CELEBRATING A DECADE. Cinemagis 2018 filmmakers pose with Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts director Hobart Savior (sixth from left) onstage after receiving their tokens and giving their gifts that symbolize their films. Supplied photo.
By Angelo Lorenzo
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — One decade of showcasing the filmmaking talents and local stories of Northern Mindanao — Cinemagis Digital Short Film Festival celebrated its 10th year on Wednesday, January 24, at the Xavier University Little Theater.
“As Cinemagis grows and reaches one decade as an avenue and a platform for the filmmaking potentials of the region, it endlessly supports filmmakers and their pursuit,” Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) and festival director Hobart Savior said in his speech at the ceremony.
He noted that the crafts of filmmakers who participate in Cinemagis represent Northern Mindanao’s stories and lore. Cinemagis is the "region's primary film festival."
Since its conception in 2009, Cinemagis has been supporting aspiring and professional filmmakers — most of whom had earned national recognition by pursuing their passion in film.
This year, some familiar faces participated again, but with new voices resonating in their films. Julienne Ilagan, whose film, “Balut, Penoy, Asin,” bagged last year’s Best Short Film in the Senior category, now bets on her most recent film, “Sikad,” which is among the roster.
On the other hand, Edmund Telmo who starred in Cloyd Winstanley's short drama film "Libra" in last year's Senior Category, returns with his directorial stint in “Redempsyon” in the same category.
However, this is not the first time that Telmo had participated in the festival. “I have been joining Cinemagis for three years now,” Telmo said. “Stories drive me to pursue filmmaking. It is a powerful platform [on which] to tell the truth."
With two competing categories, entries have been divided based on the background of their directors. Two non-competing categories showcase full-length films and a series of shorts.
Nominated films for each category were announced during the program by Savior and Reena Dunque (director of “Ayo-Ayo”) which were then succeeded by the special screening of Arnel Barbarona’s “Tu Pug Imatuy (The Right to Kill).”
Barbarona’s film tells the tale of a Lumad family abused and harassed by the military when the latter deployed troops to hunt a rebel group in hiding.
“We recognize the actors and the production crew as a film’s success will not be accomplished without our collaboration,” Barbarona declared.
Films will be screened in the XU Little Theater and SM City Cagayan de Oro Cinema 1 from January 25 to 27. The awarding ceremony will take place at the mall’s event center this Saturday.
A decade of tradition
In one segment of the opening ceremony, mahogany saplings were handed to the filmmakers as tokens, one of the perpetual traditions of the festival.
The filmmakers also gave gifts that symbolize their films to the festival.
“We write our stories,” John Reyn Laure, director of “Tuldok Kuwit” which is one of this year’s entries in the Student Category, stated as he handed a paper and a pen.
Leo Marie Fabre, director of “Pa Dyak,” also in the same category, offered a pair of slippers as her gift. As her film tackles about a father’s ordeal to work hard to earn and provide for his daughter’s wishes, Fabre emphasized the toil that parents have to go through for their children.
As this year’s entries evoke messages based on the filmmakers’ voices, styles, and narratives, Xavier Ateneo president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ encouraged the participants to pursue their passion without compromising their capability of doing good in their work and to others.
“Caring for the whole person includes touching hearts and spirits through film,” Yap said in his message.
