For the past fifteen years, we watched and celebrated the Cinemalaya week either in the Cultural Center of the Philippines or in Ayala Cinemas. Who would have thought that we will be celebrating it right in the comfort of our own homes?

You’ve read it right! Because this year’s installment of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will be streamed online!

Now on its 16th year, Cinemalaya continues to sail with its digital edition slated from August 7 to 16, 2020. The country’s biggest and most anticipated independent film festival will be screened on Vimeo due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Co-produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc., Cinemalaya 16 will feature Short Films in Competition. Ten short films were selected out of 244 submitted entries and will vie for the award for the Best Film.

Cinemalaya 16 Participating Films

ANG GASGAS NA PLAKA NI LOLO BERT (THE BROKEN VINYL RECORD)
Directed by JANINA GACOSTA AND CHESKA MARFORI
A closeted gay man in his 60s has been living with HIV for 10 years. His monotonous life takes a sudden turn when he receives an old vinyl record from his dead ex-lover.

ANG PAGPAKALMA SA UNOS (TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE)
Directed by JOANNA VASQUEZ ARONG
To Calm the Pig Inside is a contemplation on the effects a typhoon leaves on a seaside city. Myths are woven in to try to understand how people cope with the devastation and trauma. A girl’s voice divulges bits and pieces of her own memory of her grandmother and mother to tie in the experiences she felt visiting this ravaged port city.

EXCUSE ME MISS, MISS, MISS
Directed by SONNY CALVENTO
Vangie, a miserable contractual sales lady, is about to lose her job. But in her desperate attempt to convince her boss not to sack her, Vangie uncovers the ultimate jaw-dropping secret to regularization. A social satire about the plight of contractual workers in the Philippines.

FATIGUED
Directed by JAMES ROBIN MAYO
One night, you overslept because of too much work, now, you must wake up before your nightmare becomes a reality.

LIVING THINGS
Directed by MARTIKA RAMIREZ ESCOBAR
Kints wakes up and discovers that her decade-long lover Charles has turned into a cardboard standee of himself.

PABASA KAN PASYON
Directed by HUBERT TIBI
Religion and economy take center stage in a Bicolano family’s story, set during the Lenten season. To make ends meet, one of them turns to religion, and pushes his mother to make a living off her faith.

QUING LALAM NING ALDO (UNDER THE SUN)
Directed by REEDEN FAJARDO
A transgender sampaguita farmer decided to renovate their neglected kitchen as soon as she heard that her son is going home.

THE SLUMS
Directed by JAN ANDREI COBEY
A documentary team progressively intervenes and trespasses into the lives of a poor family living in the slums as they try to cope with the loss of their TV.

TOKWIFI
Directed by CARLA PULIDO OCAMPO
A 1950s mestiza star, trapped inside a television that fell from the sky – dreams up a romantic romp with a Bontok Igorot man who does not know how to kiss.

UTWAS (ARISE)
Directed by RICHARD SALVADICO AND ARLIE SWEET SUMAGAYSAY
Toto discovers more of the ocean as he tries to learn how to dive and fish.

And More…

Aside from the main competition, the Cinemalaya will have a specially-curated Short Films in Exhibition, featuring 20 short films namely: Ang Meron Sa Wala (Beyond Nothing) by Arby and Christine Larano; Ang Nawalang Haligi (Pillar) by Sarah Mya Regacho; Dama De Noche by Lawrence Sibug; Grand Gestures by Cody Abad; Gulis (LINES) by Kyle Jumayne Francisco; Habak by Paolo Matibag and Mia Salisbury; Himagsik ng Hiwaga (Revolt of the Mystic) by Geoffrey Solidum; Igib by Joey Paras; Jepoy by Avid Liongoren; Kung Saan Patag Ang Bundok (Where The Horizon Meets The Mountain) by Dolliete Echon; OctoGod by Shievar Olegario; Paon by Seb Valdez; Pinakanakapagpapabagabag-Damdamin (Most Disturbing Feeling) by Jermaine Tulbo; Si Gloria at Si Juan by Gilliano Salvador; Sumasaiyo, (Yours truly,) by Jermaine Tulbo; Tarang (Life’s Pedal) by Arvin Alindogan Belarmino; and The Rooftop by Avirup Biswas.

Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, the longest-running independent film and video competition in Asia, will also continue its run this year. Meanwhile, Visions of Asia, one of the major components of the film festival, will screen award-winning indie films from Asia.

Cinemalaya will also pay tribute to individuals who have made great contributions to the Philippine film industry – director Peque Gallaga and actress Anita Linda. Aside from this, Screenwriter Ricky Lee, in partnership with Cinemalaya, will conduct a scriptwriting masterclass. There will also be a virtual reunion of his writing workshop alumni.

Don’t miss out on other Cinemalaya components such as the Cinemalaya Restrospectives, featuring past Cinemalaya films, and Cinemalaya Campus, among others, as well.

Cinemalaya Bundles

Check out these graphics for the Cinemalaya 16 subscription packages.

How to Watch and Support Cinemalaya 16

Join us by simply following these steps to purchase Cinemalaya Bundles and enjoy all films once available.

STEP 1.
Go to https://vimeo.com/ondemand

STEP 2.
Search for Cinemalaya 16

You may also check these direct links:
Basic: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020basic
Standard: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020standard
Premium: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020premium,
Shorts A: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020shortsA
Shorts B: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020shortsB
Mindanao: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020mindanao
Double Feature A: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020doubleA
Double Feature B: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020doubleB
Premieres/Triple Feature: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/cinemalaya2020premieres

STEP 3.
Choose a package you want to purchase. See Step 2 for the available bundles.

STEP 4.
Click the BUY button. You will be prompted to sign up or log in to Vimeo.

STEP 5.
If you have a Vimeo account, simply log in. Otherwise, click “Join with Facebook” or “Join with Google” or fill in your name, email address, and desired password and click “Join with Email”.

STEP 6.
Fill-out the necessary payment details needed from you. Follow the steps for payment. You may pay with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express debit/credit card, or via Paypal. Gcash MasterCard and Virtual American Express cards are also accepted.

STEP 7.
Once done, you will receive an email with an e-receipt and a link to watch all the shows. Enjoy!

For more updates, please visit the CCP and Cinemalaya websites. Follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya social media accounts.