Out of the nine films in the main competition section of this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, at least half feature lead women characters.
Multiawarded Angeli Bayani, a regular fixture in this annual festival, has never won the Cinemalaya Balanghai trophy. This year, she is in very strong contention for lead-actress honors for her very difficult role as an overseas worker who dumps her baby in the airport’s toilet in Zig Dulay’s film entry Bagahe.
Bayani gets strong female support from Shamaine Buencamio, Madeleine Nicolas, Raquel Villavicencio, Bing Pimentel, Boots Anson-Roa, Sue Prado, Erlinda Villalobos, Nataleigh Sitoy, Yayo Aguila and Cataleya Surio. Actor-director Gina Alajar is also excited to be part of this edition with Ang Nabubulok, the first feature film of Sonny Calvento about a missing female resident of a suburban town whose Caucasian husband is the alleged killer. Although the film is made up of an ensemble cast, Alajar is categorized as the lead actress. She shares stellar billing with Lito Pimentel, Billy Ray Gallion, Sue Prado, JC Santos and Jameson Blake.
Eleven years ago, Angel Aquino won her very first Best Actress Award at the Cinemalaya for Adolf Alix’s Donsol and this year, she headlines first-time filmmaker Ian Arondaing’s Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig. Aquino’s character confesses to a criminal act that sends her parish priest and his altar boy into a frenzy of conflicting emotions that cause disturbance in a small and sleepy coastal town. Aquino looms as the underdog this year and might just take home her second lead-actress trophy.
Shot entirely in Palawan’s Cuyo islands, the film also stars esteemed actors Jake Macapagal, Jess Mendoza, Mercedes Cabral, Anthony Falcon, Sam Quintana, Mark Dionisio and Ricky Davao.
Megastar Sharon Cuneta gets to experience
Her first indie movie as both actor and producer for the Mes de Guzman film, Ang Pamilyang Hindi Lumuluha. Cuneta told reporters during the festival’s news conference that she enjoyed the filmmaking process and added that she’s not expecting any recognition, given that so many female acting greats have entries this year.
Also included in the movie are Niño Muhlach and his son Alonzo, plus Cris Villanueva and Moi Bien.
Promising indie actress Elora Españo plays a coastal lass who is faced with such mind-boggling conflicts after her father is reported missing at sea in Joseph Israel Laban’s entry, Baconaua. The sea turns red and the folk get into one complication after another as they solve the mysteries they’ve never encountered in their lifetime.
Españo pits acting talents with actors Bembol Roco, Jess Mendoza and Teri Malvar.
For the movie Requited, about a sick cyclist who meets the love of his life while on a personal journey to his dream cycling destination, the beautiful Anna Luna provides the soul of the film.
Luna has become a favorite of many local directors and she has proven her worth many times, giving out consistent performances in many instances. For this film, she acts with Jake Cuenca and her real-life father, Rommel Luna.
We also learned the 2017 edition of Cinemalaya will pay tribute to one of the greatest Philippines actresses who ever graced the big screen: Lolita Rodriguez. Rodriguez is best remembered for such memorable films as Tubog sa Ginto, Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, Busabos, Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang, Ikaw, Stardoom and Ina Ka ng Anak Mo. The legendary actress passed on last November in California, where she had taken residence after retiring from acting in the late-1980s.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is home to Cinemalaya, in partnership with the Ayala Cinemas. The festival will run from August 4 to 13.
