CINEMALAYA PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2020 FILM SYNOPSES AND INFORMATION SHEET

SHORT FEATURE CATEGORY A

ANG GASGAS NA PLAKA NI LOLO BERT (THE BROKEN VINYL RECORD) Directed by Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori

An old vinyl record alters a closeted gay man’s life. SYNOPSIS: A closeted gay man in his 60s has been living with HIV for 10 years. His monotonous life takes a sudden turn when he receives an old vinyl record from his dead ex-lover. ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS: Born in Aparri, Cagayan, JANINA GACOSTA grew up thinking that Metro Manila is from a different dimension. She thought that snow fell there partially because of the film “Puso ng Pasko,” starring Jolina Magdangal. After graduating with a degree in Communication Arts in UST, she is currently taking up MA Media Studies in Film at UP Diliman. She has joined various writing workshops including Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Workshop, CinePanulat: Screenwriting Lab ni Jun Lana, and the VLF Writing Fellowship Program. She continues to join writing workshops until she realizes there is no snow in Manila. CHESKA MARFORI took up a degree which she thought

would help with her shyness. In the process, she fell in love with the art of storytelling and continues to improve her craft at the University of the Philippines. She joined the Screenwriting Lab ni Jun Lana in 2015. Hailed from Liliw, Laguna, her mother once bought a pair of floral slippers for her, but she didn’t like it. She’d rather go barefoot. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Rene Requiron, Joemel Bancayan PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR – Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori; SCREENWRITER – Janina Gacosta; DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Philip Vargas; PRODUCTION DESIGN – Sherina Inza-Cruz and Jake Hiraya; MUSIC – Jose Mojica and Lionel Guico; SOUND DESIGN – Anglea Pereyra; EDITOR – Cheska Marfori, Iar Arondaing, Nono Ignacio, Kevin Lawrence Restua; ASST. DIRECTOR – Ryan Dela Cruz Quimpo; CAM OPERATORS – Stephen Paul Tujon and Robert Jr. L. Cereno; POSTER DESIGNER – Eru Petrasanta; PRODUCTION ASSTS. – James Pangan And Jessa Espina; LINE PRODUCER - Glecy Quozon

(Rating: __ | 19 MINUTES, 07 SECONDS | Drama, Romance)

ANG PAGPAKALMA SA UNOS (TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE) Directed by Joanna Vasquez Arong

Memories catch up as a girl visits a ravaged port city. SYNOPSIS: To Calm the Pig Inside contemplates on the effects a typhoon leaves on a seaside city. Myths are woven in to try to understand how people cope with the devastation and trauma. A girl’s voice divulges bits and pieces of her own memory of her grandmother and mother to tie in the experiences she felt visiting this ravaged port city. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: JOANNA VASQUEZ ARONG started filmmaking in Beijing after deciding to leave the corporate and institutional world in search for new adventures. Her first feature documentary, NeoLounge, in 2007, which recounted intimate stories of foreigners who went to Beijing searching to break from their past, won four awards, including two Best Documentary awards. Her second film, The Old Fool Who Moved the Mountains, which explores an ancient Chinese fable and how it relates to three generations, premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival in 2008 and won two awards, including the Best

Documentary award. Her third film, Sunday School, filmed in Zambia, was commissioned by the International Film Festival Rotterdam for their Forget Africa series, and premiered in 2010. Joanna also creates film installations for galleries and museums; her most recent were screened in galleries and museums in Cebu, Manila, San Luis Potosí, Chicago and New York in 2019 and 2020.Her documentary short To Calm the Pig Inside, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2020, won the Grand Jury Prize. Her new project 116B University Avenue, Rangoon, which explores the notion of identity and the idea of home and homeland, was one of 19 projects chosen to pitch at the IF/Then Southeast Asia 2020 lab. She also wrote her first feature narrative script, The Sigbin, named after a mythological creature known to be loyal to its master, which explores the relationship of an assassin and his daughter, he only recently discovers. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Anna Rong as storyteller; Editha “Dadit” Caputi Darlo for Grandmother singing; Joel Lagartija for “Hain ang Utlanan” PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER/PRODUCER – Joanna Vasquez Arong; ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS – Christopher Clower, Erica Brenner, JM Rodriguez; STILL PHOTOGRAPHY – Veejay Villafranca, Piyavit Thongsa-ard; EDITOR/S – Lawrence S. Ang, Pao Sancho-Dalisay; SOUND DESIGN – Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr; SOUND EDITOR – Chalermrat Kaweewattana; MUSIC – Evgueni Galperine; TYPHOON AND YOLANDA FOOTAGE – Earth Uncut TV, James Reynolds, Mark Thomas, Christian Linaban; AERIAL FOOTAGE AND STILLS – Christopher Darza; CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATIONS – Students from San Jose National High School, Camansihay Elementary School and Tacloban City National High School; VISAYAN TRANSLATION – April Anne Moncada, Russ Raniel Ligtas, Maria Victoria Beltran

