Marek's Momma: The 10 Best Filipino Independent Films for 2008

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The 10 Best Filipino Independent Films for 2008

The Young Filmmakers of the Philippines (YFMP), a group of young filmmakers from different colleges and universities names the 10 best Filipino independent films for 2007. Our criteria for selecting the best films are the quality of the screenplay and the subject matter. We look for something new. The script should be somewhat unconventional and unpredictable. The film depicts Filipino historical and/or cultural values and exemplified artistry, creativity, technical excellence, innovativeness and thematic values.

Also acknowledged were Filipino independent Filmmakers through hard work and dedication filmmakers have proven that this country, which was once a filmic cul-de-sac, when given the right opportunity, now produces some of the world's finest films, responsive to the genuine needs and aspirations of its people.

YFMP announced the 10 Best Filipino Independent Films (in alphabetical order)
by Donna Villanueva

In Alphabetical Order:

1. Ala Swerte Ala Muerte 2007

Cast: Ana Capri, Maris Dimayuga, Perry Escaño and Menggie Cobbarubias

Director: Briccio Santos

Screenwriter: Jorge Arago, Briccio Santos

Cinematographer: Steve Sagun, Briccio Santos

Editor: Anil Rao

Festival: 9^th Cinemanila Fim Festival Finalist,

Winner Best Actress Ana Capri & Maris Dimayuga

Synopsis :

Jessica is a young widowwith a four-year-old son, Manolito, who lives with her in a crowded boarding house. They share a room with Linda, who dreams of being released from bondage to poverty by getting paid in dollars as an overseas contract worker in Europe , but who is desperately looking for work in the city in the meantime. This situation conveniently provides Jessica with an amah, to free her for work and not have to be shackled to the chores created by an only child's growing up pains. When the boy disappears one day whilst under Linda's care, the world starts to collapse for both Jessicand Linda. The mother's longing for a son who has disappeared from view, carrying only his late father's name. Such is the fate the mother and child has to endure.

2. Confessional

Cast: Publio Briones III, David Barril, Greg Fernandez, Owee Salva, Donna Gimeno

Director: Jerold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto

Screenwriter: Ramon Ukit

Cinematographer: Ruel Dahis Antipuesto

Editor: Pats Ranyo

Music Jerold Tarog with Arodasi

Winner: 2007 Cinema One Best Picture, Best Screenplay,Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Supporting Actors, Star Cinema Special Award

Ryan Pastor knows this by heart. As a small time filmmaker, he knows howsound and images can be manipulated to say anything. And he's tired of the lies—the lies at work, in his relationships, the lies one must keep in society just to exist. On a whim, he decides to go to Cebu to document the Sinulog festival. There he stumbles upon a truth he didn't ask for and is reluctant to touch. One of his subjects, a former politician who may or may not be dying, decides to confess his sins—all the crimes he committed while in office—before Ryan’s Camera,that follows is a story of revelations and bitter truths, of buried secrets and sweet lies. CONFESSIONAL takes you to the heart of a criminal...or an honest man.

3. Death in the Land of Encantos

Cast: Roeder Camañag, Perry Dizon, Kalila Aguilos and Angeli Bayani

Director: Lav Diaz

Screenwriter: Lav Diaz

Cinematographer: Lav Diaz

Editor: Lav Diaz

Music: Lav Diaz

Production Design: Lav Diaz & Dante Perez

Festival:

2007 Venice Film Festival

Winner Venice Horizons Award Special Mention

2008 YCC Winner Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design
YCC Winner in Production Design

Synopsis:

A Filipino poet named Benjamin Agusan (Roeder Camanag) is the hapless native who returns to his hometown Padang to witness the aftermath of the super typhoon. For the past seven years, Benjamin had been living in an old town called Kaluga in Russia . With his grant and residency, he taught and conducted workshops in a university. The poet published two books of sadness and longing in the process. In Russia , Benjamin was able to shoot video collages, fell in love with a Slavic beauty, buried a son, and almost went mad. He came back to bury his dead-father, mother, sister and a lover. He came back to face Mount Mayon , the raging beauty and muse of his youth. He came home to confront the country that he so loved and hated, the Philippines . He came back to die in the land of his birth. He wanders around the obliterated village meeting old friends and lovers.

