A week before I started working, I was lucky enough to be given a free media pass to last year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival at the Cultural Center. The only requirement was that I watch every movie. I was more than happy to oblige. I would trek to the CCP every morning, shuttle between screenings (sometimes run), and go home late at night satisfied and with a lingering headache from staring at a screen the whole day. That’s my version of a movie marathon. And I did that for six days. My finally tally was 22 movies.

The Ateneo Video Open, now on its eleventh year, is an annual nationwide film competition open to collegiate-level filmmakers. It’s organized by the Loyola Film Circle, the Ateneo de Manila University’s premiere film organization.

The event aims to highlight the effective use of aesthetically pleasing films as media for social discourse. There are four categories: short narrative, music video, documentary, and experimental.

Screenings of entries will be on the weekends of February and March. Venues will be announced. The competition will end in an awards night where cash prizes await the winners of each category judged by renowned persons in the field of film and art.

Visit the official website: http://ateneovideoopen11.multiply.com to view the rules, regulations and mechanics. Application forms are also available in the website. Deadline of entries is on January 22. 2010.

For inquiries, contact the AVO Team at ateneovideoopen11@yahoo.com and at ateneovideoopen11@gmail.com, 0916-228-45-67 or 0917-327-70-55.

The journey from the ground floor of the office to the Summit editorial office at the sixth floor of Robinson’s Cybergate Tower 3 is always a long and arduous perpendicular ride. If I’m not waiting for the elevator doors to open, I’m waiting for them to close, desperately pushing the “close” button hoping no annoying person attempts to squeeze through the six-inch gap and pushes the doors away.

The ride can be awkward as you try to not look at anyone straight in the eye, but the confined space leads you to stare at either the ceiling or blank aluminum in front of you–both making you look like an idiot. While you whip out your mobile phone and pretend to answer a message, the lady behind reads above your shoulder, muffled coughs attempts to drown out the uncomfortable silence, shuffling feet preparing to get off, the feeling that someone is staring at you from behind. The doors open, you get out, relieved. Then you realize you forgot to push your floor button so you end up five minutes late waiting for the next elevator to go down.

Civilization, a video mural created for the elevators of the Standard Hotel in New York City, depicts a journey from hell to heaven interpreted through modern film language using computer-enhanced found footage. It takes elevator passengers on a trip from hell to heaven as they go up or from heaven to hell as they go down. This epic video mural contains over 400 individual channels of looped video blended into a multi-layered seamless tableau of interconnecting images that illustrate a contemporary, satirical take on the concepts of Heaven and Hell.

Civilization by Marco Brambilla

More here.

As with its Opening Night, last night’s Awards Night of the 5th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival was beset by heavy rains once again submerging the metropolis. But inside the CCP’s Main Theater, it was people that poured in eager to catch a paparazzi glimpse of some mainstream actors and excited to see crowd favorite, Dinig Sana Kita, nab the Best Picture prize. Hosted by Cinemalaya veterans, Ricky Davao and Eugine Domingo, the ceremony introduced all directors from the full length and short feature category for the last time, before giving the awards.

Highlights of the night were comedian Lou Veloso winning Best Actor for his portrayal of an ex-convict desperately trying to find his son while being held captive by a rookie cop in Colorum, and Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel accepting their Balanghai trophy for Best Picture for the campy comedy, Last Supper No. 3. Because let’s face it, comedies don’t win awards.

(Left to Right) Jon Stefan Ballesteros, Francisbrew Reyes, ?, Lou Veloso, Alvin Yapam, Arnold Reyes, GB Sempedro, Veronica Velasco, Jinky Laurel, Vic Acedillo, Jerrold Tarog (for Benjamin Padero), Dexter Cayanes, Borgy K. Torre III, Tessie Tomas, Nico Hernandez, Mark Philipp Espina, Mike Sandejas, Anna Feleo (for Ina Feleo)

Full Length Feature Category

Best Film
Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel

Best Director
GB Sampedro Astig

Special Jury Award
Colorum by Jon Stefan Ballesteros
Ang Panggagahasa Kay Fe by Alvin Yapan

