Harcelien L. De Limos
AUTHOR
Select years 1 and 2 of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival will be shown again in partnership with EdukSine Studios at the UPFI Film Center from July 30 to August 1, with additional screenings on August 6, 7, and 9. This festival will feature 8 full-length films and 10 student shorts that depict original Filipino stories.
According to Puregold Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Hayagan Piedad, “As we gear up for next year’s festival, we give another window for CinePanalo films.” She continued, “Good films are meant to be seen, and we want to give these alumni films the spotlight they deserve.”
This event is also being held in partnership with EdukSine Studios, an enterprise that supports and champions independent films and filmmakers. With EdukSine’s initiative and advocacy, the dreams of different filmmakers are slowly coming to life, which is one of the key reasons why these Choice Cuts can be shown again on big screens.
Hayagan-Piedad stated, “We have a lot of gratitude towards EdukSine Studios and the UPFI for partnering with us for Choice Cuts. Our goal with the CinePanalo has always been to further the development of Filipino filmmaking and give underrepresented voices a platform. We’re so excited to be able to do it with two esteemed institutions that have the same purpose.”
John Dustin Laguna, the Project Head of the event and from EdukSine Studios, expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity. He said, “Being entrusted with the opportunity to once again showcase these amazing films in the big screen is such an honor. Filipino cinema has long struggled with limited accessibility and insufficient public support, and Eduksine’s partnership with Puregold CinePanalo is trying to change that.” Laguna further emphasized, “We’re doing our best to be a part of a movement that ensures these stories don’t disappear.”
This Choice Cuts Film Festival will feature “Under a Piaya Moon,” directed by Kurt Soberano, which took home Pinakapanalong Pelikula (Best Picture), and “Puschart Tales,” directed by Sigrid Bernardo, which won Panalong Direktor (Best Director) at the 2024 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.
In addition, Eugene Torres’ “One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All,” Carlo Obispo’s “A Lab Story,” Raynier Brizuela’s “Boys at the Back,” Catsi Catalan’s “Fleeting,” Joel Ferrer’s “Road to Happy,” and Mes de Guzman’s “Sepak Takraw” are included in the list of full length films that can be watched again.
On the other side, the student short films to be also featured include Rafaela Abucejo’s “Saan Ako Pinaglihi?,” Alexa Moneii Agaloos’ “Ka Benjie,” Reutsche Colle Lima’s “Tiil ni Lola,” Marian Joyce Tiongzon’s “May Kulay Rosas ba sa Bahaghari?,” Kent Michael Cadungog’s “Text FIND DAD to 2366,” Joshua Andrey Doce’s “I am Mutya and I Thank You!,” Mark Terence Molave’s “Paano Po Gumawa ng College?,” Joanah Pearl Demonteverde’s “Kang Pagpuli Ko,” Alexandra Lapid’s “Queng Apag,” and Doxford Perlas’ “Naduea Eoman si Brownie.”
Genres range from family dramas to coming-of-age stories to romantic films; the best picks represent an extensive range of themes, including LGBTQ rights, mental health, indigenous culture, and the preservation of Philippine languages. Choice Cuts offers a diverse blend of themes and genres, much like the film festival that inspired it. This variety ensures that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
For those interested in watching and joining the Film Festival Rewatch, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Sign up and pre-register via the online form: https://forms.gle/oAzekAm714XP6ELN8
- The ticketing prices are;
a. ₱200 for Regular.
b. ₱150 for PWDs, Students, Senior Citizens, and Government Employees. - Audience members can buy tickets to the event per full-length film or set of short films.
- It is strongly advised that audience members buy their tickets in advance due to high demand.
Choice Cuts will start screening at 11:30 AM and continue at 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 5:30 PM. The Cine Adarna Theatre will host the 4:00 PM screening, but all other screenings will take place at the UPFI Film Center Videotheque.
THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULE OF CINEPANALO CHOICE CUTS
July 30 (Wednesday)
● 11:30 AM – Shorts Set 1
● 2:00 PM – One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All
● 4:00 PM – Under a Piaya Moon
● 5:30 PM – Fleeting
July 31 (Thursday)
● 11:30 AM – Road to Happy
● 2:00 PM – Pushcart Tales
● 4:00 PM – Shorts Set 2
● 5:30 PM – Sepak Takraw
August 1 (Friday)
● 11:30 AM – One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All
● 2:00 PM – Shorts Set 3
● 4:00 PM – Pushcart Tales
● 5:30 PM – Under a Piaya Moon
August 6 (Wednesday)
● 11:30 AM – Sepak Takraw
● 2:00 PM – Boys at the Back
● 4:00 PM – A Lab Story
● 5:30 PM – Shorts Set 1
August 7 (Thursday)
● 11:30 AM – Under a Piaya Moon
● 2:00 PM – Shorts Set 2
● 4:00 PM – Fleeting
● 5:30 PM – Boys at the Back
August 9 (Saturday)
● 11:30 AM – A Lab Story
● 2:00 PM – Road to Happy
● 4:00 PM – Shorts Set 3
● 5:30 PM – Pushcart Tales
STUDENT SHORTS INCLUSIONS
Shorts Set 1
● May Kulay Rosas ba sa Bahaghari?
● I am Mutya and I Thank You!
● Naduea Eoman si Brownie
● Ka Benjie
● “Paano po gumawa ng college?”
Shorts Set 2
● Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366
● Tiil ni Lola
● Kang Pagpuli Ko
● Queng Apag
● Saan Ako Pinaglihi?
Shorts Set 3
● May kulay Rosas ba sa Bahaghari?
● Ka Benjie
● Text Find DAD and Send to 2366
● Tiil ni Lola
● Saan Ako Pinaglihi?
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