(Rating: __ | 18 MINUTES, 30 SECONDS | Drama)

EXCUSE ME MISS, MISS, MISS Directed by Sonny Calvento

A department store sales lady unearths the ultimate secret to regularization. SYNOPSIS: Vangie, a miserable contractual sales lady, is about to lose her job. But in her desperate attempt to convince her boss not to sack her, Vangie uncovers the ultimate jaw-dropping secret to regularization. “Excuse Me Miss, Miss, Miss” is a social satire about the plight of contractual workers in the Philippines. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: SONNY CALVENTO is a director, writer and producer. He was a fellow of the Hanoi International Film Festival Directing and Producing Talent Campus 2017 where he was awarded Best Talent in Directing and Producing. His first feature, “Nabubulok,” was part of the 13th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and eventually premiered in Busan International Film Festival and 12 other countries. He produced “John Denver Trending,” which premiered at the

15th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. He wrote the screenplay of “The Gospel Of The Beast”, an upcoming film from Black Sheep and Southern Lantern Studios. “Excuse Me Miss, Miss, Miss” is his first short film. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Angelina Kanapi, Bob Jbeili and Phyllis Grande PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR – Sonny Calvento; SCREENPLAY – Arden Rod Condez; DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Rommel Sales; PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Harley Alcasid; EDITOR – Carlo Francisco Manatad; SOUND DESIGN – Mikko Quizon, Kat Salinas; MUSIC – Len Calvo; COLORIST – Timmy Torres; PRODUCER – Sheron Dayoc; EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS – Eduardo Lejano, Manet Dayrit; LINE PRODUCER – Evangeline Torcino; PRODUCTION MANAGER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Tin Velasco; SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Ryanne Murcia

(RATING: __ | Social Satire, Comedy)

FATIGUED Directed by James Robin Mayo

An employee overslept and must wake-up from a nightmare. SYNOPSIS: Fatigued is an interactive short film where audience participation is important. It is about an employee who overslept and must wake-up from his/her nightmare. Today, you can watch any movie online through different streaming sites. The idea behind this short film is to make a film that will exclusively let you feel the cinematic experience. The space and time inside the cinema are different from watching in your house. The Live participation of the audience is the unique experience you will witness when you watch along with group of people and inside the cinema. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: JAMES ROBIN MAYO is a graduate of BA Major in Technical Theater at DLSU-CSB. His first projects were music videos, TV shows and short films. His film, “Fib,” won the 3rd place for Best Experimental Video in the 27th CCP Gawad Alternatibo. His first feature film, “The Chanters,” is a QCinema International Film festival finalist,

which won Best Screenplay and Best Actress. It has been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director in Gawad Urian, FAMAS and LUNA Awards. He also won Best First Feature Film Director in Young Critics Circle for “The Chanters.” His 2nd feature film, “Kuya Wes,” was a finalist in the 14th Cinemalaya. The film competed in different international film festivals such as Fantasporto Film Festival 2019, won Best Actress in 2019 Manhattan International Film Festival, nominated in the 2019 Edera Film Festival in Italy and the 2019 Festival Internacional de Cine de Quito in Ecuador. Locally, it won Best Actor in PMPC Star Awards, and Best Picture and Best Actor in 21st Gawad Pasado. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Matthew Lorenzo, Yayo Aguila, Putol PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR/SCRIPTWRITER – James Robin M. Mayo; CINEMATOGRAPHER – James Robin M. Mayo; PRODUCTION DESIGNER – James Mayo, Matthew Lorenzo, RM Marohombsar; EDITOR – Joris Fernandez, James Mayo; SOUND – Immanuel Verona; PROD ASSISTANTS – RM Marohombsar, Matthew Lorenzo; PRODUCER – Cai Cena, James Mayo