Special Mention
Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno

Best Screenplay
Vic Acedillo, Nerseri

Best Production Design
Benjamin Padero, Mangatyanan

Best Cinematography
Pao Orendain, 24K

Best Original Scoring
Dinig Sana Kita

Best Sound
Astig

Audience Choice Award
Dinig Sana Kita

Short Feature Category

Best Film
Bonsai by Borgy K. Torre III

Best Director
Dexter Cayanes, Musa

Special Jury Award
BLOGOG by Milo Tolentino

Best Screenplay
Mark Philipp Espina, Behind Closed Doors

Audience Choice Award
Tatang by Nico Hernandez

Acting Awards

Best Actor
Lou Veloso, Colorum

Best Actress
Ina Feleo, Sanglaan

Best Supporting Actress
Tessie Tomas, Sanglaan

Best Supporting Actor
Arnold Reyes, Astig

Other Awards

National Council for Children’s TV Award
Dinig Sana Kita by Mike Sandejas

NetPac Award
Baseco Bakal Boys by Ralston Jover

Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel

Alvin Yapan and Alemberg Ang

Feature Length Winners

Short Feature Winners

Dinig Sana Kita Cast and Crew

Cinemalaya Cinco Winners

With Nina Sandejas

It would be appropriate to begin this with a disclaimer: I am, at times, a sentimental schmuck. Although you will never see me watching The Notebook or The Lake House without gouging my eyes out with a blunt fork, listening to Four Seasons of Loneliness while furiously typing away at a journal entry on the cruelty of unrequited love, or opening any book by Nicholas Sparks unless I need to build a raging fire, there are still things, or in this case, movies, that still manage to strike a chord in this self so hardened by the onslaught of everything emo. One of this year’s full length entries in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival has done just that, and from the looks of it, will perhaps do even more.

Coming off the Best Picture success of his 2006 Cinemalaya entry Tulad ng Dati, director, and now, writer and producer Mike Sandejas delivers another piece that has got people watching, talking, and for the sentimental lot, actually crying. However, to classify Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said) as just another tearjerker would be a n immense mistake. This is, after all, an indie film fest. With half the movie in silence and the other half set to an original pop-rock soundtrack, save for one song, Sandejas has managed to tell a poignant story with very little words spoken but with a lot of heart.

Dinig opens with a juxtaposition of the movie’s two main characters, Niña, a “sample troublemaker” and teen rocker played by the director’s daughter and no stranger to Cinemalaya herself, Zoe Sandejas; and Kiko, a Deaf dancer played by real-life Deaf actor, Romalito Mallari. The two enter into a scuffle and end up at the same police station where all they get to do is exchange fleeting glances, more of angst than romantic, before they go their separate ways. Ten minutes into the film the audience already knows that sooner or later, the two will end up together. It’s just a matter of how and when. As an act of intervention, Niña’s parents send her to a Deaf encounter camp in Baguio in order for her to, in their words, appreciate the things she takes for granted. And as luck would have it, also known as deus ex machina, Kiko joins the same camp. Guided by the camp director played by Robert Seña, the two realize that they have as much in common with each other as what meets the eye, I mean ears. Whatever.

Just like his previous film, Sandejas once again uses music to get his message across. Obviously, when half your cast is Deaf, one has to find alternate and creative ways to communicate with the audience. And apparently, regardless of disability, music still proves to break barriers.

The difficulty with integrating a Deaf and non-Deaf cast onscreen is that at one point, all you will have is complete silence with hands and limbs flailing about the screen as the Deaf communicate through sign language. Except for a cussword my grade school carpool driver taught me, I know squat about sign language. But with the help of subtitles, and, more importantly, engaging actors in Mallari and Seña, we don’t feel like we’re watching two Deaf people argue. In a very strange way, when the two begin to heatedly argue with each other, one can actually sense that they’re already shouting, but they aren’t making any sound at all.

As the juvenile delinquent musician, Zoe Sandejas manages to hold her own surrounded by Deaf actors and professional rock musicians playing as her band (Marc Lopez, Jim Joseph “JJ” Lacson, Wilf Trinidad). And towards the end of the movie, it’s her, along with an excellent cameo by Sugarfree that perfectly wraps up the whole movie.

It’s easy to point out a film’s flaws, but very difficult to explain why you liked it so much. One can delve into the intricacies of cinematography, lighting, etc., but when you walk out of the theater, whether it’s mainstream or indie, all that matters is how you feel right after. And this ain’t no cheesy shit. With very little words as possible, Sandejas, who denies being a sentimental schmuck and calls himself “macho,” has insulted this year’s Cinemalaya audience by making them all sentimental schmucks and giving them something they didn’t expect. Something better.

Director/Writer/Producer: Mike Sandejas Associate Director: Arman Reyes Director of Photography: Albert Banzon Line Producers: May Genato-Sandejas, Rolly Palmes Production Designer: Roland Rubenecia Costume Designer: Nina Sandejas Production Managers: Robin Palmes (Manila), Violeta Miranda (Baguio) Gaffer: Gabriel “Japz” Bagnas Editor: Mik Pestano Sound Supervision: Ronald de Asis Field Sound Recorder: Mark Locsin Music: Francisbrew Reyes Deaf Drama Coach: Jayjay Sunico

Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said) will also be shown at the UP Film Institute CineAdarna on August 3, Monday at 7:00pm. Tickets are at P80. For ticket reservation and inquiries,  contact 0915-6040072.

