We present the programme of the Sinepiyu Film Festival (Philippines) which will take from May 2 – 7, 2022 in the FDCP Channel.

About the festival:
SINEPIYU is Far Eastern University’s most prestigious film festival. Now in it’s 13th year, it has maintained a benchmark of credibility as a university-based film competition, offering two divisions – ALL TAMARAWS, and INTERSCHOOL with three categories, Narrative, Documentary, and Experimental. The ALL TAMARAWS (All Tams) category is exclusive for students currently enrolled in FEU-Manila, while the INTERSCHOOL category is open for students filmmakers (College and Senior High School) across the Philippines.

Festival’s Schedule:
May 2 – 7, 2022 – Online Screenings
May 2, 2022 – Zoom in: Regional Films in the 21st Century (Talk)
May 3, 2022 – Experimental Talkback
May 4, 2022 – Documentary Talkback
May 5, 2022 – Narrative Talkback
May 7, 2022 – Awards Night

Interschool Jury Members
Narrative Category: Elvert Bañares, Jason Tan Liwag, Zig Dulay
Experimental Categroy: Timmy Harn, Khavn De La Cruz
Documentary Category: Venice Atienza, Baby Ruth Villarama

All Tamaraws Jury Members
Narrative Category: Carlo Catu, Martika Escobar, Richard Bolisay

All Tamaraws Finalists

𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 by Jayven Manzano – Far Eastern University
Leo, Candace, and their friends planned a vaction of their lives. Everything was ready and set in place for their roadtrip to go smoothly, until it wasn’t. Their car is unexplainably halted in the middle of nowhere where they find themselves frustrated and exhausted. All of a sudden, a stranger comes out of nowhere who insists he can get the car back up and running again. Things soon take a turn for the worse and everyone finds themselves in survival mode.

𝐚𝐫𝐊𝐢𝐛𝐨 by Vhannie Dacumos – Far Eastern University
In an era where people seated in the government had taken control over technology to protect their own interest and reputation, Karma lost the most important files that could have served her justice. Since then, she had one goal in mind. To restore the missing files and expose her predator.

𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 by Francis Tavas – Far Eastern University
A longing teenage boy was engulfed by sadness as he realized the absence of his beloved moon in the vast night sky – not knowing that he who was once so far away would suddenly appear within his reach. In an enchanting take on the rich heritage of Filipino mythical creatures and superstitions, a journey into the worlds of known and unknown, of allurement and discovery awaits him and his moon. Would reality give way to this fantastical tale?

𝐈𝐋𝐎 by Serafin Emmanuel Catangay – Far Eastern University
Ilo takes part in a challenge that will equip him for an invasion that brings danger to his son Nery, and their beloved island. Will he succeed or will he fall into the tricks and traps that will test the entirety of his being, which could lead to the complete fall of their community?

𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬+𝐢𝐧𝐚 by Jessa Doydora – Far Eastern University
Makaraan ang ilang taong paninirahan sa Maynila, uuwi na si Kristina. Ngunit habang tumatagal ang kanyang paglalagi sa kanilang baryo, manghihina siya’t magkakasakit na ituturing ng ama na albularyo bilang senyales na siya ay nakursunadahan ng isang engkanto.

𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚 by Jillian Marie V. Bolayog – Far Eastern University
In the province of Quezon, a boy named Kokoy decided to write a letter to his father, Mikko, who happens to have returned home after his past sins. Yet, Mikko seems to be distant and cold to Kokoy. Will he still be able to express his love for his father?

𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 by Lily Gomes – Far Eastern University
With an unknown epidemic looming over a remote community, the town healer’s daughter closely observes as she tries to unveil the truth behind mysterious disease that devastates women in the area.

𝐏𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 by Migs Ruallo – Far Eastern University
Pempem, a 15- year old high school student raised in a conservative and religious household suddenly finds an adult magazine inside her school backpack. The discovery of Bomba Magazine aroused Pempem to explore her true self.

𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 by Carl Mendoza – Far Eastern University
The president of an unnamed nation has suddenly been murdered. Three suspects are brought to trial, a politician, a student activist, and a maid.

𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚 by Edel Torres Hembrador & Samantha Maceda – Far Eastern University
A woman at her prime painting on three large walls of white cloth the reality she pleases to see. Commotion happens behind these walls, the woman blindingly proceeds.

𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀 by Jullie Marx Barriga – Far Eastern University
A 70 year old man named Juanito, is eager to find an answer behind his wife’s frequent leaving. One day, Juanito asked his wife Teresita about her whereabouts and decided to come with her and do some errands outside. Wherein, he found out about a young man named Edward who claims to be his wife’s son.

Interschool Category

Narrative

𝐀𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐚 𝐀𝐭𝐨𝐧 by VinJo Entuna – University of the Philippines
During the Marcos Dictatorship in Negros Island, Philippines of 1985, the Magbuelas family and their community of dumaan farmers face a brutal threat from the mythical creature called the Amomonggo. The creature is said to be the culprit behind the series of killings among the community. One day, a corpse was again found having sustained brutal mauling. The community is forced to further submission into solitude for their safety while in a non-violent struggle for their rights.

The Magbuelas family remains silent on the recent death via massacre of their first-born Isio in protest at Escalante. This is to protect the innocence and the childhood of their remaining child Ani and to distance her from the harsh realities of their society. The mother, Lalahon decides to comfort her child from longing her brother using folktales of the Amomonggo and the Fireflies that her brother also used to tell her. Meanwhile, her husband Pandaki continues to work at the sugarcane fields for the family and organize their union in secrecy during the night as it’s leader. Due to the recent murders of their key members, the union is struck with anxiety and fear and it is up to him to keep the non-violent struggle alive. They know the truth behind the state’s disinformation about the killings pointed towards the Amomonggo.

Ani always dreamt about her brother as if he’s warning her of a grim future ahead. Those premonitions came to be true as an infantry of soldiers barged in their home and opened fire during the silence of the night. They took the body of Pandaki and staged it to be an Amomonggo attack while leaving the rest of them to rot. Luckily, Ani and Lalahon survived and was taken into the protective custody of the religious nuns. Lalahon was left with no choice but to join the armed struggle against the dictatorship while entrusting her child to the nuns. This time, to protect her future and the nation’s democracy.

𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 by Jermaine Tulbo – Meridian International College
In 2030, Mt. Apo’s aftermath causes the land filled with gold, a family of a farmer, father, and son finds hope in the land where gold is hidden. Will they end their poverty?

𝐂𝐮𝐭/𝐎𝐟𝐟 by Von Victor Viernes & Sean Russel Romero – Mapúa University
Under the roof of a masculine household, Chris mistakenly reveals his sexuality to his father. As all goes down to his vulnerability, Chris faces his biggest threat that ultimately embodies the opposite of his belittled confidence.

𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐨 by Dan Verzosa – De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
On an ordinary morning, months before the country’s Presidential election, a mother listens to her child’s cassette tapes, audio recordings from years before. As she recounts and reimagines the events that happened during her daughter’s thesis defense while waiting for her daughter’s return.

𝐇𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐚 𝐍𝐠𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐠𝐚 𝐀𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧 by Mike Cabarles – De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
A teenager boy plans to escape from his small town to confront his growing existential crisis as love and familiarity are being challenged.

𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 by Shai Colanse – National Teachers College
In a public high school comfort room, Lilibeth found herself pregnant. After confronting Makoy, her lover, about her pregnancy, they both explored the possible ways to escape their situation. But later on, Lilibeth became unsure of what she really wants.

𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐧 by Vahn Pascual – De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
A senior gay couple faces the biggest challenge in their long-standing relationship as one of them is diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Together they try to survive the challenges of changing dispositions and fading memories.

𝐌𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 by Gabriel Carmelo – University of the Philippines – Los Baños
My Mother’s Bicycle tells the story of city girl Daruna who rushes back to her hometown to spend the last moments with her dying mother. Unfortunately, she doesn’t make it in time to bid farewell. With only a few hours left before the burial, she rides away in her mother’s bicycle to reminisce on the moments they shared and the lessons she learned.

