Discoveries from Philippines World Cinema

Director: Tata Esteban Writer: Ronnie Tumbokon (story and screenplay) Stars: Tonton Gutierrez, Lovely Rivero, Anjanette Abayari, Robert Aviles, Adonis Laxamana, Teresa Loyzaga, Archie Ventosa, Tessie Villarama, Julie Fe Navarro, Tess Orias, William Romero, Rigor Diaz, Lady Cheska Dizon, Stanley Garcia, Nathanielle Mendoza, Florence Corpuz, Val Rocero, Greg Rocero

Massacre Files

Hassan, the son of a tribe chief of the Badjaos, a pagan, sea-dwelling Filipino tribe, meets and falls for Bala Amai, the niece of the chief of the Tausugs, an Islamic, land-dwelling tribe. Although the Hassan is willing to give up his lifestyle for Bala Amai and vice versa, the Tausugs plot to break up the union of the happy couple.

A story of a young man who will fall in love with a transgender woman.

This is a Filipino omnibus film about three different journeys.

10-year old Meng loves one thing: Patintero. The only hitch is that she’s terrible at it and her reputation has earned her the title of the neighborhood “patalo” (loser). But in the continuing struggle against the high school team that has one-sidedly claimed the territory of the local sari-sari store, Meng forms an unlikely team of fellow losers to finally challenge these high schoolers in the biggest game of their lives.

Mystery surrounds all the characters and seemingly ordinary events become suspenseful and thrilling as the fate of two souls forever intertwined, affect destiny, change life… cause death.

“Sisid” is the story of a videographer, played by Raymond Bagatsing, who was betrayed by women in the past and swears never to be betrayed again. He meets a nightclub performer played by de Rossi. The two have an affair, perhaps even fall in love, but Bagatsing hesitates to commit himself to her. De Rossi tells Bagatsing the story of one of her lovers, played by Rodel Velayo; Velayo was once chauffeur to the beautiful but spoiled daughter (again, de Rossi) of a wealthy fishpond operator. De Rossi is kidnapped, Velayo helps her escape; when she learns of his involvement in the plot, she leaves him. Velayo wanders about, until he meets de Rossi in the nightclub; he insists that nightclub de Rossi is really his long-lost de Rossi, and pursues her with fierce intensity. Bagatsing feels threatened by Velayo’s presence, even jealous, and the two struggle over the woman they both think they love.

Although her father loves her, a girl leaves their home when her boyfriend is trapped by her step-sister into marriage. The doctor she meets and eventually falls in love with raises her social awareness encouraging her to work with the poor.

Ena is a stuntwoman from a family of looters. When her mother needs money to settle her medical bill, she asks her godfather for assistance. Her godfather assigns Elena to abduct Fred Tan, the heir and grandson of one of the richest men in the Philippines, and hold him captive for ransom. When Elena succeeds in capturing Fred and is nearly apprehended by the police, they hide at a villa owned by Fred's family. While Elena is distracted, Fred tries to escape. Elena wrestles with him to prevent him from running away. In the midst of their argument, Fred's grandfather, Henry, pays a visit to the villa and sees them in an improper position. This leads to Henry planning to get them married as soon as possible. Now, Elena and Fred must pretend that their relationship is something more than a botched kidnapping.

Eight-year old Aaron is dead set on winning the Grand Prize in his 2nd Grade declamation contest. He is determined to win despite his obvious “f” and “p” speech defect, a proclivity common amongst some Filipinos to interchange the pronunciation of English words with the letters “f” and “p”. His mother takes an active albeit humorous role in preparing him for the competition. This is a story of perseverance, family unity and the real meaning of triumph and possibly the “Rocky” of all declamation contests!

A painter goes on an exile after finding out he has Guillain Barre Syndrome, a rare disorder that prevents him from painting.

This is a story of the journey of 3 souls heading towards healing and redemption. RINGGO is a 16-year old boy who works as a dog-shooter (the one who assists in mating the dogs with breed -- he will see to it that the private parts of the stud and bitch will be locked during the mating and no sperm will be put to waste in the process). Ringgo works for BONG, a 40-year old lesbian who is a breeder of dogs. One of Bong’s dogs is I’nca, who is a troubled Doberman. Things will get complicated when Ringgo, I’nca and Bong developed a relationship as if they were really mother and child, and get entangled in each other’s personal issues and becomes each other’s protector and defender. The one that ties the three of them is that invisible umbilical cord... the cord of love and sacrifice.

After a painful heartbreak, Niña and her Tita Nancy take a unique road trip with the "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" tour van to help them let go of the past.

