For the schedule of  2009 Cinemalaya Cinco Showing Click Here or see the itemize text schedule below.

All roads lead to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on the fourth week of July for the biggest and much awaited independent film festival in the country – the Cinemalaya 2009.

Billed as Cinemalaya Cinco and now on its fifth year, the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, CCP, Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments Inc. It aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity and seeks to invigorate the Philippine film industry by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers.

Ten full length and ten short digital films will compete on July 17-26, 2009. It will also feature the Philippine Premiere of “Manila” by Cinemalaya veteran Adolf Alix, Jr. and Raya Martin.

Exhibition schedules may be subject to change.

For ticket information, please call the CCP Marketing Department at 551-7930 or 832-1125 local 1800 to 1808 and the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or 832-1125 local 1409.

Competing Films

24K

Manok is a middle-class treasure hunter who’s been digging for Japanese treasure for years. He and his companions are in the final stage of their current site in the mountains of Suyo, Ilocos Sur, an area reputed as a Japanese stronghold during World War II. All the signs at their site indicate that they are certain to find treasure. With their resources nearly depleted, Manok convinces his godfather in marriage, Freddie, to finance the rest of their operations. Manok, Freddie, and another friend, Boyet, journey back to the site hoping that, as their medium predicted, they will find gold before Manok’s wife gives birth in a month’s time.

Getting back to the site turns out to be more difficult than expected. Manok and his companions manage to make it back to the site but in the process stir up some trouble in the community. Soon, mysterious things happen at the site. With each of them becoming more and more paranoid, Manok struggles to keep the group intact long enough to unearth the treasure that he believes is just within their reach.

Screening Schedule:
July 19, Sunday 6:15 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 21,Tuesday 2:45 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 22, Wednesday 9:00 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 23, Thursday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 24, Friday 9:00 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 25, Saturday 2:45 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 26, Sunday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)

Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe (The Rapture of Fe)

Each morning, baskets of black fruits mysteriously appear by the front yard of Fe. Thinking that it was a reconciliatory gesture from her abusive husband, Dante, Fe tells him about it. This only confirms Dante’s suspicions that she might be entertaining a lover. Fearing her husband’s jealousy, Fe grows even more scared as the fruits kept coming, a step closer to her front door. She keeps everything to herself until she turns to a former suitor, Arturo. When Fe urges Arturo to elope, she finds out that the young man has far more binding commitments with his family. Caught between an abusive husband and an impotent lover, Fe has to decide. Will she escape with her elusive suitor who could very well be just a figment of her imagination or stay trapped with the men in her real life who could never protect her nor make her happy? Caught in a society where violence still remains unimaginably real and covertly present, could the imagined be real enough for a woman to assure her survival?

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 19, Sunday 9:00 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 21, Tuesday 6:15 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 22, Wednesday 2:45 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 23, Thursday 3:30 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 24, Friday 2:45 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 25, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)

Astig (Mga Batang Kalye)

Astig (Mga Batang Kalye), written by multi-awarded writer Jerry B. Gracio, produced by Noel Ferrer and directed by GB Sampedro is an episodic tale of four young men whose stories parallel and contrast with the landmarks and various images of Manila. It tells the story of Ariel, a conman who has to leave his girlfriend upon learning that she is in love with him; Boy, an expectant young father who has to sell his body to pay his wife’s hospital bill; Ronald, a Chinese mestizo who is coming to grips with his identity; and Baste, an overly protective son of an OFW who has to avenge his sister. The film tells the stories of the tough guys of Manila and their resolve to survive the dirt and filth of the “Distinguished and Ever Loyal City.”

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 19, Sunday 3:30 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 21, Tuesday 3:30 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 22, Wednesday 9:00 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 23, Thursday 6:15 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 24, Friday 12:45 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 25, Saturday 6:15 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)

Colorum

Two people. Simon a promising young cop working part-time as a driver of one of the many “undocumented” and ‘illegal’ FX taxis in the metro. And Pedro, a 70 year old ex-convict. An unfortunate incident forces the two together to embark on a road trip across the Historic Philippine East Coast.

But, what was expected as an escape route doomed to be a domino of crime begetting crime, becomes a wagon of life choices to them and to the people they meet. The film takes a look at the paradox of the human condition, and the “grayscale” morality that is today’s Philippines.

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 19, Sunday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 22, Wednesday 9:00 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 23, Thursday 9:00 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 24, Friday 3:30 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 25, Saturday 12:45 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 25, Saturday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)

Dinig Sana Kita

The film is a love story between a Deaf boy who loves to dance and a troubled rocker girl who abuses her hearing. One lives in the world of solitude and silence, the other in noise and fear. Crossing paths in a Baguio camp that mixes Deaf and hearing kids, both find that they have more in common with each other including a love for music.

