I went to a Cinemalaya screening once...

Images courtesy of Cinemalaya's Facebook fan page.

Last Wednesday, August 12, 2015, I went to the CCP Complex in a bid to watch all ten short films in this year's Cinemalaya film festival. I got myself a ticket to Shorts-A, but the Shorts-B tickets are sold out. While waiting, I decide to take a mini-exploration of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. When I was a baby, my family had a picnic in the park right in front of the wide building. Fast-forward to today I was able to get inside to watch five of the short films taking part in this festival.

Now, the FILM REVIEW is neither critical dissemination nor incoming halo effect to films and their directors/production arms/everyone who contributed to getting the film to the audience. It's just a quick opinion rundown of the entries I was fortunate enough to watch. (I still get a Shame Attack for ditching the other five entries, but if you have other fun commitments to turn to, you can get past it.)

During the mini-trip I saw the booths selling stuff are placed in strategic spots (specifically, outside the main gate and near the theater entrances), and just next to the entrance of the CCP Little Theater, are the film posters and BTS shots of each short film, each with an important artifact within the story. As 3:00 PM rolled in, I began waiting in line, believing that the PhP 150.00 is a good price to pay for watching five of the short films taking part in Cinemalaya 2015.

Trailers courtesy of the YouTube channel of Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. Quick synopses are taken from filmpolicereviews.com. I won't put a grade on any of the films because of the YMMV Clause (where someone's subjective opinion greatly differs from another). I'm just saying what I think of a short film at the time I watched it.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
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APASOL
“An afternoon of love and farewell as Mark and El spend their last afternoon together wishing on a tree, waiting to fade with the sun.”
Director: Ryan Joseph Murcia

MY NOTES: The simplest entry among the five, Apasol tells the final moments of two gay lovers in a seaside area with a wishing tree. The proponent chose Spanish as the language of the film, which is pretty interesting for someone who has never went to a Cinemalaya screening before. I honestly feel something in this film needs improvement. It's nice that for a while I get to see a non-straight film with none of the usual stuff you see in underground male films.

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GATILYO NG BARIL
“In 1983, Ms. Estrella investigates the case of Carlito Dimahilig, the assassin who attempted to kill Imelda Marcos. She interviews Rolando Galman, who reveals more than what she needs to know.”
Directors: Glenmark Doromal and Eero Francisco

MY NOTES: The monochrome effect really sets the mood of an investigation scene set in 1983, at a time where someone attempted to snuff out then-First Lady Imelda Marcos. What interests me is how Rolando Galman detailed information regarding Carlito Dimahilig, then gets back in and snuffs Ms. Estrella for good. I didn't see that last bit coming, to be honest. I wonder what happened to the tape recorder (the artifact of the short film) containing the interview?

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SANCTISSIMA
“Marisa lives alone in the dark with an even darker secret: She’s oblivious of whether the fetuses that she extracts from her patients survive or not. A complication that besets one of them threatens her reclusive world, and she fights back to protect it.”
Director: Kenneth Dagatan

MY NOTES: A Visayan entry clearly meant for horror fans. This short film contains lots of blood coming from the abortions, gruesome meals, creepy demonic SFX, and a blood-covered demon-child. If you can stomach the totally gruesome scenarios (particularly when Marisa murders one of her past clients), you'd realize in the end that Sanctissima actually has an Aesop in it. That Marisa is much more of a mother to her demonic child than those who seek her abortion services.

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KYEL
“The horrors inside the head of a troubled man creeps into his skin and digs deep into his senses – bringing him closer to a much more shocking reality – which leaves him no choice but to face his atrocious demise eye to eye.”
Director: Arvin “Kadiboy” Belarmino

MY NOTES: A somewhat old man is dead-set on getting back with the love of his life. Over time, we see the physical manifestations of his deluded mind even when majority of the film is on a mono-angle POV from the TV screen (or whatever is in front of the coffee table in the short film). Personally, I find the scenes quite realistic due to the dramatic lighting, as it fits the tone of the scenarios where the troubled man engages in his hallucinations with a hammer, a mosquito coil, and other "treats" found in some trash bag. All of this becomes a prelude to his sad death from a head-shot by the title character, a mystery guy who collects the bounty.

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NENOK
“A 9-year-old street kid in Malolos, Bulacan adopts the city’s historic Barasoain Church as his temporary home and his personal space for mischief, to the distress and annoyance of Mang Johnny – the stern parish groundskeeper.”
 Director: Rommel “Milo” Tolentino

MY NOTES: One of the most creative short films I've seen among the five. Nenok makes use of special effects to highlight the fun atmosphere of the film. While the setting is inside the Barasoain Church, there isn't too much focus or implications on religion. Instead, there's so much comedic scenarios involving coffee and pandesal, which I still find odd when a freaking nine-year-old kid likes the stuff just as much as anyone 15 years old and above. Possibly the best breather after the fetus-bloodfest that is Sanctissima.

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When I left the CCP Little Theater, I saw a whole new crowd eagerly awaiting their turn to watch Shorts-A. I made my choice in choosing my fave entry among the five for the Audience Choice Award, then took a long walk to LRT-1 Vito Cruz heading home. Overall, I could say that I had a good experience watching a Cinemalaya screening event, particularly as someone who worked as an operations assistant for an Inding-Indie Film Festival during screening events.

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