“May Cinemagis X truly explore how film can provide cura personalis (care for the person), especially to those most in need during times of crisis,” he said. ∎
Official List of Nominees of Cinemagis X
Best Art Direction
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Melcris Opon and Jenn Estose)
- LANTERN (Ryujie Abejuela)
- ISIG-KATAWO (Carl Hudson Mabanag)
- BASLAYAN (Ryujie Abejuela)
- HIRAYA (Michael Lagazo)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Ryujie Abejuela)
- GOOD NIGHT (Tat Soriano and Michael Lagazo)
- AYO-AYO (Aliyah Rojo)
- SIKAD (Julienne Anne Ilagan)
Best Cinematography
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Christian Alan Toring)
- BASLAYAN (Matthew Lim)
- PADYAK (Jigo Racaza)
- HIRAYA (Jolrean Salao)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Jun Abao, Earl Hendrix Reyes, and Vern Ostia)
- GOOD NIGHT (Marco Villanueva)
- KABUANG UG KASAKIT (Angelo Miguel Dabbay)
- AYO-AYO (Reena Bianca Dunque)
- SIKAD (Julienne Anne Ilagan)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Kervin Longos and Kim Longos)
Best Story
Student Category
- LANTERN (Ryujie Abejuela and Kathy Cascapia)
- KITA NAKITA (Miguel Fernandez, Jason Lim, and Kim Christian Jayme)
- ISIG-KATAWO (Carl Hudson Mabanag)
- BASLAYAN (Reyan Amacna)
- PADYAK (Isaiah Edwin Mari Adajar)
- 7:30 (Bezalel Ian Philip Banaag)
- HIRAYA (John Roel Cabana)
- TULDOK-KUWIT (Anna Abregana, Angel Alquizar, and Syrine Grace)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Edmund Telmo)
- GOOD NIGHT (Tat Soriano)
- AYO-AYO (Reena Bianca Dunque)
- 5:12 (Edwin delos Santos, Rey Cadeliña, and Grace Salvador)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Kenneth Sabijon)
Best Editing
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Christian Alan Toring)
- LANTERN (Ryujie Abejuela and Jerekho Lirasan)
- BASLAYAN (Reyan Amacna and Earl Reyes)
- PADYAK (Jigo Racaza)
- HIRAYA (Nicco Sanchez)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Edmund Telmo and Vern Ostia)
- GOOD NIGHT (Tat Soriano)
- AYO-AYO (Augusto Adre)
- 5:12 (Adrian Rey Manapil)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Nicco Sanchez)
Best Sound Scoring
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Christian Alan Toring)
- PADYAK (Leo Marie Fabre)
- HIRAYA (Nicco Sanchez)
Senior Category
- KABUANG UG KASAKIT (John Paul Micayabas)
- AYO-AYO (Augusto Adre)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Nebula Studio)
Best Actor
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Justin Cabiara)
- KITA NAKITA (Rolan Baco)
- ISIG-KATAWO (Ace John Mutia and Julrick Egbus)
- BASLAYAN (Dominic Elcarte)
- PADYAK (Arnold Samson)
- 7:30 (Bezalel Ian Philip Banaag)
- TULDOK-KUWIT (Jomar Gupana)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Edmund Telmo)
- GOOD NIGHT (Claro Capinpuyan VII)
- KABUANG UG KASAKIT (Albert Fudotan)
- AYO-AYO (Quiel Quiwa)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Ian Caballero)
Best Actress
Student Category
- PADYAK (Karina Mae Pollentes)
- TULDOK-KUWIT (Samantha Launo)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Chriscel Ann Maribojoc)
- GOOD NIGHT (Camille Magnanao)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Catherine Caballero)
Best Director
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Christian Alan Toring)
- LANTERN (Ryujie Abejuela)
- KITA NAKITA (Miguel Fernandez)
- ISIG-KATAWO (Carl Hudson Mabanag)
- BASLAYAN (Reyan Amacna)
- PADYAK (Leo Marie Fabre)
- 7:30 (Bezalel Ian Philip Banaag)
- HIRAYA (John Roel Cabana)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Edmund Telmo)
- GOOD NIGHT (Tat Soriano)
- KABUANG UG KASAKIT (Angelo Dabbay)
- AYO-AYO (Reena Bianca Dunque)
- 5:12 (Adrian Rey Manapil)
- SIKAD (Julienne Anne Ilagan)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Kenneth Sabijon)
Best Short Film
Student Category
- SIMULACRUM (Christian Alan Toring)
- LANTERN (Ryujie Abejuela)
- KITA NAKITA (Miguel Fernandez)
- ISIG-KATAWO (Carl Hudson Mabanag)
- BASLAYAN (Reyan Amacna)
- PADYAK (Leo Marie Fabre)
- 7:30 (Bezalel Ian Philip Banaag)
- HIRAYA (John Roel Cabana)
- TULDOK-KUWIT (John Rey Laure)
Senior Category
- REDEMPSYON (Edmund Telmo)
- GOOD NIGHT (Tat Soriano)
- KABUANG UG KASAKIT (Angelo Dabbay)
- AYO-AYO (Reena Bianca Dunque)
- 5:12 (Adrian Rey Manapil)
- SIKAD (Julienne Anne Ilagan)
- BETWEEN THE LINES (Kenneth Sabijon)
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