At least four never-before-seen Philippine movies directed by award-winning Filipino directors will make their premiere in the upcoming Cinemalaya Film Festival slated on August 6 to September 5, 2021.
The Premieres section of the country's largest indie film festival will be screened on ktx.ph.
The featured films are Highest Peak by director Arnel Barbarona, He Who is Without Sin by director Jason Paul Laxamana, Love and Pain In Between Refrains by director Joselito Altarejos, and Tao Po by Mae Paner aka Juana Change.
Tickets for the Premieres are priced at PHP 250. Get your tickets at ktx.ph.
ABOUT THE FILMS
The Highest Peak (August 7 -14)
The family drama film tells a story about a man who decides to follow through with his family's plan to climb the highest mountain peak in the Philippines after he lost his wife and son.
A journey of redemption, closure, and healing, the film was shot predominantly in Mt. Apo.
The film stars Dax Alejandro, Mara Lopez, Henyo Ehem, Rowena Caballes, Jea Lyka Cinco, Johnny Hager, Buggy Amplayo, Jun Alcover, Bong Artil, and Ferdinand Mesias.
Davao-born director Arbi Barbona is known for his films centered on indigenous peoples of Mindanao including his debut feature film Tu Pug Imatuy, which won several awards in various film festivals.
He Who Is Without Sin (August 15-21)
The 75-minute film follows what transpired during a chance meeting between a broadcasting student and the TV reporter he idolizes.
In the days that follow their encounter, the student shared with his friends separately three versions of what transpired: what happened, what really happened, and what might have actually happened. Through his conversations with friends, he comes to terms with the idea that his idol – a dignified newsman who is supposed to be a paragon of virtue – is not who he appears to be on television.
Starring Elijah Canlas, Enzo Pineda, Pearl Lagman, Migs Campanilla, and others, the film marks the Sinag Maynila debut of Laxamana, whose film Mercury is Mine won the Special Jury Prize and Best Screenplay in the 2016 Cinemalaya Philippine Film Festival.
Love and Pain In Between Refrains (August 22-28)
A neo-noir film dealing with the tragedy that feeds on love and co-dependency, and the cycle of abuse and violence, the 88-minute film revolves around high school sweethearts who lost touch with each other after graduation and met again after 10 years.
As feelings rekindled, they start living together. But what is supposed to be a beautiful relationship turns into a traumatic reunion.
The film cast stars Oliver Aquino, Elora Españo, Richard Quans, Anelle Durano, and others.
An advocate of "cinema of the social consciousness," Altarejos is best known for his films 2014 Cinemalaya Best Film Kasal, Tale of the Lost Boys (2017), Unfriend (2014), And Laro sa Buhay ni Juan (2009), and Ang Lihim ni Antonio (2010).
Tao Po (September 3)
The film follows the social awakening of a photojournalist when he covers the tokhang beat.
From several immersion trips and in-depth interviews conducted by artist-activist Mae Paner and playwright Maynard Manansala emerge four monologues that give faces to the issue of extra-judicial killings in the country.