Mario and his brother Alonso become committed to fishing in a coral-reef in the southern Philippines. With many other children of different origin they work for starvation wages on the ship of unscrupulous captain Murène. Together they drive shoals of fish into a big fish trap having to use the dangerous muro-ami technique in the coral-reefs. Fastened to a stone, the little divers jump into the water to reach the depth faster. Without any equipment they dive down 30 meters. The brutal captain treats the exhausted children like slaves

Best friends Lucy and Shayne enter a forbidden lighthouse and encounter two ghosts that cause them to fall. After getting unharmed, they soon discover that the place is haunted by two witches marked with unfinished business.

Two convicts become friends because of their common goal, which is to plot revenge on their enemies.

Upon the advice of his heart, Arturo searches for the girl with whom he should settle down.

A plot of love, lust, lies and revenge intertwine in one hot summer where multiple fates collide: Janine, a rich socialite returning home to the Philippines with her parents after the death of the family matriarch; Marco, her coy boyfriend harboring a secret connected to both their pasts; Loida, her mother, still haunted by the memory of a baby forcibly taken away from her 18 years ago; Leni, a simple girl and housemaid with big ambitions, silently jealous of Janine's looks, money, and man; and Robert, Marco's best friend simply longing for Leni's heart, if she could only take her eyes off of Marco.

Old wounds are reopened among the Montano and the Capule families when the former’s loyal customers start patronizing the latter. Young lovers Romina Montano and Julius Capule are caught in this web of intrigue, espionage and extra rice.

The back to school adventures of Elvis Presto and James D, two bestfriends who likes to act, dress, and look like their idols Elvis Presley and James Dean respectively.

A film about sexual frustrations, middle-aged problems, workplace tensions, and other challenges that beset married and unmarried couples.

Loosely based on the kidnapping of a broadcast journalist and her crew, the film shows a 10-year-old Tausug boy used by the Abu Sayyaf group to "charge" the cellphones they use in negotiating for their demands for the release of their captives. Things take a strange turn when the journalist befriends Shihab and earns his trust as Shihab finds himself torn between his loyalty to his Tausug brothers and the bond he has forged with his newfound friend.

Relationship problems plague a family of siblings in director Catherine O. Camarillo's multilayered indie drama. Businessman Jimmy is reeling from the shock of being dumped by his fiancee, while his sisters cope with their own romantic woes. Leslie can't decide between two eligible bachelors, Annette nurtures a long-distance love, and housewife Claire can't get pregnant.

While saving his brother's life, Benjo dies, but he decides to forgo the afterlife and remain on Earth as his family's protector in this touching supernatural drama. Determined to help his distraught and lonely mom, Benjo the wayward soul tries desperately to reach out to his loved ones, eventually finding help from another drifting spirit.

Honey and Sweet, a Filipino mother and daughter arrive in Copenhagen, uncertain of what the trip might lead to, but Sweet certainly does not trust her mother's Danish fiance, Fergus.

Haunted by the ghost of a past crime, two friends find themselves stranded with strangers in a convenience store where abandoned souls await their victims.

A famous singer is conscripted and receives training from a barking veteran drill sergeant.

A young man succumbs to depression due to failure in his career and love life. He then meets a girl. What follows is obsession, romance, and melancholy.

Agent Tony Falcon looks to find out where a scientist's formula is before it goes to the wrong hands.

Pretending to be happy in a high school reunion, Sheila, Daisy, and Sandy find comfort and love with each other when they reveal about the sad realities of their lives.

A rich girl dies in childbirth, leaving the baby with her grief-stricken husband. Her parents kidnap the infant but he abducts the little boy back. Poor and jobless, the father is now faced with the responsibility of providing for his son.

Now the Hunter, soon the Hunted... A man in a fantastic race with quick guns, fast women, and swift death, and always, blood soaked the sands.

Villagers have been disappearing since a new neighbor moved in.

Joy (Carmi Martin) has only one ambition in life - to get rich and give her family a more comfortable life. She enslaves herself to William (Mark Gil) in her hope that he will help her achieve her goal.

Gabriel makes sure his apartment is tidy before he takes his own life, until an unfamiliar cat trespasses and messes up the whole place again.

Tom, Dick and Harry were falsely accused of killing a popular radio commentator and their girlfriends, Amy, Susie and Tessie were helping them prove their innocence.

A story about Julieta who is courted by a janitor and a principal.

Filippine Films presents Rosa del Rosario - Domingo Principe

A syndicate old-timer named Ben needs to do one last assignment before the boss he works for grants him his much delayed retirement. Assigned to be his partner is the neophyte Morris, a trigger-happy, sadist who yearns to impress the syndicate boss. For Ben, this last assignment turns out to be a journey of introspection, self-healing and redemption. With this awakening, he takes it upon himself to pull Morris out of the eventual hell-of-a-life he says he has lived as a hitman.

