MENTOR Bing Lao films Best Director Sheron Dayoc. ARNOLD ALMACEN

IT could’ve been the indie version of “ASAP,” “SOP” and “PO5.”

But in keeping with the night’s indie spirit, the hosts and performers at the awards night of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Sunday) didn’t charge a single centavo.

Hosts Iza Calzado and Cogie Domingo took on the job for the love of indies, according to production head Noel Ferrer, who also produced the Netpac entries “Muli” and “Magdamag” and published Khavn de la Cruz’s book “Philippine New Wave: This Is Not a Film Movement.” (The indie book was launched last Tuesday.)

Iza’s dream

After watching a video montage tribute to indie actresses, Iza said her dream now was to be a “Cinemalaya woman.”

Rommel “Milo” Tolentino, who won Best Director, Audience Award and Special Jury Prize for “P” (Shorts), put it aptly: “Indie and mainstream people came together. Suddenly, there’s this community of filmmakers ... like there’s no barrier between indie and mainstream.”

Pam Miras, director of “Wag Kang Titingin” which won Best Short Film, asserted: “I’m proud to be part of this community of filmmakers.”

In the audience was Gretchen Barretto, partner of Cinemalaya Foundation chair Tonyboy Cojuangco. She told a seat mate that she hoped to do an indie film next year, “if time allows.”

Singers Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Avanzado and Christian Bautista, newly elected board members of the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mangaawit, gladly shared their talents for the show, directed by last year’s Best Director GB Sampedro.

After his solo number, Christian jested, “I got embarrassed. In the middle of my song, ‘The Way You Look at Me,’ the audience applauded. I thought it was for me, until I realized [the applause was for] the video of Cinemalaya actresses.”

OLD FRIENDS John Arcilla and Lani Misalucha. BAYANI SAN DIEGO

Just as generous was international singer Lani Mislaucha, who sang her hit “Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin.” The crowd didn’t want to let her go without an encore. Since she didn’t bring an extra minus-one disc, Lani sang Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye)” a cappella.

Backstage, Lani met up with an old theater costar, Best Actor John Arcilla of “Halaw.” Said Lani, “we were in ‘Rama at Sita’ together in 1999.” 

Asked if she was back in the country for good, Lani joked: “For bad? I’ll be leaving again soon. But I’m doing a few shows, including a mini-series for TV5.”

Mark Meily, director of the Best Film (Directors’ Showcase) “Donor,” told the Inquirer that his movie had been invited to at least three international festivals so far. “It’s heartening to know that the film is going abroad.”

Joji Alonso, producer of two winning films in the New Breed category, “Sampaguita” (Special Jury) and “Magkakapatid” (Audience Award), said her entries have been invited to major festivals as well.

Sheron Dayoc’s “Halaw,” Best Film and Director winner in the New Breed, has received invitations as well.