CCP’s Lakbay Cine holds free back-to-back film screenings

Championing the best of filmmaking, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), through the Lakbay Sine program under its Film, Broadcast and New Media Division (CCP FBNMD), will screen an exciting, back-to-back lineup of awardwinning local films for free on Feb. 22, 23, and 24 in various venues in Metro Manila.

CCP’s Lakbay Sine is an outreach program that brings different film projects, such as the CCP Cine Icons and Cinema Under The Stars (CUTS), to different regions, partner communities, organizations, and campuses primarily to popularize the works of Filipino filmmakers and encourage film appreciation among the youth and the public.

The cinematic experience starts at the University of Santo Tomas. Made possible through the partnership with the university, the Cinemalaya award-winning film “Liway” by Kip Oebanda will be screened on Feb. 22, 1 p.m. at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.

Based on the director’s life story, “Liway” tells the story of Dakip, a little boy who lives with his parents Day and Ric inside Camp Delgado, a makeshift prison for rebels and criminals inside a military camp.

There will be back-to-back programs at the St. Paul University, Quezon City on Feb. 23, kicking off with Cinemalaya 2022 Best Film “Blue Room” by director Maan Asuncion-Dagñalan at 8:30 a.m.

“Blue Room” is about Rebel Rebel, an indie rock band composed of woke albeit sheltered teens, who get their biggest break at a prestigious local music festival. But after their celebratory night at the local bar, they are arrested for drug possession.

In cooperation with ABS-CBN Sagip Pelikula, CCP Cine Icons follows with a special screening of “Anak,” written by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee at 1 p.m. There will be a talkback session with the filmmakers and the cast.

Starring award-winning actresses Vilma Santos and Claudine Barretto, “Anak” is about a Filipina overseas contract worker who is forced to leave her family and take a higherpaying job in a more-prosperous Asian country, unaware of her husband’s death. When she finally returns to the Philippines, she is met with resentment and hatred by her children.

Launched in 2023, CCP Cine Icons is a special program of the CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division that honors the life and works of National Artists Nora Aunor who has starred in various award-winning TV and film masterpieces, Marilou Diaz-Abaya who was known as one of the movers of the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, and National Artist Lee who has penned several films, plays and novels.

On Feb. 24, 5 p.m., through the partnership with the Valenzuela City Library, CCP Lakbay Sine brings CUTS featuring the 2009 Cinemalaya film “Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said)” by Mike Sandejas at the ValACE Roofdeck.

The film is a love story between a deaf boy who loves to dance and a troubled rocker girl who abuses her hearing.