmakersâ Diariesâ gears up its online cinemas for a free screening of its 16 selected films to chronicle these filmmakersâ stories amid varying restrictions and alert levels during the pandemic.
This year also marks the culmination of the centennial celebration of Philippine cinema and as continuation of the first ECQ, the National Committee on Cinema (NCC), a sub-committee of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), initiates ECQ2 and it will feature two omnibus films out of the 16 selected films.
The screenings of these films will be on the NCCâs official Vimeo account. Two virtual online cinemas are currently rolling until March 25: cinema 1 and cinema 2.
The NCCAâs Rolando Tolentino said that âECQ2 is contribution to spur the sustainability of filmmaking practice among regional filmmakers in our country.â Tolentino is the chairperson of the NCC.
ECQ2, Tolentino added, is a sequel project of ECQ done at the height of the enhanced community quarantine at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.
The selected films are as follows: âNot a Short Filmâ directed by Joseph Abello, âPangamut Gaydâ by Roberto Acusar Jr., âPinitikâ by Reyan Amacna, âPisti Pandemicâ directed by Ara Mina Amor, âPalengke Dayâ directed by Mervine Aquino, âMelâ directed by Nathan Bringuer, âThings Iâll Tell Youâ directed by Demie Dangla, âA Ritual of Affliction by Jean Claire Dy, âAgno: Memories of a Forgotten Riverâ directed by Christopher Gozum, âAnima Solaâ directed by Xavier Axl Roncesvalles, âParis Sa Akong Kasingkasingâ directed by Jarell Serencio, âSee Us Come Togetherâ by Alyssa Suico, âMy Dayâ directed by Van Sulitas, âMga Handum Nga Nasulat Sa Barasâ directed by Kat Sumagaysay & Richard Jeroui Salvadico, âIlog Bikolâ directed by Hubert Tibi, and âSampung Minutoâ by Jasper Villasis.
âWe are providing free access to our kababayans here and abroad to be able to partake of excellent films from all over the country,â Tolentino shared.
This project of NCCA-NCC with the University of St. La Salle aims to contribute to the development of Philippine cinema by curating an omnibus feature-length films in the time of Covid-19 and to be able to document the individual and collective experiences of artists, cultural workers, Filipinos, and the Philippines in the midst of a global health crisis.