(Rating: __ | 11 MINUTES, 34 SECONDS | Comedy Drama)

LIVING THINGS Directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar

A woman discovers that her decade-long lover has turned

into a cardboard standee.

SYNOPSIS: ints and Charles have been together for almost a decade. One day, Kints wakes up and discovers that her lover has changed, literally. Although troubled at first, she eventually understands that what happened is a natural phenomenon. Through this, she is reminded that people change all the time, and love can change people. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Born in Manila in 1992, MARTIKA RAMIREZ ESCOBAR’s love for the bizarre is best reflected through her films and photography. After graduating with honors from the UP, her thesis film “Pusong Bato” competed at the 19th Busan International Film Festival and had screenings across Asia and Europe. It won Best Short Film at the 11th Cinemalaya in 2015. She is an alumna of the Berlinale Talents Tokyo, Asian Film Academy, Southeast Asian Film Lab, Luang Prabang Talent Lab, Fantastic Film School, Mowelfund Film Institute and is a recipient of the Purin Pictures Film Fund and Next Masters Support grant. Most of her works,

including her first feature in post-production, “Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago,” and first documentary feature “Tell Me About Darkness” which participated in the Asiadoc Residency, are self-reflexive films about her relationship with cinema. She is currently working as a freelance director/cinematographer for various productions. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Kints Kintana, Charles Aaron Salazar PRODUCTION STAFF DIRECTOR/WRITER – Martika Ramirez Escobar; CINEMATOGRAPHER – Carlos Mauricio; PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Juan Pablo Pineda III; ART DIRECTOR – Thirdy Rivera; LIVE SOUND – Deovan Fidelson; EDITOR – Lawrence S. Ang; SOUND DESIGN – Mikko Quizon, Nicole Amorez, RJ Cantos, Aeriel Mallari; ORIGINAL MUSIC – Alyana Cabral; ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Mikee Dela Cruz; ASSISTANT CAMERA – Jestoni Lloveras Negradas, Benedict Marasigan; COLORIST – Timmy Torres; PRODUCER – Tin Velasco; LOCATION MANAGER – Louise Loraine Barretto; UTILITY – Bernardo Carpio, Jhemar Caugiran

(Rating: __ | 11 MINUTES, 30 SECONDS | Comedy Drama)

PABASA KAN PASYON Directed by Hubert Tibi

A Bicolano family turns to religion to make both ends meet. SYNOPSIS: Religion and economy take center stage in a Bicolano family’s story, set during the Lenten season. To make ends meet, one of them turns to religion and pushes his mother to make a living off her faith. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: HUBERT TIBI is a producer, editor, cinematographer, writer and director. He has a degree in Fine Arts, Major in Advertising from San Carlos University Cebu and The Philippine Women’s University Manila. He owns and manages Shotlist Productions. His film “Parang Pelikula” won Best Screenplay at the 2006 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. He has participated in several Cinemalaya editions, including “Ang Bagong Pamilya ni Ponching” in the 2016 Cinemalaya. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Buboy Aguay Jr., Isabel Pedrasa Bogoc, Rosalinda Brongos

Marife, Nolasco Charise Relayo, Jhon Paul Laban, Jhosua Laban, Augost Borella Jr. PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR/ WRITER/EDITOR/CINEMATOGRAPHER/ PRODUCER – Hubert Tibi; ASSOCIATE PRODUCER – Gigi Tibi; PRODUCTION MANAGER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Reycy Guinto; PRODUCTION ASSISTANT – Lou Benedict Iblan, Leonard Mojica, Lander Oleta; MUSIC – Paganini Caprice No. 5