With half the metro under several feet of water, streets deserted, and major thoroughfares looking like the set of Waterworld, the opening of the 5^th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival last Friday turned out to be a circus–literally. Contortionists, puppeteers, fire-eaters, jugglers, and acrobats entertained arriving crowds at the Cultural Center of the Philippines eager to see the latest crop of directors from Cinemalaya’s 20 films in competition. Or perhaps the news that Piolo Pascual was dropping by during the screening of Manila, of which he stars and co-produces, also had some minute effect on the attendance. Aside from meeting the directors and watching their movies’ trailers, the highlight of my night was my close encounter with the Solid Piolo Pascual groupies composed of several menopausal housewives and shrieking schoolgirls who continue to live in denial and are oblivious to the amount of distress their  banshee-like wails are causing to the people around them. Incidentally, one of this year’s taglines is “Whatever it takes for the love of movies.” Also present were his co-stars Rosanna Roces and Jay Manalo, and directors Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin.

Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual groupies

CCP President Nestor Jardin and Cinemalaya VP Laurice Guillen took to the podium to formally open the festival which showcases 10 films competing in the full feature and short feature categories, and over a hundred more in exhibition. This year’s festival, dubbed as Cinemalaya Cinco, runs from July 17 to 26 at the CCP.

Nestor Jardin

Laurice Guillen

As of the first screening day (Saturday), I’ve seen three of the ten finalists in the Full Feature Category, namely Milo Sogueco’s  Sanglaan, Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel’s Last Supper No. 3, and Mike Sandejas’ Dinig Sana Kita.  I have yet to write my entries on those but will begin as soon as I’ve seen everything. I will be crapping indie before the week is out. I’m not a fan of paying for a lousy movie, but with movies as good as these, I actually wish I paid for my ticket. Well, no, not really.

Scenes from the Cinemalaya 2009 Opening Night

The regular ticket price per screening is Php100. Students can get tickets at Php50. A Day Pass which is good for five screenings per day is Php300, and a Festival Pass which is good for all screenings during the whole festival is Php1000. For more information, call the CCP Box Office at 8323704 and TicketWorld at 8919999, or visit the Cinemalaya website at http://www.cinemalaya.org.

Cinemalaya Cinco

Crowd

Triumvirate (with Tonyboy Cojuangco)

Exhibit

"Manila" Premiere

Raya Martin and Adolf B. Alix Jr.

Piolo Pascual

Plaque Awarding

Look! It's Rajo Laurel

And look! I'm on Rajo's blog!

The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival finally kicks off next week, July 17, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Here’s the schedule for those in the Full Length Feature Category. Gala screenings with the cast are marked with *.

Also, the movie Manila by Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin, will open the festival on July 17 at 7:30PM at the Main Theater. It’ll be the film’s Philippine premiere after  screening in the 62nd Festival de Cannes and the 31st Moscow International Film Festival. Piolo Pascual co-produced and stars in this film which pays tribute to great Filipino directors Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. Getting my passes on Tuesday.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9qBhPTSNog&w=330&h=270]

Manila by Adolf B. Alix Jr. and Raya Martin

Cinemalaya 2009 Full Length Entries

24K by Ana AgabinJuly 19, Sun 6:15PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 21, Tues 2:45PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 23, Thu 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 24, Fri 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 25, Sat 2:45PM (CCP Main Theater) July 26, Sun 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre)

Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin B. YapanJuly 11, Sat 3:30PM (CCP Little Theater) July 19, Sun 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 21, Tues 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater)* July 22, Wed 2:45PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 23, Thu 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 24, Fri 2:45PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Astig by GB SampedroJuly 18, Sat 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 19, Sun 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 21, Tues 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater) July 22, Wed 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 24, Fri 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 25, Sat 6:15PM(CCP MKP Hall)

Colorum by Jon Steffan BallesterosJuly 18, Sat 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 19, Sun 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 24, Fri 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 25, Sat 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 25, Sat 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Dinig Sana Kita by Mike E. SandejasJuly 18, Sat 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 19, Sun 12:45PM(CCP Little Theatre) July 21, Tues 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 23, Thu 6:15PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 25, Sat 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater)*