Even after burial Orphea wants to embrace her beloved Eurydike, deceased from food poisoning on January 22nd. She passionately descends into the apocalyptic underworld in a quest of nine extraordinary songs, but maybe the wandering Eurydike no longer needs any love?

An action-drama movie starring Cesar Montano, Rosanna Roces, Jess Lapid Jr., Dan Alvaro, Willie Revillame. Dennis Roldan, Roy Alvarez, Roldan Aquino, Rommel Valdez, Gamy Viray, Archie Adamos, Cris Daluz, Danny Labra, Cris Aguilar, Jimmy Reyes, Polly Cadsawan, Josie Tagle, Rene Matias and Kimberly Diaz. Directed by Toto Natividad.

Seven-year-old Ding's dream of being a flight attendant shifts when he bonds with 'Bao,' a carabao.

An athlete prepares for an upcoming chess match accompanied by her college best friend, coping with pressure along the way.

Des is a woman suffering from aplastic anemia who receives weekly blood transfusions. This is administered in a blood bank where Emma works as a medical technician. One night, Des is mugged by Cleto. Going through her things, he discovers Des' diary and learns more about her person. He becomes drawn to her. He stalks her and is led to the blood bank where he learns of her predicament. He decides to sell his blood. With this act, Cleto feels a sense of redemption, his way of making up for the crime he has done to her and to others before her. At the blood bank, he also develops a relationship with Emma.

Proudly from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, Iyallatiw is a documentary featuring an old oral tradition on prayers for the dead. It pictures an almost dying tradition and the struggles of the manglualos in passing it to the future generation.

An old bachelor peacefully lives alone in a seaside town. His world completely changes by the arrival of a young woman fleeing and afterwards three more young girls.

The feud between the Medranos (poor but respected in the society) and the Sablantes (wealthy and corrupt) dates back to World War II where Joaquin Sablante was a Japanese collaborator while Pablo Medrano was a guerilla leader. The feud erupts anew when Pepe Medrano accidentally shoots Rex Sablante in a night club and when Pablo opposes Manolo Sablante's mayoral bid. Elected through fraud, Manolo has had Pablo killed, thus beginning a string of murders and counter-murders which eventually wipes out both families.

Five brokenhearted LGBTQ individuals will be given a chance to heal in the most beautiful places, and there’s a million-peso prize at the end. Can they stay single and prove to everyone that their lives will still go on? Or will their hearts open up to loving once more?

Wendy, a former child performer, lost her star after her tantrum went public. She grows up thinking that the world still loves her. Forced to provide to her family, she tries to reclaim her former glory by auditioning to reality shows and contests. When her efforts fail, a secret fan provides her a job as a barista in a coffee shop.

The film is about the entangled stories of a group of young people who happen to be in a bar in Puerto Princessa, Palawan on the eve of All Souls' Day. As midnight approaches, we become complicit as each of them takes the challenge of the Pangangaluluwa, a seemingly innocent Palawan tradition of honoring the dead by stealing something from the living. A young guitarist battles with crabs; an Indian guy gets caught in a crossfire; a hot cougar meets her match; Cosplayers battle for road supremacy; a religious woman finds true faith in a strange kiss; and a bartender prepares a drink that results in the most bitter of brews. The movie holds up a mirror to this dark night and bear witness to the inevitable consequences that mark the choices of the young

Two teenage brothers are attempting to escape an unnamed city controlled by an iron-fisted mayor. They must first break away from the cycle of crime, while trying to run from rival gang leaders and the state's murderous vigilantes.

A military squad leader returns to his base, bringing a confiscated book that contains names of leaders and financiers of the rebels. But before he could present the book to his higher officials, rebels attack his base. The officer is killed and the rebels flee taking back the book and the girlfriend of the officer's assistant who is the lone survivor of the attack. Higher ups form a task force, headed by the lone survivor, to retrieve the book -- and his girlfriend.

Centering on a hedonistic woman’s escapades throughout the urban landscape of Manila.

Ana is a mute woman living in a remote mountain area with her sick father, who is searching for a man who will marry his daughter. He finds Miguel, a man who expresses interest in marrying Ana, because of the land he could inherit from her father. In the absence of her traveling husband, Ana meets Mayang, with whom she forms a great friendship. Soon, Ana discovers that Mayang is also married to Miguel.

Samuel hones his son Alvaro to be the ultimate weapon for his revenge against the cruel De Lara clan. But while doing his mission, Alvaro discovers a dark secret and goes after his father instead.

Anna, a bright and dedicated doctor, crosses path with a sensitive and talented composer named Eric.

A silly bromance sparks out of the closeness of two laidback high school boys, Maki and Kaloy. When a night of reckless drinking with their friends leads them to share a bed together, they discover the true nature of their bromance and now must decide whether to embrace this or risk losing each other's friendship.