9 STORIES IN BISAYA FILM FESTIVAL
To empower the Cebuano cinema is the main goal of the Binisaya Film Festival (BFF), and it is that time of the year again that the organization will showcase Binisaya films as it officially launched the films that made it to the final selection last Monday.
The BFF is divided into different categories: Binisaya Shorts, a category which champions the vernacular films; the Asian Shorts, which shows films made by neighboring Asian countries; the Binisaya Shorts in Exhibition, films which showcase the region in contemporary Filipino Cinema; and the Homecoming category, which exhibits Cebuano films that have been shown around the world except Cebu.
The growing reach of Binisaya since it started nine years ago, also means a growing number of participants each year showcasing their films.
This year’s BFF carries the theme “Tan-aw Man Ka.” It has selected 25 films in all categories.
From approximately 40 film entries, the heads selected nine to compete in the film festival (Binisaya Shorts). The other categories are merely for exhibition.
Grace Marie Lopez, one of the founding members of Binisaya Movement Inc., said during the press launch that Cebuanos should be proud to have films that are good and something that can be called their own.
Through this vision, filmmakers from Cebu, Visayas and Mindanao got the chance to showcase their films. Here are the BFF 2018 entries.
BREAKDOWN (7:20 minutes)
Directed by Neil Nanta, a Cebuano filmmaker, the film shows the projection of urban dysfunction within Cebu.
Directed by Cagayan de Oro native Rodiell Veloso, the film shows the struggle of a soap opera screenwriter, Joe. He is at odds with the soap opera showrunner, who wants a cliché ending for the show. A battle of external and internal conflicts arises as Joe tries to deal with the pressures of catering to the general audience’s taste and his own creative fulfillment.
PROPESIYA (13:09 minutes)
Depicting the life of nature, this Alyssa Manugas film dares to ask: “What if the doomsday is one of us? Will she continue what she is destined to do or give us another chance? How will she decide? Do our actions on treating Mother Earth affect her decision?” The film tries to answer these questions.
SA PAGSALOP SA ADLAW (5:31 minutes)
Within five minutes, the short film directed by Cebuano filmmaker Angelo Abella shows the journey of a young man who wanders around the city to bring back old memories. He then pays a visit to the person he loves the most. While the young man faces the challenges he encounters in his journey, the film also shows the significance of time.
WALAY NIDANGUYNGUY (11:32 minutes)
Glorypearl Dy, a filmmaker from Davao, shows in her film how a group of women forced to leave their place, face the challenges throughout their journey. Dealing with various challenges, their lives are depicted in visual and musical score. When familiar spaces become strangers, these women transform into the departed.