CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival, the country’s largest regional festival and Region VI’s longest-running film fest is proud to present eight new films produced by the Department of Tourism – Region VI and CineKasimanwa to be presented in cinema theaters by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and CineLokal.
This endeavor is proudly supported by the National Executive Committee on Cinema of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Cinematheque Iloilo, UPV CInematheque, Roxas City LGU, Tourism Office of Roxas City, Capiz and Antique Tourism Office.
Now on its second year, the Western Visayas Grants Program seeks to promote the creativity, stories, culture and people of Region VI through different films done by award-winning and emerging Ilonggo film directors from Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental. Its omnibus trailer went trending in the internet and is one of the most watched regional film trailers in the Philippines.
Many filmmakers from the Philippines come from Region VI and as such there is a vibrant cinema culture within Western Visayas with films in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Aklanon languages. CineKasimanwa focuses on local stories and visions with a very diverse program from full-length to shorts, narratives to experimental works, traditional to new media, special program for children and an annual program for horror, science fiction and unclassifiable films. Western Visayas has a very rich culture with many folklores, family drama and stories of locals told through generations.
LUHA SANG BULALAKAW (Tears of the Stars)
Director: Kenneth De La Cruz
Is there something as romance made in the stars? A young couple in the island of Guimaras faces the challenge of a forthcoming separation. Few days before Samuel leaves Aileen for a better job opportunity in a distant city, the latter, feeling immensely desperate, tries to stop him from leaving. Making the most out of their remaining time together, they patiently wait for a shooting star before facing the consequences of being apart.
Shot in GUIMARAS: Alubihod Beach, Manggahan festival, Holy Family Hills, Spring Bloom Farm, National Mango Research.
UGSAD (Full Moon)
Director: Kenneth Borlan
They say, there are no secrets we can keep. Under the full moon, we are all naked. In the midst of someone’s confusion will the presence of the full moon be able to pave his way to understand the mysteries of the inner darkness or will he just give in and fade away? This mystical drama from the director of “Mga Hilaw Nga Tikang” gets a twist that commences during the dance of the aswangs.
Shot in GUIMARAS: Suba Malawig Eco-Tour, Daliran cave, Sebario Salt Farm, Old Trappost Monastery and Bala-an Bukid Shrine.
EMPYREUS: MGA GANHAAN SANG PAGTILAW (Empyreus: Gates of Sin)
Director: Dennis Hubag
Man is awakened by God in the afterlife and given the freedom to choose a place where he wants to spend eternity. Each choice being Man’s indulgences makes it difficult for him to decide until his final choice unravels Man’s innermost desire to question divinity via his faith.
Shot in Iloilo’s Bato Sumpit Falls, Bato Simbahan; Bucari Pine Forest in Leon; Isla de Higantes in Carles.
SALIWAT (Again)
Director: by Jay Palmares
Leo, an enthusiastic guy, openly shows his love to his best buddy, Amara, who, in return, rejects him every now and then. Will Leo’s efforts shine through and make Amara fall for him? Antique here is not just a destination but an inspiration for this millennial romance not devoid of secrets.
Shot in ANTIQUE’s Caluya; Malunpati Cold Springs; Bagtasan Patadyong Weaving and Tibiao, a millennial love story
HIGANTE KAG MGA MISTERYO SANG KUWEBA (The Giant and the Mysteries of the Cave)
Directors: Ramjun Valasote & Dane Arsulo
When a group of friends decide to go on a road trip from Iloilo to Aklan, Western Visayas, all they wanted was to escape the stress and chaos of their urban lives. When they visited the Pangihan Cave without following usual safety measures, they fell into the traps of a the mysterious cave where they will experience a real adventure they will never forget.
Shot in AKLAN: Boracay Island, Jawili Falls and Pangihan Cave.
DALITAN (Venomous)
Director: Reymundo Salao
Espionage, intrigue, trust, deception, betrayal all mix in this action-packed film from the director of the award-winning “Dungol”. A lethal virus has spread and a team of government operatives must stop a clandestine organization from spreading it in several barangays. They are brought into the beautiful islands of Antique, Western Visayas, to track the source of the epidemic only to find out there’s more than meets the human eye.
