Award-Winning Benilde Films Compete at 2nd Maginhawa Film Fest

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Two award-winning capstone projects from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts film program will vie for more recognitions in the short film competition of the second Maginhawa Film Festival to be held next month in four different venues.

“Delta” by James Garcia and Luigi Macalintal and “In-Tay” by Leyvie Anne Santos will compete with ten other short films at Cinema Centenario, University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI) Videotheque, Pineapple Lab and Cinema Silencio from December 1 to 29.

In “Delta,” two brothers, Marco and Lucas, go to the river for a weekend without their parents to celebrate the former’s birthday. As they bond together, Marco shares with Lucas his plan to explore the end of the river. Out of curiosity, Lucas heads out to the river alone. “Delta” won Best Cinematography (Geo Joshua Cahoy), Best Supporting Actor (Jemuel Satumba) and Best Supporting Actress (Chin Jongko) at the fifth Urduja Film Festival in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The filmmakers revealed the personal connection they have with the story since the foundation of creating it has something to do with their experiences. “It was our first year in college when we went and hiked together with some friends to the same location (Mt. Daraitan and Tinipak River in Tanay, Rizal) where the film was taken. A month after, we heard this news that a student got lost in the place and until now, his body is still not found,” Macalintal shared.

“It’s surprising that we’ve become part of the selection because this is the first time that Delta will be screened in cinemas. We’re grateful for this opportunity to showcase our film and events like this never fail to give us the feeling of fulfillment because of the sacrifices we made in creating the film,” Garcia added.

Meanwhile, “In-Tay” tells the story of a daughter raised by lesbian parents. After receiving a letter from her father, she starts to find the real meaning of family. “In-Tay” previously bagged Best Actress (Fe Saligumba), Best Song (“Korona” by Mark Robina Ortiguero) and Best Ensemble (Saligumba, Caith Annika Angkay, Jessica Marco, Ruth Lopez-Dee and Reggie Caranyagan) at the sixth Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition in Compostela Valley.  

Santos is grateful to the film festival for giving her the opportunity to showcase her film. “It has always been a dream to share this piece of heart to a wider audience. I hope that it would be successful in bringing happiness, appreciation, inspiration and love to the people,” she said.

The other short film finalists are “Ang Pagtuklas sa Larangan ng Pagiging Maria Clara” (The Discovery in the Realm of Being Maria Clara) by Lady Vicente, “Bahay-Bahayan” (Playhouse) by Brian Spencer Reyes, “Heist School” by Julius Renomeron, Jr., “Huli” (The Last One) by Coco Oei, “Jepoy” by Avid Liongoren, “Nangungupahan” (Who Rents There Now?) by Glenn Barit, “Ngiti ni Nazareno” (The Smile of Nazareno) by Luisito “Louie” Lagdameo Ignacio, “Sa Gabing Tanging Liwanag ay Paniniwala” (Belief as the Light in Darkness) by Francis Guillermo, “Wala'y Humayan sa Tanglad” by Neil Angelo Briones and “Yujin” by Eugene Torres.

In the main competition, “Aria” by Carlo Enciso Catu, “Dog Days” by Timmy Harn, “Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus” by Dwein Baltazar, “Liway” by Kip Oebanda, “Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma” by Iar Arondaing, “Tanabata’s Wife” by Charlson Ong, Lito Casaje, and Choy Pangilinan, “Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang” by Jewel Maranan, and “Yield” by Victor Tagaro and Toshihiko Uriu will vie for Best Film, Director, Performance, Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound Design, Editing, Production Design and the Maginhawa Choice Award.

Maginhawa Film Festival is organized by Cinema Centenario, an alternative screening venue which strives to promote Philippine cinema and develop its local audience. The event is being held in celebration of the microcinema’s first anniversary and Philippine cinema’s centennial. Awards night will be held on December 9 along Maginhawa Street where the cinema is located. Tickets range from 150 to 200 pesos per screening. For inquiries, contact 0945-5367054.