Guide to Cinemanila 2011 (Part 1)

Sunday, 13 November 2011 16:17 Maui A. Hermitanio

Cinemanila International Film Festival 2011 opened at the Market! Market! Cinema last Friday. Now on its 13^th year, Cinemanila 2011 returns to Taguig City for its November 11 to November 17 run that will feature more than 80 films from the all over the world, many from prestigious festivals abroad like the Cannes, Rotterdam, Pusan and Berlin International Film Festivals. This year's theme is “I ♥ Cinema. I ♥ Cinemanila.”

The festival's opening film was Pina by German director Wim Wenders. A full-length film in 3D with the ensemble of the Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, featured the unique and inspiring art of the German choreographer who died in 2009.

According to Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, “the government and the people of Taguig are delighted and honored that Cinemanila has chosen our city as the venue for Cinemanila 2011, which is aligned with our thrust to promote education, culture and arts.”

Ordinary people will also get to enjoy internationally-acclaimed films. After the regular screenings, the Taguig city government will sponsor film showings in various barangays and public schools in the city. “We will bring the cinema to the people,” Cayetano said.

Films will be screened at the Market!Market! Cinemas and Fully Booked. The lawn of Bonifacio High Street will be the venue of the Cinemanila Moonlight Series - twice-a-week outdoor film screenings of contemporary, classic and cult foreign films at the Bonifacio Global City beginning January 2012.

Lifetime achievement awards for Aunor and Argento

During the opening night, Superstar Nora Aunor received Cinemanila's Lifetime Achievement Award as one of the most accomplished actresses in the Philippine entertainment industry. As part of the homage to the multi-awarded Aunor, a short video tribute was shown during the presentation of the award. Cinemanila will also screen classic films showcasing Aunor's legendary acting talent, including Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo (1976), Bona (1980), and Himala (1982).

With the Cinemanila Lifetime Achievement Award, Aunor will join an exceptional group of film makers who received the same award, such as US filmmakers Quentin Tarantino (2007) and Paul Schrader (2009), Indonesian actress and filmmaker Christine Hakim (2003), film programmers Aruna Vasudev and Philip Cheah (2006), Pusan International Film Festival founding director Kim Dong Ho (2005), and fellow Filipino artists Vilma Santos (2003), Eddie Romero (2004) & Dolphy (2010). Aside from these personalities, other special guests who graced Cinemanila in the past include Jafar Panahi (The Circle, 2000) and Fernando Meirelles (City of God, 2002).

Italian film director, producer and screenwriter Dario Argento was also bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the horror genre, particularly in the subgenre of thriller, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher films. Know as the Italian Alfred Hitchcock, some of Argento's more popular works include the international hit The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), the surreal horror film Suspiria (1977), and the violent mystery-thriller Deep Red (1975), considered by many critics as the best Italian horror film ever made.

Young Cinema Program

Cinemanila 2011 will feature works by the finalists for its Young Cinema Program, which is divided into two categories: Shorts in Competition and Shorts in Exhibition. One of the centerpieces of the festival, the Young Cinema Program will showcase short films from up-and- coming filmmakers. Two awards will be given: the Ishmael Bernal Award for Most Outstanding Young Filmmaker, and Best Short Film.

Shorts in Competition

123 by Carlo Obispo

Ang Gugma ni Olivia (Olivia’s Love) by Christian Linaban

Canto III by Keith Sicat Inosensya (Innocence) by Mikhail Red Kapatid (Brothers) by Steven Flor

Saranghae My Tutor by Victor Villanueva

Sirip (Glimpse) by Kim Camelo

Shorts in Exhibition

Agos (Waves) by Samantha Lee

Bleached by Jess dela Merced

Dadi by Ilsa Malsi Huling Araw ng Pagsisilbi (Last Day of Service) by Bienvenido O. Ferrer III Leaving Home by Epoy Deyto Manenaya

Waiting by Richard Legaspi Pangako

Promise by Sari Raissa Lluch Dalena