(Rating: __ | 14 MINUTES, 36 SECONDS | Drama)

QUING LALAM NING ALDO (UNDER THE SUN) Directed by Reeden Fajardo

A transgender sampaguita farmer decides to renovate their neglected kitchen as soon as she hears that her son is going home. SYNOPSIS: Upon learning that their son is coming home after 15 years, Budang and Georgia, transgender farmers from Pampanga, decided to surprise Janjan by renovating their neglected kitchen and gather ingredients so they can cook their favourite dish “con saleng manuk” but things will not work as planned. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: REEDEN FAJARDO is young aspiring Kapampangan filmmaker who grew up in a small barangay in Floridablanca. He is a graduate of BFA in Digital Cinema at Mapua University. He is currently an assistant director trainee and script supervisor in Star Cinema.

MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR/WRITER – Reeden Fajardo; CINEMATOGRAPHY – Mel Cobrador; PRODUCTION DESIGN – Glenn Lowell Averia; SOUND DESIGN/EDITING – JasonVillegas, JaysonSantos; MUSIC – Francine Batac; EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS – Fe Domingo, Ladee Quinn Fajardo, Rolando Fajardo; PRODUCER – Vinnie Veronica Valenzuela; CONSULTANT – David Corpuz

(Rating: __ | 12 MINUTES, 06 SECONDS | Comedy, Drama)

THE SLUMS Directed by Jan Andrei Cobey

A documentary team progressively intervenes and trespasses into the lives of a poor family living in the slums as they try to cope with the loss of their TV. SYNOPSIS: The Slums is a mockumentary that follows a documentary team as they terrorize a poor family living in the urban slums of Manila. The film features the colorful lives of the Reyes family: Nayda, the family's loving mother with body image issues; Julio, the hardworking but not very bright father; Oliver, the fabulous son who wants to be a supermodel; Boy, the youngest and naughtiest child; and Pam, the feisty eldest child of the family. The family TV is broken and as they struggle to fix it, they grow increasingly annoyed as the documentary team becomes more involved in their daily lives. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: JAN ANDREI COBEY, a 24-year-old filmmaker from the Philippines, is a visual artist who specializes in video post-production, digital design, and print media. He graduated from the University of the Philippines Film Institute with a

BA Film degree in 2019. He won the Best in Production Design in the Piling Obrang Video XIII for the film “The Last Gig on Earth,” directed by Mariah Reodica. He received the Audience Choice Award for the film “And A Hundred Roses Bloomed” at the 2017 Black Beret Student Film Festival. From 2016 until 2018, he was graphic editor for layout and the resident video director at the Philippine Collegian. Since 2016, he is a member of the UP Cineastes’ Studio, the first and premiere student film organization in the Philippines. In 2016, he participated in ...and Action! Asia, an international cultural exchange program for film students held in Tokyo, Japan. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Sunshine Teodoro, Jorrybell Agoto, Dylan Ray Talon, DMs Boongaling, Kenken Nuyad PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR AND WRITER – Jan Andrei Cobey; DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Moore Minglana; LIVE SOUND RECORDIST – Robe Dagcuta; SOUND DESIGNER – Yves Patron; PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Kendra Millario; ASSISTANT DIRECTORS – Patricia Camille Cruz, Jasmine Mendoza; PRODUCER – Bam Manlongat; EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Rex Cobey, Arlene Cobey

(Rated: __ | 19 MINUTES, 46 SECONDS | Comedy)

TOKWIFI Directed by Carla Pulido Ocampo

A 1950s mestiza star, trapped inside a television that fell from the sky, dreams up a romantic romp with a Bontok Igorot man who does not know how to kiss. SYNOPSIS: As Limmayug carries firewood back to his home village, something falls from the sky – a 1950s television with a hysterical showbiz star, named Laura Blancaflor, trapped inside it. The frightened man saves the television – nay, saves Laura – from the flames of the impact. Worlds apart in their language and methods, the two try their best to engage each other. But for Limmayug, an indigenous man from an off-the-grid mountain town, Laura’s TV talk seems too contrived and finds her even uncontrollably tactless during commercial breaks. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: CARLA PULIDO OCAMPO is a film editor, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and cultural worker residing in the indigenous territory of Bontoc, in the mountainous region of the Philippine Cordilleras. She is a co-founder of groups that are purveyors of alternative cinema culture in Northern Philippines: Habi Collective, Balay Habi Studio,