Engkwentro by Pepe DioknoJuly 18, Sat 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 19, Sun 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater)* July 21, Tues 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 22, Wed 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 23, Thu 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 24, Fri 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater)

Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky LaurelJuly 18, Sat 3:30PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 19, Sun 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 21, Tues 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 22, Wed 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 24, Fri 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 25, Sat 9:00PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 9:00PM (CCP MKP Hall)

Mangatyanan by Jerrold TarogJuly 18, Sat 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 19, Sun 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater)* July 21, Tues 6:15PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 24, Fri 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 12:45PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Nerseri by Vic Acedillo, JrJuly 18, Sat 6:15PM (CCP Main Theater) July 21, Tues 12:45PM (CCP MKP Hall) July 23, Thu 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 3:30PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 26, Sun 3:30PM(CCP Little Theatre) July 24, Fri 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)

Sanglaan by Milo SoguecoJuly 18, Sat 12:45PM (CCP Little Theatre) July 19, Sun 9:00PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 21, Tues 9:00PM(CCP Main Theater) July 22, Wed 6:15PM (Tangahalang Huseng Batute) July 23, Thu 12:45PM(CCP MKP Hall) July 24, Fri 3:30PM (CCP Main Theater) July 25, Sat 3:30PM (CCP MKP Hall

Cinemalaya 2009 Shorts

PROGRAM A:

Musa by Dexter Cayanes, Behind Closed Doors by Mark Philipp Espina,
Tatang by Jean Paolo Nico Hernandez, Hulagpos by Maita Lirra Lupac, Wat Floor Ma’am? by Mike Escareal Sandejas & Robert Sena

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

PROGRAM B:

Ugat sa Lupa by Ariel Reyes, Si Bok at ang Trumpo by Hubert Tibi, Latus
by John Paul Seniel, BLOGOG by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, Bonsai by Alfonso
“Borgy” Torre III

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

Cinemalaya Cinco Presscon

With less than a month before the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival opens at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (July 17), I find myself craving for an indie fix now and then, especially during these lean weeks between last month’s comedy Drag Me To Hell, this month’s Michael Bay porn flick (masturbation) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and next month’s tween flick Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

It’s a good start that some movie houses in the metro have devoted several theaters to screening indie movies, although they’re still subject to MTRCB’s rules and regulations. Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza wanted to  commercially screen Kinatay but refused for it to be censored. That hasn’t pushed through yet for obvious reasons. Robinsons Galleria has one lonely movie theater devoted to independent movies, albeit not always good ones. I read some positive reviews, but still. Why would I sit through a movie with the title Kamoteng Kahoy (cassava/yam)? It’s a root crop. Then again, I’ve sat through more harrowing movies like First Day High with Maja Salvador’s atrocious excuse for what seemed to be the English language. My friends and I needed a no-brainer movie. I left a part of mine behind.

In the meantime, I tide myself over with  some of the finalists from this year’s Short Feature category. Something to note: Bonsai has Angel Aquino, Tatang has Pen Medina. I like them already.

Bonsai by Alfonso “Borgy” K. Torre III

Tatang by Jean Paolo “Nico” Hernandez

BLOGOG by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino

Watch the all 20 short and feature films  at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from July 17-26, 2009.

Online videos and its ubiquitous nature have lately been taking a beating from people grossed and engrossed with several poorly lighted, badly directed, illegally uploaded compromising personal sex videos. The attention and publicity the whole scandal (the word has become a figure of speech already) is overkill, and for once, the mention of the word sex no longer draws curious glances but a heavy shrug of the shoulders accompanied by an exhasperated sigh. Perhaps, just like the women in those videos, the whole thing is — and this is an instance why I love the astute precision of the vernacular — gasgas.

And when Facebooking has also lost its luster, when I no longer have any Tweets to Twitter, and when I have run out of songs to Blip, I watch some trailers.

These are some well lighted, creatively directed, and legally uploaded trailers from this year’s full length feature category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. I’m sure they won’t mind if I pirate these.

Dinig Sana Kita by Mike E. Sandejas

Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel

Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno

Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Alvin B. Yapan

Mangatyanan by Jerrold Tarog

Astig by GB Sampedro

24K by Ana Agabin

Watch these films and the other finalists at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from July 17-26, 2009.

True to the classic cinematic plot of the underdog rising out of misty obscurity, faced with DeVillean obstacles, hyperbolic experiences like the aforementioned, and moments of climax accompanied by the appropriate soundtrack, the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival has proven itself a formidable character –protagonist, complex, round– in the country’s cinema scene.

In this case, it’s art imitating itself.

