The Cinemanila International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Manila, Philippines. It was founded by Filipino filmmaker Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz in 1999. The focus of the festival is on the cinema of the Philippines as well as Southeast Asian cinema.
The Cinemanila icon is the bulol, a deity whose presence ensures good harvest. The Cinemanila International Film Festival invokes the bulol as a blessing towards the Filipino film industry in general – as a prayer towards good harvest, a plentiful bounty of excellent Filipino films. In the festival's competitive section, the top award is the Lino Brocka Award, given in honor of the acclaimed Filipino director, Lino Brocka. Another award, the Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema, was first given at the 2000 festival, in honor of Filipino director Ishmael Bernal, to young independent Filipino filmmakers.
One of Cinemanila's running components is Sine Barangay - a three-day event with free film appreciation and education workshops, culminating in an outdoor screening to barangay residents."Filmfest in your neighborhood" , by Gerry Plaza, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2008-10-24 It was previously held at the Marikina Riverbanks and Bonifacio High Street. In 2012, Cinemanila will launch the "Cinemanila Moonlight Series", regular outdoor screenings expanded from Sine Barangay, to take place over the course of Manila's dry season.
History The second Cinemanila was held from July 3 to 10, 1999 in Mandaluyong. It was the first international film festival in the Philippines since the Manila International Film Festival, which had been held in the 1980s. (There is the Metro Manila Film Festival, but it is a national festival screening only Filipino films.) The festival featured a lecture on cinematography by Australian-Hong Kong cinematographer Christopher Doyle.
The festival has typically been a low-key affair in terms of red-carpet visits by foreign celebrities. However, in 2003, the festival honored Hollywood stars with Filipino-American roots, and was graced by Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrere, Dean Devlin and Rob Schneider. The same year, the first Lifetime Achievement Award was given, honoring Indonesian actress Christine Hakim.
In 2007, director Quentin Tarantino and Thai director Chatrichalerm Yukol were among the Lifetime Achievement recipients. A retrospective of Tarantino's feature films was shown, from Reservoir Dogs to Kill Bill. He attended the awards ceremony at Malacañan Palace, accepting the award from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Both the president and the honoree were late to ceremony due to being stuck in a traffic jam. Tarantino, accompanied by festival founder Tikoy Aguiluz, took a pedicab to make it to the ceremony, and showed up without leather shoes as required to enter the palace. He was given a new pair of shoes by Aquiliuz.
The festival is closely identified with its founder, filmmaker Tikoy Aguiluz, who has a reputation as a maverick. In 2006, he accused the Philippine media of not doing enough to promote the festival and independent films, stating at a news conference: "All I want from you writers are three lines and a picture promoting the festival. Why do you think it's so hard for independent producers to have success here, locally? I haven't seen any support from either broadsheet or tabloids with any story on independent cinema."
Among the world community of film festivals, Cinemanila has gained respectability with its programming of independent Asian film. Jurors at past festivals have included Christian Jeune, director of the film department of the Cannes Film Festival.
Early incarnations of the festival were held outside of Manila, though still in the Metro Manila area, in Makati, and for a time was known as the Makati Cinemanila International Film Festival. In 2005, the festival moved to the Manila city limits, with screenings held at SM City Manila and Robinsons Ermita cinemas.
