Move over mainstream, Indie is in! –Ranjill Sy

Change is really coming after the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) selection committee led by Nick Tiongson revealed the eight official entries or ‘Magic 8’ in this year’s annual Filipino film festival screened every Christmas day. The committee members unanimously picked the participants by basing on the following criteria: story, audience appeal and overall impact (40%); cinematic attributes or technical expertise (40%); global appeal (10%); and Filipino sensibility (10%).

This is a brave and risky move from the organization since not a lot of people know that MMFF does not only function for the sole purpose of entertainment but also to assist beneficiaries such as the Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund), the Motion Picture Anti-Piracy Council, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Despite the uncertainties and potential decline of expected viewers for this year, MMFF’s decision to finally showcase films that stimulate critical thinking and shed light on important social issues instead of frivolous cliché films backed by sought-after amateur actors is settled beyond a shadow of doubt.

Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough

Director: Marlon Rivera

Starring: Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Khalil Ramos, and Cai Cortez

Eugene Domingo continues to break the fourth wall in the latest installment of her ‘medyo’ critically acclaimed comedy independent film, Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. The film follows the story of Eugene Domingo as Romina venturing into another course of whimsical moviemaking together with her returning trusted production team.

The film-within-the-film is said to revolve around Eugene’s absurd, with a hint of satire, suggestions and recommendations on her director’s proposed script about a crumbling marriage.

Die Beautiful

Director: Jun Robles Lana

Starring: Paolo Ballesteros, Joel Torre, Gladys Reyes, Luis Alandy, Albie Casiño, Iza Calzado

After winning the Best Actor award at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival, Paolo Ballesteros is indeed a revelation and the movie he’s starring in, Die Beautiful, is all the more promising in itself. The film displays the story of Trisha Echevarria, a transgender woman who competes in beauty contests. Following her sudden death, Trisha, as part of her last wish, appeals to her friends that she be presented as a different celebrity on each night of her wake despite her father wanting her to be buried as a man.

Kabisera

Directors: Arturo San Agustin and Real Florido

Starring: Ms. Nora Aunor, Ricky Davao, JC De Vera, Luis Alandy, Jason Abalos, RJ Agustin

The grand dame of Philippine cinema is back and she’s more than ready to conquer the impending awards night with her heartfelt acting in Kabisera as a mother who struggles to mend her then peaceful and merry family as a whole despite the extra-judicial killings committed to her children.

Oro

Director: Alvin Yapan

Starring: Irma Adlawan, Mercedes Cabral, and Joem Bascom

Just by watching the trailer of Oro, you could already tell that Irma Adlawan would break barriers just to take you on one of the country’s less known issues on illegal mining operations. The film is about the lives of Elmer and Linda, a couple residing in a rural area who are keeping secrets from one another, but just when they are about to disclose everything their simple folk caught in a crossfire between a Kapitana accused of political patronage and Patrol Kalikasan who uses the environment as a front for their organization’s own political and economic interests.

Saving Sally

Director: Avid Liongoren

Starring: Rhian Ramos, Enzo Marcos

The mere fact that this animated film took about 10 years to create is already a legitimate reason for everyone to add this on their watch list. This is perhaps the first time that the local film industry managed to produce a film which mixes 2D animation and live actors. The story centers on Marty, an aspiring comic-book artist who is secretly in love with his best friend, Sally, the gadget inventor. Sally has literal monsters for parents and an obnoxious boyfriend and Martyr is left to battle all these bad creatures.

Seklusyon

Director: Erik Matti

Starring: Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Elora Espano, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Dominique Roque, John Vic De Guzman, JR Versales

Making up for the absence of Shake, Rattle and Roll is Seklusyon, directed by the veteran Erik Matti who is also the genius behind the multi-awarded MMFF entry last year, Honor Thy Father. The film exhibits the old practice of deacons or those aspiring to be priests who are sent to a remote convent to live in seclusion on the last 7 days of their training so as to shield them away from evil. Set in 1947, the eerie plot takes a turn as a mysterious young girl comes to the convent. Could she be sent by the devil or by God?

Sunday Beauty Queen

Director: Babyruth Villarama Gutierrez

Starring: Hazel Perdido, Cherrie Mae Bretana, Mylyn Jacobo, Leo Selomenio, Rudelyn Acosta

If you love watching documentary film, you might want to watch out for Baby Ruth Villarama’s Sunday Beauty Queen this Christmas Day. The movie follows a group of expatriate domestic workers in Hong Kong as they prepare to take part in an annual beauty pageant. These real life heroes had already made their premiere in the Wide Angle documentary competition at the 21st Busan International Film Festival in October.

Vince & Kath & James

Director: Ted Boborol

Starring: Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Ronnie Alonte

If you’re feeling lonely this Christmas season, don’t fret because Ted Boborol got your back this holiday with this whirlwind of a ‘textserye’ originally written by Jenny Ruth Almocera. The movie revolves around the modern-day unusual love triangle between Vince and Kath and James.

Here are the entries for Short Films category: