Sinag Maynila, the independent film festival established by Solar Entertainment mogul Mr. Wilson Tieng and Cannes Film Festival Best Director Brillante Mendoza, is celebrating its fifth year this 2019!
What began as a foray to help local indie filmmakers has now grown into one of the country’s major filmfests. Sinag Maynila now features three competition sections, noteworthy international exhibition films and a variety of cinema-related activities. True to its mission of bringing “sine lokal, pang-internasyonal,” Sinag Maynila has become an important pathway for Filipino film artists to communicate their stories, and an irresistible opportunity for enthusiasts to watch unique and exciting films.
Heading the list of Sinag Maynila competition films are five full-length features:
AKIN ANG KORONA (Zig Dulay)
JESUSA (Ronald Carballo)
JINO TO MARI (Joselito Altarejos)
PAILALIM (Daniel R. Palacio)
PERSONS OF INTEREST (Ralston G. Jover)
Competing in the short film category are:
BISPERAS (Ralph Quincena)
DANA JUNG (John Rogers)
DUDE PARE BRO (Lora Cerdan)
KISS (Harlene Bautista)
KILOS (Marjon Santos)
MARIAN (Brian Patrick Lim)
MEMORIES OF THE RISING SUN (Lawrence Fajardo)
NAGMAMAHAL, SAL (Jeff Subrabas)
NGITI NI NAZARENO (Louie Ignacio)
PANAGHOY (Alvin Baloloy)
Meanwhile, those competing in the documentary category are:
ANDAP (Calista Allyson Geronimo and Roma Mangahas)
AT HOME (Arjanmar H. Rebeta)
ENTABLADO (Lie Rain Clemente and Nori Jane Isturis)
HOPE SPOTS (Joseph Dominic Cruz)
HYATT: MGA KUWENTO, LIHIM, AT KATOTOHANAN (Jayvee V. Bucsit)
TATA PILO (Dexter Macaraeg)
Sinag Maynila 5 opens on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, with “Lakbayan” a three-part omnibus film by Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz, and National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik — all of whom are awardees at the Berlin International Film Festival and have made their marks in several international film fests. Festival proper starts on Thursday, April 4 in select cinemas (full schedule to follow).
There will be a forum on Saturday, April 6 with speakers Ms. Joanne Goh, Chairman of the Malaysia International Film Festival and Young-woo Kim, Programmer for the Busan International Film Festival. Winners of the competition will be announced at the Gabi ng Parangal to be held on Sunday, April 7.
There will also be an environmental film screening and forum with resource speaker Fiona Faulkner, Environmental and Community Development Officer of The Plastic Solution. This year, there will be a Film Editing workshop to be conducted by Mr. John Anthony Wong, Managing Director of Edge Manila Creatives Corporation. Finally, Sinag Maynila closes with the film “Journey”, an Asian Three-Fold Mirror project by the Japan Foundation.
Sinag Maynila 5 is presented by McDonald’s and Co-presented by Nissan. In partnership with the Film Development Council of The Philippines (FDCP), and in celebration of 100 years of Philippine cinema.
Special thanks to: The Plastic Solution, Cinema 76 Film Society, Black Maria Cinema, Edge Manila Creatives.
Official event venue partner: SM and SM Cinema.
