16th Sinepiyu Film Festival – Interschool Section 2024

By Asian Film Festival on April 27, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

We present the selected films for the Interschool Section of the Sinepiyu Film Festival, which will take place from April 29 – May 3, 2024 at the Far Eastern University Manila (Philippines). And online from May 2 – 16, 2024 in JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel.

Narrative

Ang sandata ni mama by Grae Dela Cruz & Vynce Genica Ong – Bunny Aid Productions

♫ Nandito na si Xavier X, bayani ng lahat Lalaban para sa hustisya’t katotohanan ♫
Every day after school, a 10-year-old boy named Ken Marquez always watches the animated hero show, Xavier X. One day, the show suddenly got banned from airing. This confused Ken so he decided to search for answers. After asking his journalist mother and getting no information from her, he discussed the matter with his friends, who are also avid fans of the show. What Ken and his friends talked about grew his curiosity even more, and ended up suspecting his mother as the person behind Xavier X’s cancellation. This will soon lead to a discovery that will force Ken to face villains much more dangerous than the one from his favorite TV show.

Bata, bata ka lang by Karl Cedrick Marquez – Dreamy Pictures

Young local students of Barangay Malabanan are faced with the realization that their friendship will end due to their school’s closing. Naya, a determined young girl, inspires her friends to find their voices and stand up against the situation, igniting unexpected change within their community.

Bulubaliskad by Crispel Jhun Ducay – ANGGULO COMMUNITY

At their young age, Andrei and Eiya survive the way of life destitution gives them.

Dákit by Prym Cabral – Dapithapon Productions

Tin is a young woman who is able to see her mother’s ghost (Ima) since she was little. As she wakes up in their provincial mansion, alone, Tin realizes that it is the day of her Dad’s death anniversary. She gets a mysterious visit from her boyfriend Ollie, the same day her brother JD calls her to announce that he is moving her out of their house. Despite their disagreement, JD visits Tin, and Tin must make the choice to finally move out–away from the house that started her grief.

Desilya by Toni Cañete

A day after they come back home to Cagayan de Oro City after thirteen years in the States, Owen’s mom, Vivian, runs away. Together with her estranged grandmother, Lor, Owen scours the city to look for her mom. The film follows Owen, Lor, and Vivian too, as they let memory lead them to what they are looking for. When they finally find Vivian, much is unpacked about the lies and secrets told in the present that find their roots all the way from the past. They all unravel, and trauma is the binding material. With one foot in the present and the other in the past, the three end up understanding that moving forward entails both feet and all six – together.

Guys! Action! by Jem Catabijan – Kuhang Putting Production

“Guys! action!” is a short satirical film about high school multimedia club students wanting to create their dream film to be submitted to a prestigious film festival to prove their worth against the school administration. Making a rigged film documentation about themselves as the next prodigies of the film industry in contrast to the shit show they went through during production.

Indigo by Ace Balbarez

Indigo, a stuttering college student, finds a magic cubicle that transports him back in time. Upon abusing this power to improve his speech condition, Indigo gets lost in time and experiences the history of student activism in the university from the 2000s to the 1970s. With the country’s present political situation of profound state propaganda that obscured and distorted the truth, this film aims to rediscover and reclaim a narrative in history. Indigo wishes for the audience to remember the forgotten past that should haunt our present generation.

Last Full Show by Ivan Villacorta Gentolizo – plustwo

Teban, an 11 year-old boy tries to make ends meet with her mother Linda, a street sweeper by selling bootleg or pirated copies of films at the public market of a downtown capital. Day in and day out, all Teban can think of are films which opened a lot of doors, widening his imagination and curiosity with the world around him and hoping to fulfill his ultimate dream of watching a film inside the comfort of a cinema for the very first time. Together with his best friend, Maymay, the two will embark on a journey of finding the true meaning and power of what it’s like to see a film and its capacity to inspire generations.