It is the first Filipino film to have a Deaf Actor in a Lead role. Romalito Mallari is a Deaf performer that has played several stage productions as actor and/or dancer. It also features several Deaf actors in the cast and ensemble.

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 19, Sunday 12:45 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 21, Tuesday 9:00 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 22, Wednesday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 23, Thursday 6:15 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 24, Friday 12:45 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 25, Saturday 6:15 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)

Engkwentro

Richard and Raymond are two teenage brothers in Davao City. Richard is the leader of his gang, “Bagong Buwan,” while Raymond is just being inducted into rival gang, “Batang Dilim.” Complications at a deadly midnight engkwentro (square-off), when Raymond is given the task of killing his older brother. Meanwhile, the Davao Death Squad lurks the streets. This real-life vigilante group is allegedly backed by the city mayor and responsible for many unsolved murders of teen gangsters. Today, they are hunting down Richard. Will they take the younger brother, too?

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 19, Sunday 6:15 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 21, Tuesday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghlang Huseng Batute)
July 22, Wednesday 3:30 p.m. (Tanghlang Huseng Batute)
July 23, Thursday 12:45 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 24, Friday 9:00 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 25, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)

Last Supper No. 3

Based on a true story, Last Supper No. 3 is a humorous look at the circuitous path our legal system takes to justice. Assistant Production Designer Wilson Nañawa is tasked to look for a Last Supper to use as a prop for a TV commercial. He finds three, but loses the one owned by Gareth Pugeda. What happens next changes Wilson forever as he spends the next two years entangled in bureaucracy and red tape facing estafa and serious physical injury charges. How will this ordinary man fare against a system he knows nothing about? Will justice prevail for Wilson? Or will he be imprisoned for the loss of Last Supper No. 3?

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 19, Sunday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 21, Tuesday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 22, Wednesday 3:30 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 23, Thursday 9:00 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 24, Friday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 25, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)

Ang Nerseri

Cocoy ,12, takes on a great responsibility of taking care of his older siblings while his mother, Mai, goes to the province to get money to pay the expensive hospital bills for her three mentally sick children. His mother is gone for two weeks and Cocoy’s struggle in managing his personal, school and home life is a nerve-racking challenge. In the end he faces truth and life head-on as he fights for his own sanity.

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 6:15 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 19, Sunday 12:45 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 21, Tuesday 12:45 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 23, Thursday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 25, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Little Theatre)
July 26, Sunday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 24, Friday 9:00 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)

Mangatyanan

HIMALAYA “Laya” MARQUEZ has never had a complete dream since she was 12. Something always wakes her up at night. That something used to be her father, the famous photographer DANILO MARQUEZ, whose constant sexual abuse of Laya tore her family apart. Now, at 27, Laya possesses a cold exterior that hides torrents of pain. Working as a travel photographer, Laya is sent to Isabela to capture a rare harvest ritual called Mangatyanan by the Labwanan tribe. What Laya finds there, however, is a severely dwindled group held together by their desperate leader MANG RENATO. Soon Laya senses a strong connection between the tribe’s predicament and her own troubled life. Events spiral out of control as the Mangatyanan crumbles under Mang Renato’s desperate grip and Laya is forced to flee. But something happens that brings her face-to-face with her own demons. Will she finally confront her past or will she keep running?

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (Tangahalang Huseng Batute)
July 19, Sunday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 21, Tuesday 6:15 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 22, Wednesday 12:45 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 23, Thursday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 24, Friday 6:15 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 25, Saturday 12:45 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)

Sanglaan

Sanglaan looks at seemingly simple relationships and uncomplicated events happening in a very mundane institution. A religious and single-minded businesswoman with a losing proposition, afraid of old age. A timid, vulnerable girl hopelessly in love with a high school crush. A security guard whose wife has a fragile heart. A charming and mysterious seaman just passing through. And a loan shark who won’t take “no” for an answer. These are some of the characters that populate the milieu of Sanglaan, a light, funny, poignant and very Pinoy story about hope and redemption.

Screening Schedule:
July 18, Saturday 12:45 p.m. (CCP Little Theater)
July 19, Sunday 9:00 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 21, Tuesday 9:00 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 22, Wednesday 6:15 p.m. (Tanghalang Huseng Batute)
July 23, Thursday 12:45 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)
July 24, Friday 3:30 p.m. (CCP Main Theater)
July 25, Saturday 3:30 p.m. (CCP MKP Hall)