Awards
1999 The inaugural year for the festival included a lecture on cinematography by Christopher Doyle. Adoor Gopalakrishnan was honored in the "Director in Focus" program. Lino Brocka Award: Leaf on a Pillow by Garin Nugroho (Indonesia) and The Terrorist by Santosh Sivan (India) Grand Jury Prize: The Terrorist by Santosh Sivan (India) NETPAC Jury Award Winner: Birth of a Butterfly by Mojtaba Raei (Iran) Special Mention: Pila Balde by Jeffrey Jeturian (Philippines) Best Short Film: Father’s Toys by Carol Miu-Suiet Lai (Hong Kong)
2000 The first year for Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema, which is primarily given to alternative, independent films. The "Director in Focus" was Majid Majidi from Iran. Lino Brocka Award: Colour of Paradise by Majid Majidi (Iran) Grand Jury Prize: Yana's Friends by Arik Kaplun (Israel) Best Actress: Evelyne Kaplun for Yana's Friends (Israel) Best Documentary Film: Punitive Damage by Annie Goldson (New Zealand) Best Short Film: The Offering by Paul Lee (Canada) Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Buwan by Peter Chua
2001 The "Director in Focus" was Nonzee Nimibutr from Thailand. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the guest of honor. Lino Brocka Award: Firefly Dreams by John Williams (Japan) Grand Jury Prize: Roads and Bridges by Abraham Lim (US) NETPAC Award: Batang West Side by Lav Diaz (Philippines) Special Recognition Award for Career Achievement: Charlotte Rampling Best Short Film: Sand by Percy Fuentes (Canada) Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Batang Trapo by Mes de Guzman
2002 The Cinemanila-ASEF Film Development Plan and a scriptwriting competition were launched. A "Direct Action Cinema" workshop was conducted by Rob Nilsson and a cinematography workshop was conducted by Pierre-William Glenn. Lino Brocka Award: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner by Zacharias Kunuk (Canada) What Time Is It There? by Tsai Ming-liang (Taiwan) Grand Jury Prize: Seafood by Zhu Wen (China) Special Jury Prize: Una casa con vista al mar by Alberto Alvero (Venezuela) Kodak Vision Award for Technical Excellence in Cinematography: What Time Is It There? by Tsai Ming-liang (Taiwan) Best Actor: Lee Kang-sheng for What Time Is It There? Alejandro Trejo for A Cab for Three (Chile) Best Screenplay: Orlando Lubbert for A Cab for Three Best Actress: Aoi Miyazaki for Harmful Insect (Japan) NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film: Winner: Hollywood Hong Kong by Fruit Chan (Hong Kong) Special Mention: Harmful Insect by Akihiko Shiota (Japan) Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Lolo's Child by Romeo Candido Best Short Film: Batinglaw by Lawrence Cordero Best Documentary: Case of Wilkie Duran Monte: Toxic Chemical Victim by Minnie Solomon Crouse Scriptwriting Competition Grand Jury Prize: James Arnold B. Ladioray, Cut Mario O'Hara, Hocloban Scriptwriting Competition Special Jury Prize Anton Juan, Ugat Nating Lahat Peter Solis Nery, Buyong
2003 A Tribute to Filipino-American Hollywood celebrities was held, honoring Lou Diamond Phillips, Tia Carrere, Dean Devlin, Fritz Friedman and Rob Schneider. The first Lifetime Achievement Award was given, honoring Indonesian actress Christine Hakim. Lino Brocka Award: Uzak (Distant) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Turkey) Grand Jury Prize: City of God by Fernando Meirelles (Brazil) The Blessing Bell by Sabu II (Japan) Special Jury Prize: Whale Rider by Niki Caro (New Zealand) Best Actor: David Gulpilil, The Tracker (Australia) Best Screenplay: Divine Intervention by Elia Suleiman (Palestine) Mr. and Mrs. Iyer by Aparna Sen (India) Best Actress: Vilma Santos, Dekada '70 (Philippines) NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film: Winner: Divine Intervention by Elia Suleiman (Palestine) Special Mention: Dekada '70 by Chito S. Rono (Philippines) Best Short Film: Liyab (Flames) by Sockie Fernandez Best Documentary: Riles (Life on the Tracks) by Ditsi Carolino Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Binyag (Baptism) by Mariami Tanangco Lifetime Achievement Award: Christine Hakim (Indonesia) Lifetime Achievement Award: Vilma Santos (Philippines)