Pusoy Dos by Isaiah Omana – Woozy Studios

Two teenage hustlers messed with the wrong authority. Jean and Michel attempted a theft to the most feared syndicate leader at their locality. The theft went to a downward spiral after being caught in action, breaking an antique owned by the syndicate leader, that caused the two teenagers a huge debt. Things also got worse after being mixed up with the syndicate leader’s drug industry, putting the lives of Jean and Michel in the verge of death.

Super Alaya: Ang bagong tagapagtanggol by Earvic Noay – Young Vision Room

The film will jump back and forth into two settings. One, a location inside a production house meeting room that has mid-modern century elements on it, where one costume designer and two film executives argue which costume they will choose for their female protagonist for the superhero film that they are currently developing. And second, a mockup scene from the superhero film that they’re developing that will intercut during the explanation of an executive when they’re giving their reasoning behind their choice of costume. It will show the actress in said costume during a fight scene and how the executive’s decision affects the film whether it is from the stunt choreography aspect, audience reaction, and even potential censoring.

Documentary

Ang pangamba sa brgy. La Huerta by Jacob Hinanay – Sinemapa Productions

With the ongoing reclamation projects, Gilbert Reyes, a local fisherman from Brgy. La Huerta, confronts the negative ecological impact posed by the reclamation at Manila Bay. Following through the daily process of fishing as he navigates the familiar waters that have sustained his community for generations, and how the ongoing project will affect different aspects of livelihood of his community from the coastal areas.

Byukon by Ryand Angelo G. Ugalde – Arapaap Creatives

This documentary follows the story of Adha, a loyal ‘Miss Gay’ candidate and her quest to make ends meet by constantly joining in beauty contests. A popular form of entertainment in the country, BYUKON unravels the narratives of konteseras behind the pageant stage.

Cinebuano by Joaquin Perocillo – Kuro-Kuro Productions

Cebuano cinema is often overlooked when discussing Philippine cinema. Even though it was active from the 1950s to 1970s, it lacks the same level of recognition, appreciation, and promotion among the general public as Tagalog cinema. As a result, a portion of our country’s cinematic history seems to have been forgotten, where only a few moviegoers, film researchers, and students are familiar with Cebuano cinema. This documentary focuses on six individuals from Cebu, including two filmmakers, two actors, a film practitioner, and a film student. Cinebuano explores Cebu’s film scene, from its glorious past to its current state, aiming to bridge the gap between then and now. As the film unfolds, we hear their personal experiences and aspirations for the future of Cebu’s film scene.

Inukit by Elias Pernecita III – P1 Films

Centered around the nationally recognized woodcarving industry and culture of Paete, Laguna. This documentary examines the current status of the livelihood and art form amidst various environmental challenges and concerns that have limited its practice. Gathering opinions and statements from the perspective of a sculptor, a gallery owner, and an official from the local government.

Kasama Kang tumanda by Bianca Maxine Villanueva – Project 55

Not all long-term relationships exist because the foundation is rock solid. Kasama Kang Tumanda follows a 66-year-old alcoholic and chain-smoker, Milagros Mercado, with her husband, Angel Mercado, through the lens of their granddaughter. Their perspectives about life together unfold amid dog bites, birthdays, beer bottles, and cigarettes.

Experimental

8 by Ervie Jay Torzar – Zzz Production

“Otso” revolves around the wonders of nature, society, and the realities of life. It runs continuously in an endless loop of the natural world, where the same things are repeated again and again in an infinite state. Showcasing the endurance of each individual during the most challenging times, continuing to spin and cope with the fast-paced world, it should not stop; as we revolve, we resolve.”

Playing God by Bianca Maxine Villanueva – Project 55

In the midst of a prayer, a young woman struggles to keep her faith.

Please Keep This Copy by Miguel Lorenzo Peralta – Miko Peralta

An unseen persona reexamines old documents, objects, and audio recordings from their time in an all boys’ Catholic high school to understand how these students from a not-so distant past navigated through a controlling institution, in a time of political turmoil, and still found their own little means of liberation.

Rod by Angelo Miguel “Ulap” Chua – Motion 13 Productions

Recounts the 1985 People’s Strike organized by the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) against the tyrannic Marcos Regime in Escalante, Negros Occidental.