CINEMALAYA 2011 : Niño

Cinema in the Philippines might not be as vibrant as that of our Asian neighbors like Hongkong, South Korea, India and even Thailand but there are still pockets for celebration. I am glad Star Cinema is leading the way but it focuses on generic and safe topics for the purpose of revenue. It therefore stays away from sensitive issues and that limits the artistic potentials of our films and the people working in the sector. Good thing we have Independent Films (Indie Films) which serves as a bright spot for the industry. If not, there would me no movies like Maximo Oliveros, Masahista or Serbis right? Thus we should be thankful for the people and organizations championing the cause of Independent Film-making in the Philippines, one of which is CINEMALAYA.


The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film competition and festival that aims to encourage the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers – works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. It also aims to invigorate the Philippine filmmaking by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers.

Mombic and Anthony

THE STORY

The Villa Los Reyes Magos, the decaying mansion of the Lopez-Aranzas, is the only remaining emblem of the once illustrious family of Gaspar and his sister Celia. When former congressman Gaspar slips into a coma, his opera doyenne sister Celia waits for a miracle through her grandson Antony, who she clads in Sto. Niño garb. But harsh reality in the figures of their children, Merced, Mombic, and Raquel, pushes the inevitable: the impending sale of the mansion to give way to a commercial venture. Celia wages her last battle to regain the glory of the past by hosting a splendid tertulla, her final eulogy to her own moribund class.

Anthony 

CAST

Arthur Acuña, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Tony Mabesa , Raquel Villavicencio, Diana Malahay, Joaquin Pedro Valdes and introducing Jhiz Deocareza.

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION STAFF

Director-Loy Arcenas, Screenplay-Rody Vera, Story-Loy Arcenas & Rody Vera, Producer-Daniel Arcenas & Philippe O. Chambon, Director of Photography-Lee Briones-Meily and jay Abello, Line Producer-Krisma Fajardo,Assistant Director-Issa Lopez, 2nd Assistant Director-Ed Lacson Jr., Production Designer-Laida Lim,Production Managers-Philip Buena, Ron Capili, Editor-Danny Añonuevo, Sound-Mike Idioma, Music-Jerrold Tarog.

Raquel and Mombic

Gaspar and Celia

LOY ARCENAS / Director

Based in New York, Loy Arcenas has designed sets for Broadway

shows that have included “Once On This Island, “Prelude To A

Kiss”, Love! Valour! Compassion!”, “Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life”. 

He has also designed the sets for the off-Broadway and major American regional theater companies of the United States. He has collaborated with some of the most exciting American directors and playwrights including Joe Mantello, George C. Wolfe, Anne  Bogart, Robert Falls, Terrence McNally, Craig Lucas, Paula Vogel.

For his design work, he has received the Obie for Sustained Excellence of Scenic Design, the Bay Area Critics Circle Awards, the Jefferson Award, the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award, the Michael Merritt Award for Design Collaboration.

“The Romance of Magno Rubio”, for which he received his second Obie, and Ralph Peña’s ‘Flipzoids’.  His New York directing work is very much associated with the Ma-Yi  Theatre Company .His directing work inNew York have included his collaboration with Lonnie Carter,

His directing work in the Philippines have included productions for Tanghalang Pilipino, including ‘ The Romance of Magno Rubio’; ‘Golden Child’ which received  the Gawad Buhay awards for best direction,  best production, best set design, and best emsemble work; and ‘Tatlong Mariya’ which has been nominated for 8 Gawad Buhay awards this year.

Niño Cinemalaya 2011 Screening Schedule (CCP and Greenbelt)

16 July/Sat, 11:00AM: Greenbelt 3 – Cinema 5 

16 July/Sat, 6:15PM  : Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre) – GALA NIGHT 

17 July/Sun, 9:00PM :  Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall) 

18 July/Mon, 1:30PM : Greenbelt 3 – Cinema 5 

19 July/Tue, 12:45PM:  Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre) 

20 July/Wed, 6:30PM:  Greenbelt 3 – Cinema 3 

21 July/Thu, 12:45PM : Tanghalang Huseng Batute 

21 July/Thu, 3:30PM:  Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre) 

22 July/Fri, 12:45PM at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)

23 July/Sat, 9:00PM at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute

Follow them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ninothemovie

YouTube Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9El2qb6icI

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http://www.cinemalaya.org/index.htm