2004 The "Director in Focus" was Jafar Panahi. Grand Prize Lino Brocka Award: Vibrator by Ryūichi Hiroki (Japan) Grand Jury Prize: Roads to Koktebel by Boris Khlenikov and Alexel Popogrebsky (Russia) August Sun by Prassana Vithanage Best Actor: Nikolaj Lie Kaas in Reconstruction (Denmark) Gleb Puskepalis in Roads to Koktebel (Russia) Best Actress: Katherine Luna in Babae sa Breakwater (Philippines) Marina Golbahari, Osama (Afghanistan) NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film: Min, Ho Yuhang (Malaysia) Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Bakasyon, Raya Martin Best Short Film: Balikbayan Best Documentary: Trollywood by Madeleine Farley (UK/US) Lifetime Achievement Award: Eddie Romero (Philippines)
2005 Special tributes to Roger Corman and Hong Kong filmmaker Yonfan were held. The "Director in Focus" was Raymond Red. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Kim Dong Ho, director of the Pusan International Film Festival. Lino Brocka Award: The President's Last Bang by Im Sang-soo (South Korea) Grand Jury Prize: In Casablanca, Angels Don't Fly by Mohammed Asli (Morocco) Best Actor (International): Krystyna Feldman in My Nikifor (Poland) Best Actress (International): Fatoumata Coulibaly in Moolaade (Senegal) Best Picture (Local): First Prize: Tuli by Auraeus Solito Second Prize: Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong by Mes de Guzman Third Prize: Ala Verde Ala Pobre by Briccio Santos Assistant Editing / Translating by Darius Bautista Best Screenplay: Jorge Arago and Briccio Santos for Ala Verde Ala Pobre Best Actor: Bo Vicencio, Ala Verde Ala Pobre Best Actress: Ana Capri, Ala Verde Ala Pobre Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Salat by John Torres (Philippines) Best Short Film: Salat by John Torres (Philippines) Best Documentary: Children of Leningradsky by Hanna Polak and Andrzei Celinski (Poland)
2006 Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Aruna Vasudev and Philip Cheah during awards night at Malacañan Palace by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
International Cinema Lino Brocka Award: Kubrador by Jeffrey Jeturian (Philippines) Special Jury Prize: Everlasting Regret by Stanley Kwan (Hong Kong) Best Actor: Alexei Chadov for 9th Company (Russia/Ukraine/Finland) Best Actress: Lee Young-ae for Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (South Korea) Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Jobin Ballesteros for Ballad of Mimiong Minion Best Short Film: Hopia Express by Janus Victoria Best Documentary: Paper Dolls by Tomer Heymann (Israel)
Digital Lokal Grand Prize: Manoro by Brillante Mendoza Jury Prize: Squatterpunk by Khavn De La Cruz Best Director: Brillante Mendoza for Manoro Best Actress: Maricel Soriano for Numbalikdiwa Best Actor: Archie Adamos for Raket ni Nanay Audience Favorite Awards: Numbalikdiwa by Bobby Bonifacio, Jr. Anino ng Setyembre by Briccio Santos
2007 The festival was held from August 8 to 19 at Gateway Mall with an additional program from August 17 to 19 on Boracay Island. Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Belgian director Robert Malengreau, American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and Thai director Chatrichalerm Yukol, during awards night at Malacañan Palace by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
International Cinema Lino Brocka Award: The Edge of Heaven by Fatih Akin (Turkey) Special Jury Prize: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud (France) Best ASEAN Film: Mukhsin by Yasmin Ahmad (Malaysia) Best ASEAN Short Film: Renita, Renita by Tonny Trimarsanto (Indonesia) Best International Short Film: Waiting Time by Chul Jung (South Korea) Best Ensemble: Tribu by Jim Libiran (Philippines)
Digital Lokal Lino Brocka Award: Autohystoria by Raya Martin Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema: Delusions by Ernest Michael Manalastas Best Short Film: The Calling by Christopher Gozum Best Documentary: Neo-Lounge by Joanna Arong Best Director: Raya Martin for Autohystoria Best Actress: Ana Capri for Ala Suerte Ala Muerte Maris Dimayuga for Ala Suerte Ala Muerte