Free Entertainment and Education Through Films

Cebuanos and the rest of the people in the region will surely enjoy and learn from an experience of watching films for free.

The Cinema Rehiyon 7 will feature an estimated 20 full-length and multi-awarded movies in Cebu cinemas starting August 6 to 9, 2015 with the theme, At the Crossroads of the Seventh Art. Sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the film festival aims to promote consciousness and foster delight among the people. It hopes to educate on the distinctiveness of Cebuano classic and contemporary films.

“Cebu has a unique situation. A local industry sprung from the province around 1932 to 1975. Also, there is a resurgence of a new breed of Cebuano filmmakers,” shares NCCA official and film critic Teddy Co.

Cebuano actors from the 70’s and the 80’s including the Queen of Visayan Movies Gloria Sevilla, Pilar Pilapil, Suzette Ranillo, Julian Daan and Undo Juizan, the first ever Cebuano FAMAS Best Child Actor Awardee for the film “Salingsing sa Kasakit”, confirmed to attend the festival as their reverence to the rich but underrated Cebuano film history.

First screened in 1968 – already a Cebuano classic, Badlis sa Kinabuhi by Leroy Salvador which starred Sevilla and Mat Ranillo Jr., will open the film festival.

A set of regional films dedicated to the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda will also be presented. T.M. Malones’ Dapya Sang Paglaum, Charena Escala and Rowena Sanches’ documentary Nick and Chai, and Thomas Fitzgerald’s Tigdong will showcase the resiliency of the Filipino. Films about various indigenous traditions such as Nef Luczon’s documentary on the Pan-ay Bukidnon community entitled Father said, “Let’s Return Home”, Lester del Valle’s Walang Rape sa Bontok, Adjani Arumpac’s War is A Tender Thing and Ivy Universe Baldosa’s Marciano touch on base on the NCCA’s thrust of cultural education. One entry under this category, the Cordilleran tradition featured in Boyong and Sendong’s Busol: The Last Headhunters, is an exemplar of indigenous film, produced by and for the Cordilleran community.

Remton Zuasola’s Soap Opera, which serves as the festival’s pre-opening film, Baby Ruth Villarama’s Little Azkals, Bagane Fiola’s Sonata Maria, John Paul Laxamana’s Magkakabaung, Lemuel Lorca’s Mauban: Ang Resiko, Charliebeb Gohetia’s Chasing the Waves, and Alec Figuracion’s Bitukang Manok, a product of an all-Cebuano crew will also be exhibited.

Kidlat Tahimik’s Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III will close the 4-day celebration. The film tells the story of Enrique, a Visayan slave to Magellan and is said to be Tahimik’s tribute to the pre-Hispanic Cebuano who probably is the first man to circumnavigate the world.

Aside from the full length line-up, there will also be screenings of contemporary Cebuano short films at the mini theater of Film and Media International Arts Academy (FMA), outreach screenings in select venues, outdoor screenings, as well as a special viewing of National Artist Lamberto Avellana’s rarely seen creations.

Cinema Rehiyon 7 also offers the public opportunities to participate in-depth discussions about: Re-imagining Regional Cinema, The Regional as the Other in Cinema, Getting the World to See youth Film and Film as Heritage.

For more details, please contact Ms. Bambi Beltran, Festival Director for CinemaRehiyon 7, through 09471763343 or email your concerns to bambibeltran@gmail.com or Mr. Rene Napeñas, Head of the Public Affairs and Information Office, through 09285081057, 527-2192 loc 208 or through email address ncca.paio@gmail.com.