Cinemalaya honchos, Nestor Jardin and Laurice Guillen recalled at Thursday’s press conference at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that at the beginning, organizers had some difficulty convincing the press to cover the event and even greater difficulty to attract people to watch the films. Starting with an audience of about eight thousand when it began in 2005, last year’s festival drew 29 thousand people with tickets sold out and additional screenings fully-booked.

Celebrating its fifth year, the Cinemalaya independent film festival and competition seeks to discover and encourage the cinematic works of local filmmakers that articulate and interpret the Filipino experience through films in digital video format.  20 new digital films by neophyte directors will compete during the festival which runs from July 17 to 26 at the CCP. In addition, some 25 new independent films will be premiered during the nine-day long festival. What was once just a term for artistic beatniks with a vision but no money, “indie” has, ironically, become mainstream.

Nestor Jardin

Laurice Guillen

Ten films will compete for the top prize in the full length feature category running from 90 to 120 minutes.  These are the treasure hunt film 24K by newcomer Ana Agabin, the mystery drama Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe by Ateneo alumnus and Cinemalaya veteran Alvin B. Yapan; the gritty street film Astig by GB Sampedro; dark crime themed Colorum by Jon Steffan Ballesteros; an unconventional love story in Dinig Sana Kita by Mike E. Sandejas; rough gang film based on true events in Engkwentro by UP undergrad Pepe Diokno; comedy/satire film Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel; mystery/thriller Mangatyanan by Jerrold Tarog, family film Nerseri by Vic Acedillo, Jr. and slices of life in Sanglaan by Milo Sogueco.

Competing in the short feature category running under 20 minutes are Behind Closed Doors by Mark Philipp Espina, BLOGOG by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, Bonsai by Alfonso “Borgy” K. Torre III, Hulagpos by Maita Lirra Lupac, Latus by John Paul S. Seniel, Musa by Dexter B. Cayanes, Si Bok at ang Trumpo by Hubert Tibi, Tatang by Jean Paolo “Nico” Hernandez, Ugat sa Lupa by Ariel Reyes and Wat Floor Ma’am by Mike Sandejas and Robert Seña.

Me Like

Viewing their trailers and listening to the directors talk about their films, two from the full length category caught my interest and now I can’t wait to sit in that theater and watch it. Dinig Sana Kita, according to director Mike Sandejas, is not your usual love story. Sparks fly between a real-life deaf dancer played by Romalito Mallari and a rocker chick played by Zoe Sandejas, the director’s daughter. Their paths cross in a camp for both deaf and hearing kids, and like all stories that begin with two people separated by their differences, the two discover that they have more in common with each other, aside for their love for music. One can perhaps guess where all this will lead to: someone recovers their hearing.

Though I can’t help but compare it to Step Up and it’s creatively titled sequel, Step Up 2, and other dance-slash-love stories that left us wondering why Julia Stiles sounds like a man in tights (Save the Last Dance), or others the propagated the notion that all that young African-American students do is dance (Stomp the Yard, etc.), Dinig Sana Kita, begs to be different.

I’ll say it now. I’m biased for Sanglaan. At the press conference, I found myself sitting next to one of the film’s producers, Miss Gay Ace Domingo. Naturally, I was curious about her film, and proper decorum dictates I ask her about it since I asked her where she was from, thinking she was from the press. When she began with, “The film stars Ina Feleo and…,” I was hooked. And when the real Ina Feleo walked by, I fell off my seat. And the film sounds great too.

Sanglaan looks at the seemingly simple relationships created in the mundane setting of a pawnshop in Tondo, Manila. I’ve never been to a pawnshop, although one need not be a genius to know what they do. Each possession left by those who do their business in pawnshops tells its own compelling story, the ring that perhaps was a gift from a husband, a bracelet stolen, an heirloom piece. These slices of life all come together in Olivia’s Pawnshop. Together with Ina Feleo are Tessie Tomas and Joem Bascon.

In the short feature category, I’m looking forward to Wat Floor Ma’am. Set in a jammed elevator with basically two characters, it’s one of those films that’s predictably talky but entertaining as well. Tatang, features Peng Medina. `Nuff said.

Visit the Cinemalaya website to read more about this year’s finalists, view their trailers and read their synopses. I’d reserve my tickets this early. http://www.cinemalaya.org

More Photos From the Presscon

"Last Supper No. 3" Cast, Directors

"24K" Director, Cast

"Mangatyanan" Cast, Director

"Astig" Cast, Director

"Ang Nerseri" Cast, Director

"Colorum" Director, Cast

"Engkwentro" Cast, Director

Alfred Vargas, mobbed