CINEMALAYA 2007: THE NEW BREED

This year's cinemalaya is so far the most competitive and controversial yet the best and a big success. All competing films are of real international quality and a must see. In three years of the festival's existence, it was able to produce very good indie films and draw a lot of audience. A bright future awaits the indie film industry with these high caliber new breed.

I had a chance to see seven of eight full length movies in competition and my personal ranking would be:

1. Still Life (Katrina Flores)

A touching story of an artist deemed to lose his career and how his life changed when he met a girl who happened to be where he came from in a world beyond time and dimension. The male actor (Roy Canpinding) can be a potential winner. Glaiza de Castro also played her role very well. Unpredictable story. Deeply moving. Nice setting. You will bumped into some life's realization while watching the film.

2. Pisay (Auraeus Solito) 

High school life is indeed fun and memorable and this what this movie shows. It is about the various stories of extra ordinary high school students in a highly competitive school in a different era in Philippine history. It is a generic visual nostalgia of student's life, where everyone who had been to high school can relate. These students were so lucky to belong in time when the society calls for them. With great story and soundtrack, good characters and actors, nice setting and cinematography. No doubt this movie won the "Audience Choice Award" for full length category, eventually bagging the trophy for "Best Production Design" and naming the director Auraeus (Director of Maximo Oliveros) as the "Best Director" of the festival.

3. Kadin (Adolf Alix)

A simple tale of a boy looking for his lost goat and how he faced the world of grown ups. A modern day local version of The Little Prince and The Alchemist set in the backdraft of one of the most beautiful places on Earth - Batanes.

4. Endo (Jade Castro)

This is not your usal love story of happy ending. Endo (Slang for end of contract) is a revolutionary love story in movie that tells how love can hurt as much as it can make one happy. Truly, the movie is full of heart melting love sayings and quotes that can be passed on thru SMS. The actors played their roles exceptionally, displaying pure raw emotions and natural acting skills even those in cameo roles. Kudos to Ina Feleo for bagging the best actress awards for the festival for this movie. Great jobs Jason Abalos, Ricky Davao and Alchris Galura.

5. Tribu (Jim Libiran)

A brave expose of inner Manila's reality. It shows how some youth in the dark alleys of the city treats life and death. This movie boast of having unknown actors who played their roles effectively (they are real life Tondo gang members actually) that made them "Best Actors" of the festival collectively. It is indeed a very brave and different movie, no doubt it won the "Best Picture" award.

6. Ligaw Liham (Jay Abello)

This movie takes us back in 1970's in Negros. A funny love story of dreaming and wishful thinking. This movie can brag their realistic recreation of a 1970 settings.

7. Gulong (Sockie Fernandez)

A story of friendship, a simple life of a child and love. With great cinematography and music. It is a film for children of all ages.