Cineberde ang kulay ng indie dine!
Keeping the tradition alive in the field of independent filmmaking, the AB Communication Department of De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) featured another set of short films which qualified in the Cineberde Film Festival held at SM City Lipa, Dec. 1.
This year, Cineberde X screened 12 short films out of 15 entries of fourth year AB Communication students of DLSL:
- Ang Nagliliyab na Kasaysayan ng Pamilya Dela Cruz
- Isa’t Kalahati
- Secret Menu
- Malaya na si Crisanto
- Kamusta ka?
- Purple Blues
- Ellipsis
- Barangay 7
- Boarders ’03
- Amok
- Cristina
- Late O’clock
Miguel Louie De Guzman, the director and writer of this year’s best film, Ang Nagliliyab na Kasaysayan ng Pamilya Dela Cruz, described the theme of his work saying, “[Tinatalakay sa pelikula namin] yung pandarahas at pananamantala sa mga magsasaka ng Pilipinas pero bilang writer at direktor ng pelikula, palagi kong sinasabi na hindi lang yun yung issue na nasa pelikula kasi when it comes to these things, intersectional siya.”
De Guzman also reiterated that the film really is for the general public to know the exploitations that are being done to Filipino farmers.
Aside from receiving the best film award, Ang Nagliliyab na Kasaysayan ng Pamilya Dela Cruz also bagged the Best Director, Best Editing, Best Musical Score for Em Sambayan, Third People’s Choice Award, Best Poster, Best Performance by a Big Object and the Fredevel Bruce Banaag Award during the culminating activity of the film festival during Communication Night held at BHV Gym last Dec. 13.
After the one-time screening at SM cinemas, the viewers were allowed to vote for the People’s Choice Award which was then won by Isa’t Kalahati, a story of a mother undergoing Schizophrenia.
Judy Ann Hernandez, director of the film said, “Since our pre-prod, we’ve always thought of a film that would touch the lives of many.”
Moreover, Isa’t Kalahati received the Second Best Film and a special award for the Best Performance by a Small Object.
On the other hand, capturing the Third Best Film award was Secret Menu, a film tackling sexual harassment.
According to Maria Victoria Serrano, director and writer of the film, “We made it for every woman who has been victimized by this patriarchal society and those who have been victims of sexual harassment.”
The film also received another ten Cineberde awards including Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actress for Micah Musa, Best Supporting Actress for Dess Versoza, Best Makeup, Froshies’ Choice for Best OST, Best Performance by a Food, Second People’s Choice Award, Second Best Poster and the first ever recipient of the Special Jury Prize in the history of the film festival.
“That night, I wasn’t even sure what to feel. It’s like my group mates and I were in a trance. ‘Yung mapapatulala ka na lang at mapapanganga,” Serrano said.
Aside from the awards dominated by the top three films, the other major recognitions and special awards were as follows:
Best Sound – Malaya na si Crisanto
Best Actor – Yam Mercado (Ellipsis)
Best Supporting Actor – Jose Soriano (Late O’clock)
Melvin Quiros Award – Malaya na si Crisanto
Best Performance by an AB Comm Alumni – Kath Nepomuceno (Kamusta Ka?)
Froshies’ Choice for Second Best OST – Di ko akalain (Amok)
Froshies’ Choice for Third Best OST – Kakaibang Bugso (Purple Blues)
Third Best Poster – Late O’clock
De Guzman, who was also the project head of Cineberde X said that this year’s film festival had showcased braver representations of more diverse social issues as compared to previous editions.
“These stories, although persisting, are considered as taboos in our society pero yung mga filmmakers natin chose to tell these stories kasi ito yung kailangan mapanood at malaman. It’s what our time demands,” he said.
“Sana patuloy lang ‘yung strive na maiangat ang quality ng pelikulang berde, ng pelikulang Lasalyano kasi unti-unti na tayong nare-recognize dun,” De Guzman said.