4. Endo

Cast: Ina Feleo, Jason Abalos, Alcris Galura & Ricky Davao

Director: Jade Castro

Screenwriter: Michiko Yamamoto & Raymond Lee

Cinematographer: Wowie Hao

Editor: J.D. Domingo

Music: Owel Alvero

Production Design: Jhek Cogama

Festival:

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Finalist

Winner Best Actress & Special Jury Prize Feature Length

Golden Screen Awards, Philippines

Winner Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Young Critics Circle, Philippines

Winner Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Sound and Aural Orchestration & Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role

Foster Child

Cast: Cherry Pie Picache, Eugene Domingo, Dan Alvaro and Jiro Manio

Director: Brilliante Mendoza

Screenwriter: Joel Jover & Ralston Jover

Cinematographer: Odyssey Flores

Editor: Charliebebs Gohetia

Music: Jerrold Tarog

Production Design: Benjamin Padero

Festival:

Winner 2008 Golden Screen Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role

Winner Las Palmas Film Festival SIGNIS Award

Winner Young Critics Circle, Philippines Best Film and Best Screenplay

Synopsis:

A drama centered on the state of foster care in the Philippines.

6. Haw-Ang

Cast: Kalila Aguilos, Neil Ryan Sese, Racquel Reyes & Dacmay Tangliban

Director: Bong Ramos

Screenwriter: Bong Ramos

Cinematographer: Vincent Paul Pangan

Editor: Rona Lean Sales

Synopsis:

Set in the majestic rice terraces, Haw-Ang (English title: Before Harvest) is an indie film advocating children's right to quality education, empowerment of women, and welfare of our indigenous countrymen. It tells the story of Sister Adel, a light-hearted young nun who goes to a farming village in Ifugao to teach catechism and eventually build a schoolhouse. As she breaks the traditions of the tribe, she makes a big difference in the little lives of its people, especially that of Dacmay, a seven-year-old rowdy girl in search of her lost mother's love. At the same time, Sister Adel finally discovers her real mission in life. This is a poignant story of friendship and love that transcends age, culture, and belief. A tale that is at times comic and inevitably tragic, this is a film about being a woman, and more importantly, being human. It all begins at the time of preparing rice paddies for planting, in that season of hopes and dreams called "haw-ang."

Kadin

Cast: Monica Joy Camarillas, Rico Mark Cardona, Florencia Cardona

Director: Adolfo Alix Jr.

Screenwriter: Adolfo Alix Jr.

Cinematographer: Rodolfo Aves Jr.

Editor: Aleks Castañeda

Music: Jerrold Tarog

Production Design: Herwin Alfaro

Festival:

2007 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Finalist

Winner Best Cinematography & Best Original Music Score

Winner Golden Screen Awards, Philippines Best Sound

Synopsis:

Peping wakes up to find out that Gima, their goat, is missing. His family make a living out of the milk provided the goat. He hides the truth from his grandmother. His father is also arriving the next day so he needs to find Gima before its too late. Together with his younger sister, Lita, the two go on a seemingly impossible search for the goat in the landscape of the island of Sabtang , in Batanes. A series of frustrating episodes mark the day, tension and desperation growing as natural and human forces conspire to frustrate them at every turn. The odyssey teaches the boy about the true meaning of life- where kindness and cruelty can be found in close proximity.

Pisay

Cast: Eugene Domingo, Arnold Reyes, Elijah Castillo & Carl John Barrameda

Director: Auraeus Solito

Screenwriter: Auraeus Solito & Henry Grageda

Cinematographer: Charlie Peralta

Editor: Mikael Pestaño & Auraeus Solito

Music: Jobin Ballesteros Irwin Cafugauan Vincent de Jesus

Production Design: Endi Balbuena , Dante Nico Garcia , Martin Masadao ,

Reggie Regalado

Festival:

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival Finalist

Winner Best Feature Length & Best Director (Feature Length)

Golden Screen Awards, Philippines

Winner Best Director, Best Editing, Best Motion Picture, Best Musical Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Song, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role & Best Production Design

2008 Vesoul Asian Film Festival

Winner Audience Award & Grand Prize of the International Jury

Synopsis:

Amidst the chaos of Martial Law in this Third World country in the 1980s, six teenagers in the top high school for the sciences discover themselves as they go through the joys and pains of adolescence. They were the top two hundred students from all over the Philippines who passed the examination for the Philippine Science High School, which was created for the purpose of giving an education highly enriched in the Sciences to exceptionally gifted Filipino children. Selected from the best and brightest from all over the country, they endure college-level courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics from their sophomore year onwards. Those who can make it are hailed as the future science and technology leaders of the New Republic, those who don't are deemed unfortunate victims of natural selection. They all learn however that they are neither isolated from the real world, nor are they exempted from living real lives. They find the world outside, erupting into the People Power revolution in 1986 against the Marcos dictatorship, being replicated within the school as they struggle to graduate, contend with teachers, classmates, family, school officials, and a new classification to segregate students meeting the high standards of excellence from those who do not.