Cinema One Originals 2008

Top movie cable channel Cinema One proudly announces its seven (7) finalists for the 2008 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. Screened, trimmed down and finally chosen to vie for the top awards, each of these independent films have stories that are as individualistic and diverse, yet still very reflective of the Filipino culture and which caters to a wide variety of audiences locally and internationally.

Alon by writer and director Byron Bryant stars Charee Pinede, Mark Gil and Eula Valdez in a hushed love story between a forlorn young girl and lonesome grown man. Dose of winning writer-director Senedy Que is a tender and passionate friendship that knows no age, or gender. It stars Yul Servo, Emilio Garcia, Irma Adlawan and Fritz Chavez. Yanggaw by writer-director Richard Somes explores the eerie side of humanity and the consequences that can wreak havoc over a place or a family when a curse infects them. It casts Joel Torre, Techie Agbayani, Ronnie Lazaro and introducing Aleera Montalla. MotorCycle of director Jon Red and writer-producer Karlo de Guzman is a melodrama-joyride from Manila to Vigan of a young man who discovers the inner truths of his identity and his family. It stars Jason Abalos, Nonie Buencamino, Kat Alano, Shamaine Centenera, Lovely Rivero, Jojit Lorenzo, Lance Raymundo, Jao Mapa and Jose Buencamino. Imburnal of writer-director Sherad Anthony Sanchez is this year's controversial finalist and winner of the Lino Brocka Grand Prize Award in the recent 10th CineManila International Film Festival's Digital Local category. Shot in Davao, this is a very provocative story of young lives who are about to get into young manhood while finding solace in their own little worlds. It casts John Barredo, Bagane Fiola, Joel Geolamen, Mark Limbaga and Jelieta Ruca. UPCAT of director Roman Olivares and writer Inna Miren Salazar and Alfred Reyes is a hip teen drama that gives the excitement and anxiety late teens go through with their dream of making it in the country's State University. Kolorete of director Ruello Lozendo in a screenplay by Sherad Anthony Sanchez is a period melodrama that full of characters and insight about the disparity and lack of trust between the landlords and the peasants.

This year's jury is composed of media veterans. They are renowned and respected people in various fields yet with strong alliances in the movie industry. Grace Javier 'Gigi' Alfonso is a professor and chancellor of the UP Open University. She is also one of the members of the Gawad Urian and Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Lito B. Zulueta is editor and editorialist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. In 2004, he was Japan Foundation fellow to the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival. A Faculty of Arts and Letters of Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, he teaches journalism, literature and film theory. From being a fine arts graduate to production designer for television commercials and movies like Takaw Tukso (1985) Private Show (1986) and Olongapo: The Great American Dream (1987), Brillante Mendoza metamorphosed into one of our most brilliant filmmakers. His films Masahista (2005), Manoro (The Aeta Teacher) in 2006, Kaleldo (Summer Heat) in 2007 and his recent Serbis (2008) won international film awards. Serbis is also the first Filipino film to be invited as official selection in the prestigious New York Film Festival. Initially making her mark in support roles to various hits like Ang Tanging Ina (2003), Paano Kita Iibigin (2007) and Pasukob (2007), comedienne Eugene Domingo stratosphered to lead star status in the 2006 ‘Vilma-centric’ comedy-parody D' Lucky Ones. She also received raves in drama playing a woman frittering into old maidenhood in an episode for Maalaala Mo Kaya drama series in 2006. In the production Apat-Dapat, she was one of the players who mixed satire and realism in her characterizations. A communication arts graduate of the University of the Philippines, Jeffrey Jeturian rose to becoming script supervisor, production designer, television show director and when his first major film Pila Balde (Fetch a Pail of Water) in 2002 drew critical acclaim what also followed were awards, recognitions and exhibitions overseas such as the Gold Prize at the Houston-Worldfest (Texas, USA) International Film Festival; NETPAC Jury Prize, 1999 CineManila International Film Festival; exhibition in Lincoln Center in the United States as well as in other countries such as Sweden, Germany, France, Bangladesh, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombia, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Italy. His 2006 movie Kubrador (The Best Collector) won a total of 16 awards overseas and locally, including the Lino Brocka Grand Prize in the 2006 CineManila Film Festival. Unceasing his television directing works, his 2007 'Rehas' episode in Maalaala Mo Kaya starring Gina Pareño received the Seoul Drama Awards for TV.

The Festival will kick off via a Campus Tour in selected universities and colleges around Metro Manila from November 19 to November 27. The Cinema One Originals Awards Ceremonies will be on November 28 at the Dolphy Theater of the ABS-CBN. All seven films will have a one week theatrical screening from December 3 to 10 at the IndieSine of the Robinsons Galleria. All seven digital films are produced and owned by Creative Programs, Inc (CPI) thru the Cinema One Originals' annual movie project.


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