𝐒𝐢 𝐎𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐞 by Maria Kydylee Torato – University of the Philippines Visayas
With the pandemic as its backdrop, the story is about a day in the life of a delivery rider named Oddie whose mother is at the hospital in need of an oxygen tank. After asking for an additional delivery to pay for his mother’s medical needs, Oddie ends up looking for an oddly unlocatable customer named Trisha Lopez. Along his way, Oddie encounters several people related to her. He is passed from one person to the next until he crosses paths with someone who will change his day-to-day life as a delivery rider.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬 by Vien Dimaculangan – De La Salle – Lipa
The story revolved around Dennis Durante, a 28-year-old retrenched writer who experienced major struggles because of the pandemic and the lack of opportunities thereof. Thus, Dennis had to try and work his way into the social media landscape, where he found part-time jobs—some were malicious—to aid his need for income.

Experimental

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞! by Aron Barrameda Abad – Mapúa University
A lady hears the ringing in her phone – a signal for the “bristle time.” She answers the call from the man with whom she will unfold her deepest and darkest desires.

𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐭 by Redsh Alba – University of the Philippines Diliman
A person stares into nothingness, and it stares back — taking them to a journey of their loneliness, guilt and pain.

𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐲 𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐥𝐮𝐥 by Bradley Jason Pantajo – Polytechnic University of the Philippines
A man tries to recite Hamlet’s soliloquy but couldn’t seem to finish it.

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 by David Edric Jimenez Collado – De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Living in darkness, a girl only has a mirror to keep her company. Surrounded by voices that torment her, a sudden opportunity to escape comes in the form of a bright light that suddenly bursts before her.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐬 by Juan Antonio Saavedra – De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Time is a linear path. Everyone’s life runs on time and no matter how dark and uncertain the way forward is, there is no going back. You have no choice but to keep walking – wherever that will lead you.

Documentary

𝐀 𝐏𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐲 by James Magnaye – Malayan Colleges Laguna
A Puff of Misery is a documentary film venturing Wayne’s coming of age as a young adult living in an emotionally abusive broken family.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 by Calvin A. Ponteblanca – University of the Philippines Diliman
“Why is time only moving forward?” A young man asks himself this question as he narrates a day in his life and reveals the disorders he grapples with.

𝐆𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 by Ruka Azuma & Mel Perez – iACADEMY
In a country where fascism, foolishness of people, and foresight of leadership come into play, Filipino artists tell all how it is to be catalysts of sociopolitical conversations through art.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 by Maxine Angelique Muñoz – De La Salle College of St. Benilde
Tomas Mateo Claudio, a Morongueño, grew with remarkable leadership skills, which he shows as he officiates as a commander of their military training in his elementary school. Other than his love for leadership, he gave so much importance to education. But unfortunately, Tomas had to stop studying to provide for his family’s needs. He worked in the Bureau of Prisons but also got fired. Tomas took that chance to go to the west especially, that his mother passed away. While working in the States, he didn’t forget about his studies and graduated from business college. Then, when World War I broke, Tomas tried to enlist in the US Army but got rejected. But because of his dedication and love for the country, he was determined to join the military. He eventually got accepted and went on the battlefield.

𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 by Mike Cabarles – De La Salle College of St. Benilde
Conchita Botardo and Pacita Botardo, two aging twins and the grandmothers of the filmmaker, revisit the Rock Garden. The place, once a paradise, where it used to be full of energy and filled with memories, has a majestic beach, zoo, and noise. Since the start of the pandemic, the place has become dormant. After many years, as the restriction is being lifted, Rock Garden is slowly back to its operation. Conchita and Pacita reconnect once again by the beach.

This documentary film is a compilation of archival footage and images, a recollection of memories, and a conversation of two women. It centers on the relationship between the twin as they separate and have their own family. The changes of Rock Garden are layered by the conversations riveted on the experiences of the twin as women, as mothers, and as lolas. The documentation of their lives will always be remembered along with the currents of the beach and the sound of the animals echoing in everyone’s heart.

To watch the films please visit the FDCP Channel here: https://fdcpchannel.ph