 |
| (Image Source: ClickTheCity.com/Cinemalaya) |
The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival is rethinking its direction and strategy to remain significant in the challenges the Filipino nation is facing due to the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country while fulfilling its mission of discovering, encouraging, supporting, training and recognizing gifted Filipino independent filmmakers.
The 17th edition of one of the longest-running Filipino film festivals in the country today will be having online screenings running from August 6 to September 5 which are slated to be shown on KTX.ph, Vimeo and the official Facebook page of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Aside from the digital edition, CCP is breaking new grounds for this year's Cinemalaya with the "Cinema Under The Stars" outdoor screening at the CCP Theater grounds where film viewers can relive the experience of watching movies despite the physical limitations brought about by the pandemic.
With the theme "Navigating The Currents", Cinemalaya 2021 was supposed to feature full-length films for the main competition but concerns for the well-being of the filmmakers were raised due to the pandemic. Instead, the festival will feature thirteen short films - Ang Sadit ng Planeta (The Little Planet) by Arjanmar H. Rebeta, Ang mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa by Kevin Jay Ayson, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Lola Mayumi by Shiri De Leon, Ate O.G. by Kevin Mayuga, Beauty Queen by Myra Aquino, Crossing by Marc Misa, Kawatan sa Salog (Ang Laruan sa Ilog) by Alphie Velasco, Kids on Fire by Kyle Nieva, Looking for Rafflesias and Other Fleeting Things by James Fajardo, Maski Papano by Glenn Barit and Che Tagyamon, Namnama En Lolang (Grandmother’s Hope) by Jonnie Lyn Dasalla, Out of Body by Enrico Po, and The Dust in your Place by David Olson - which have delved into different kinds of narratives but mostly about the realities of the pandemic. Aside from the short films, the festival will also include films in categories in Visions Of Asia, IndieNation (documentaries), Gawad Alternatibo, Allied Screenings and Winner's Retrospective.
Tickets for both online and outdoor screenings for Cinemalaya 2021 are offered in bundled and can be availed at Php150 each. There will also be over 80 free screenings for Gawad Alternatibo and Visions Of Asia, to name a few. For more details and updates on Cinemalaya 2021, visit and follow the festival's official social media accounts.
