Films must transcend fun and entertainment.
They must not only forge emotions but pricks the minds as well.
These imperatives, intentions and objectives of Pelikulove Shout Pinas 2022 are clear, engrossing and crystallizing.
Or, so we agree or we wonder if these visions work within the cultural, economic and socio-political system or context of the industrial setup of the local film art and business enterprise.
Poster of 'Pelikulove Shoutout Pinas 2022' (Photo Credit: Cinemalaya)
An Advocacy Project
Pelikulove is a concept originated by progressive filmmaker Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, a seasoned TV, stage and movie director.
It is an advocacy project that shows social realities that dares even the established order.
To add to Ellen’s credibility as project manager of Pelikulove, she has various credentials under her belt.
Ongkeko-Marfil is a product of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) as an actress, writer, director, stage manager and other roles a versatile artist like her can tackle. Ellen has also worked with various TV networks in the country in diverse capacities.
Revolutionary Spirit
Pelikulove was a component of the recently concluded 2023 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival held at various cinemas of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Although PICC's function halls are merely meeting rooms convertible to screening venues, Cinemalaya this year temporarily changed — with PICC's management's approval — meeting rooms to movie houses like Cinema Rizal, Cinema Bonifacio, Cinema Palma, etc.
Pelikulove’s Shout Out Pinas 2022, in particular, was incidentally shown at Cinema Bonifacio which indeed jibed with the revolutionary spirit of the Filipino hero.
It was a special screening at the 19th edition of Cinemalaya that consisted of five diverse film genres, all of them shorts.
According to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Corporate Communications Division, Pelikulove was an anthology of film and theater shorts stringed together to capture the varied situations many Filipino youth face today — their fears, struggles and triumphs as they try to find their voice vis-à-vis their need for survival.
The Anthology
The chosen entries from 62 pitches were partnered with film and theater groups around the country and mentored by a board of festival directors, namely, Ricky Lee, Rody Vera, Jeffrey Jeturian, Issa Manalo Lopez, Raffy Tejada and Cristina Juan of Sulat-UK.
To add to the illustrious list of teachers, Bibeth Orteza said that she mentored the young filmmakers when I saw her at the wake of the former undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Martin Diño, dad of actress and arts manager Liza Diño-Seguerra.
The anthology included: “How to Make an Effective Campaign Ad” by Roman Perez Jr.; “No Trespassing” by Julius de la Peña and Dada Grifon; “When A Manananggal Loves A Man” by Neil Arkhe P. Azcuna; “Libro for Ransom” by Arjanmar H. Rebeta and “Quarantine 5” by Sari Saysay.
“How to Make an Effective Campaign Ad” featured two young videographers who set out to shoot an ad campaign for an imprisoned governor inside the Maximum-Security Prison and discovered how it was to fall into the mercy of power.
It was a riveting visual treat about an unscrupulous politician who would wield his political power, roll out his whims in a cramped cell just to conquer the vulnerability of the youth when he forced them to disrobe to satisfy his sexual fantasies. Fast-paced and scored delightfully, the film was a two-pronged powerful weapon to wake the audience up.
In “No Trespassing,” two young journalists travel to Negros Island to cover the killing of sugarcane farmers who are standing up for their land rights and end up with a dangerous dilemma of putting their story, the farmers’ and their own lives at risk. A documentary-like art work with direct images and messages of injustice, harassment and intimidation from coercive forces of the military and land grabbers to their subjects.
“When A Manananggal Loves A Man” was about a story of a young “manananggal” caught in a relationship with a mortal man who was forced to choose between saving and protecting her kind or making a case for her love—very absurd drama in the supernatural world.
Meanwhile, “Libro for Ransom” was a reveal by a prizewinning broadcast journalist of the real story behind the 1961 theft for ransom Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” which was treated with profundity about the use of new media to promote a free TV show to earn ratings in the competitive broadcast industry.
“Quarantine 5” tackled the online reunion of ex-student activists in the height of the 2020 pandemic as they confront their political contradictions. This was an effective fusion of film and theater to convey effectively the messages of shared dreams in the midst of personal and professional debacles but still friendship reigned in the end.
Brave Exposition
Pelikulove Shout Out Pinas 2022 was a brave exposition of the ugly picture of the Philippines vis-à-vis the candy-colored and cosmetic governance.
No matter how complacent and entertainment-centric showbiz is and jaded and disoriented audiences are about the nature and purpose of films as a commentary and didactic instrument to change society, this relevant component of this year’s Cinemalaya was another indie spirit offering.
Kudos to Ellen and company for coming out with this collection of eye-opener audio-visuals.
Shorts:
Aya Fernandez and Pat Tingjuy (Photo Credit: Patricia Tingjuy’s IG)
Newbie actress Pat Tingjuy was caught by surprise when she was proclaimed Best Actress in the recent awards night at the Cinemalaya 19 at the PICC. Patricia Tingjuy’s maiden offering “Rookie” gave her the chance to show her acting wares as a basketball player from the province to an emerging volleyball champ the city while developing a special relationship with a fellow spiker.
Dolly de Leon
Internationally acclaimed Filipino actress Dolly de Leon was declared Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ilocano film “Iti Mapukpukaw” at the same event. In her acceptance speech, Dolly said it was an honor to receive an award in her own country since she had won and accepted personally plums abroad but off-stage, she corrected herself to have won an acting trophy at home when she was named winner at the 70th Famas for the exquisite film “Verdict” in the same category.
Nadine Lustre (Photo Credit: Nadine Lustre’s Facebook)
Talking about Famas, Nadine Lustre, in her radiant purple gown, once again bagged the Best Actress award in “Deleter” which was a reprise of her winning it during the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival … Meanwhile, entertainment journalist and broadcaster Art Tapalla corrected “Star Patrol” news item in “TV Patrol” recently that Nadine won the Famas with “Greed” which he wondered where the news gatherer got the info. Tsk! Tsk!
#Imagery #BoyVillasanta #Pelikulove #PICC #CCP #NadineLustre #DollyDeLeon #Cinemalaya #Entertainment #OpinYon