Shot in ANTIQUE’s Nogas Island in Anini-Y, San Jose, Culasi Sea Wall; Igpasungaw in Sebaste; and Dive Site in Anini-Y.
MANGGAGARAB (Man with A Sickle)
Director: Kyle Fermindoza
Gabriel and his daughter, Celine, has been living a peaceful and warm, loving life in the mountains. With Gabriel’s wife gone for reason unknown, he struggles to provide for his daughter. Everything was as normal as everyone else until the past starts crawling in and devouring Gabriel. The untold story of the Manggagarab overcast a shadow of despair over Gabriel and his daughter. The darkness lurking behind the thick jungle has once again crawled out onto the light of day. Once again, it is time.
Shot in CAPIZ & Iloilo: Suhot Cave in Jamindan, Cadimahan River Tours, Hinulugan Falls, Falls Camp Peralta.
ILOY (Mother)
Director: Gary Tabanera
Iloy follows the story of Remedios, a single mother with twins. She is faced with the challenges of single parenthood which is made even worse by the extraordinary circumstances she is plunged into. Throughout her story she is haunted by the various faces of motherhood which, to her, are ghosts of an all too real childhood with her own mother. Torn between her personal ghosts and her love for her children she is pushed to do things only mothers can bear to do.
Shot entirely in CAPIZ: Baybay Beach, Basiao, River Tour, Our Lady of Lourdes, Lighthouse.
CineKasimanwa Film Festival will open with two movies of top Ilonggo film makers on December 1, 2017 at SM City Iloilo Cinema 7, 6PM. The openng films are Director Tara Illenberger’s “High Tide”, the top winner of ToFarm Film Festival 2017, and TM Malones’ “Bawod”, a Cinemalaya Finalist for Short Films and winner of Best Screenplay.
Schedule of Screenings
HIGH TIDE and BAWOD screen on DECEMBER 1, 2017, 6:00 PM at SM Cinema 7
DALITAN ni Reymundo Salao (full-length / action-espionage) shot in Antique & Iloilo
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 2, 2017 (Sat) 6:00 PM
MANGGAGARAB ni Kyle Fermindoza (full-length / horror-action) shot in Capiz & Iloilo
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 2, 2017 (Sat) 8:30 PM
ILOY ni Gary Tabanera (full-length / drama) shot in Capiz
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 3, 2017 (Sun) 6:00 PM
HIGANTE KAG ANG MGA MISTERYO SANG KUWEBA ni Ramjun Valasote kag Dane Arsulo (full-length / fantasy-adventure) shot in Aklan & Iloilo
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 3, 2017 (Sun) 8:30 PM
SALIWAT ni Jay Palmares (short / millennial romance) shot in Antique & Iloilo
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 4, 2017 (Mon) 6:00 PM
UGSAD ni Kenneth Borlan (short / magical realism) shot in Guimaras & Iloilo
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 4, 2017 (Mon) 6:00 PM
LUHA SANG BULALAKAW ni Kenneth De la Cruz (short / romance-drama) shot in Guimaras
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 4, 2017 (Mon) 8:30 PM
EMPYREUS: MGA GANHAAN SANG PAGTILAW ni Dennis Hubag (short / mystical psycho-drama) shot in Iloilo
Red Carpet World Premiere: Dec. 4, 2017 (Mon) 8:30 PM
Venue: SM City Cinema 7 (CineLokal), SM City Iloilo (All tickets at SM Cinema box office available starting Dec. 1, 2017). CineKasimanwa films will also be shown in Roxas City and Antique on the following dates:
Dec. 8-10, 2017 ► Robinsons Movieworld, Roxas City, Capiz (Centerpiece Selections & Curated Programs)
Dec. 16-17, 2017 ► Robinsons Movieworld, Antique (Centerpiece Selections & Curated Programs)
Organizers have dropped the price of two-hour program or each full-length movie this year for only Php100.00.
Ilonggos, watch CineKasimanwa 5 Film Festival at SM Cinema 7 and support our local movie industry!