and Pelicula Union. Currently, she is best known for her filmography centering on the culture and lore of the indigenous Bontok Igorot people. She is writer, researcher, and editor for the seminal documentary “Walang Rape sa Bontok.” Her short film Tokwifi won the Special Jury Prize at the 7th QCinema International Film Festival in 2019. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Adrienne Vergara, Kurt “Ayeo-eo” Lumbag Alalag PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTOR/WRITER/EDITOR – Carla Pulido Ocampo; CINEMATOGRAPHER – Lester Valle; PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Rocky Acofo Cajigan; SOUND – Willie Apa, Jr; MUSIC –Maryjane Alejo, Jason Canoy, Mebuyan; WARDROBE – Kim Perez; SCRIPT CONSULTANTS – Rocky Acofo Cajigan, Beau Killip Macliing, Kay-an Khawaen; PRODUCERS – Lester Valle, Armi Rae Cacanindin, Eduardo Lejano, Jr., Manet Dayrit, Joni Pulido-Ferrier, Miguel Noel Tayao Ocampo, Leah Pulido Ocampo, Vladimir Hernandez, Harriane Gasmen, Sherlynne Eddiva, LGU-Bontoc, Network of Asia Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence

(Rating: __ | 20 MINUTES | Fantasy, Magic Realism)

UTWAS (ARISE) Directed by by Richard Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay

A young boy discovers the ocean as he tries to learn how to dive and fish. SYNOPSIS: Toto and his father live in an island where the primary source of their livelihood is the ocean. He loves diving with his father because he wants to learn how to fish, dive and be one with the ocean. One afternoon, while Toto and his father are diving, a group of fishermen throw dynamites around them. They hurriedly go home. Curious, Toto asks his father why they have to arise from the water if there are dynamite fishers. His father explains that some dynamite fishers are careless and that fishes swim away because of the noise so they have to arise because they have nothing to catch and they are in danger. As Toto’s father dives, he notices that the ocean is too noisy and when he arises too early, Toto asks him why. His father explains that perhaps the ocean is too noisy because it is either angry or happy. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Hailing from Iloilo, RICHARD SALVADICO and ARLIE SWEET SUMAGAYSAY both graduated at Central Philippine

University. Richard graduated with a degree in Digital Media and Interactive Arts in 2018, while Arlie graduated with a degree in Mass Communication in 2019. The duo started their filmmaking career in 2018 and has been participating in both regional and national filmmaking competitions since then. Their first film “Dribol” won Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Direction in Gawad CineMaybank in 2018. Their film “Katungdanan” was awarded Grand Jury Prize Awardee and was a finalist in Gawad Alternatibo in 2018. In 2019, their short film “Chok” had its national screening, was a finalist at Sinekabataan Year 3 and garnered the Audience Choice Award. In 2019, they produced their film “Utwas” which won Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Direction in Cinekasimanwa Year 7 and a finalist in Cinemalaya Short Film Competition. Their film “Gulut-anon nga Dulut” won Best Screenplay and Best music in Cinekasimanwa Year 7. Over the years, Richard and Kat have done films on appreciation for indigenous peoples and environmental awareness. They are looking forward to do more. MAJOR CREDITS: CAST: Rene Requiron, Joemel Bancayan PRODUCTION STAFF: DIRECTORS – Richard Jeroui Salvadico, Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay; WRITER – Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay; CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITOR – Richard Jeroui Salvadico; PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay, Jona Lyn Sallador; CAMERA OPERATOR – Denrey Dumaguin; SOUND DESIGNER – Charlene Eimman Galo; SOUND GRIP – Charlene Eimman Galo; PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS – Kemp Valenzuela, Jhon Lloyd Dumapit; EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS – Rodelyn Tupas, Girlie Sumagaysay, Arnold Sumagaysay

(Rating: __ | 11 MINUTES | Comedy Drama)