BINISAYA Film Festival is back! Now on its ninth year, it will once again proudly showcase contemporary works of notable and up-and-coming filmmakers in Cebu, the rest of the Visayas and in different parts of the country.
“Binisaya Film Festival is dedicated to the promotion, exhibition, distribution and archival of contemporary Cebuano and other Bisaya dialect films. From basketball courts to rooftops, basements to the beach, Binisaya has done screenings and workshops in different cities and barrios in the Philippines,” shared festival director, lawyer Grace Marie Lopez.
Here’s what people can look forward to during Binisaya Film Festival 2019.
‘Mind-blowing’ selection
According to Binisaya Film Festival founder Keith Deligero, the films in the competition were selected because they can “blow our heads off.”
“We are not looking for the best film. We’re looking for strong voices,” Deligero said.
With a statement like that, expect a fun ride in the cinemas!
The official choices for the Binisaya Shorts competition: “Victoriana” by Chloe Capatoy; “The Best Employee” by Alyssa Ashley Manugas; “Budots” by Jay Rosas and Mark Limbaga; “Gitlo” by Bobby Villacarlos II; “Gabii sa Nabilin” by Ronnie Gamboa Jr.; “Medium Rare” by Christian Naparota and “Aksyon!” by Frank Go.
Fresh Bisaya feature films
The film festival is not just about the competing films. It is also set to screen three Bisaya titles: “Huwebes, Huwebes” by Januar Yap, Kris Villarino and Don Frasco; “Markado: Bakunawa sa Duha Ka-Manglahing Takna” by Joe Bacus; and “A Short History of a Few Bad Things” by Deligero.
Countrywide cinema
Short films outside of Cebu will also be featured during the film festival: “Viral Kids” by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Camarines Sur); “Siyudad sa Bulawan” by Jarell Serencio (Davao); “Ang Nagliliyab na Kasaysayan ng Pamilya Dela Cruz” by Miguel Louie De Guzman (Batangas); “Mountain To Cry For” by Khurshid Kalabud Jr. (General Santos); “Fish Out Of Water” by Mon Garilao (Bulacan); and “Nangungupahan” by Glenn Barit (Tuguegarao).
Worldwide titles
Feature films from different parts of Asia will be showcased: “A Cold Summer Night” by Yash Sawant (India); “Death of the Sound Man” by Sorayos Prapapan (Thailand); “Krampon” by Abdullah Şahin (Turkey); “War for Keyboard Warriors” by Lam Lam Can-zhao (China); “Francis and Laika” by Mark Chua and Lam Li Shuen (Singapore); “Pulangui” by Bagane Fiola (Philippines); and “Avasheesh” by Manoj Babu Panta (Nepal).
Free entrance
Yes. You read that right! The movie screenings are free but there will be a donation box and “pass the hat” in the venue. Time to bring your friends!
“The films are distinct, thoughtful and entertaining. It mirrors our regional life, the current national situation and our collective aspirations,” said Lopez. “[The film festival] is the breeding ground for excellent contemporary Cebuano independent filmmaking.
“The small group of independent filmmakers from 2009 has since turned into a community that gets bigger and bigger every year. Our community is not only composed of filmmakers, but it also includes artists in other fields, musicians, visual and performing artists, and writers. It is not surprising to see them all at the festival each year,” she added.
Every year the organization features an art piece. For this year, it’s by John Ahmed Durano titled “Filemon.” The artist described the piece as the epitome of the current state of Philippine society.
Debuted in 2011 at the University of San Carlos Fine Arts Lecture Theater, Binisaya continues to be a platform for filmmakers to present their craft, giving audiences a cinematic experience that’s far from mainstream.
BINISAYA FILM FESTIVAL 2019
Oct. 16 to 18, Wednesday to Friday at Ayala Center Cebu, Cinema 4
Oct. 16, Wednesday
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
-Binisaya Animations
2 to 4 p.m.
-Best Films of Binisaya (Shorts)
5:30 to 9 p.m.
-Opening Program; "Huwebes, Huwebes" with Q&A with directors, cast and crew.
9 p.m.
"Markado" (Guest film from Cagayan de Oro)
Oct. 17, Thursday
11 a.m to 1 p.m.
-"Huwebes, Huwebes"
2 to 4:30 p.m.
-Binisaya Realpolitik (Films curated by Kiri Dalena)
-"Mga Taktika sa Lilas" (Talk by Kiri Dalena)
5:30 to 11 p.m.
-Binisaya Shorts Competition with Q&A with directors, cast and crew.
Oct. 18, Friday
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
-Binisaya Shorts
2 to 4 p.m.
-Binisaya Horizons
5 to 7 p.m.
-Binisaya Inter-school Film Shorts Competition with Q&A with directors, cast and crew.
8 to 11:30 p.m.
-"A Short History of a Few Bad Things"
-Closing Ceremony