2013 National Fim Festival 'Sineng Pambansa' Opens in All SM Cinemas

The Film Development Council of the Philippines, in cooperation with SM Cinema, the largest cinema exhibitor chain in the country, brings you SinengPambansa National Film Festival 2013 – All-Masters Edition. To launch this September, the National Film Festival (NFF) 2013 – All Masters Edition will feature twelve of the best and most prolific film directors in the country. This year’s NFF will showcase fresh masterpieces from Philippine’s cinema greats: TikoyAguiluz, Mel Chionglo, PequeGallaga and Lore Reyes, Joel Lamangan, Elwood Perez, Gil Portes, Jose Javier Reyes, Maryo J. Delos Reyes, ChitoRono, Romeo Suzara and Celso Ad Castillo.

Elwood Perez of the BilanginangBituinsaLangit fame, makes a comeback with Otso starring veteran actress Anita Linda which is a story of an ambidextrous, aging author who calls on his Muse to rid of his writer’s block while Gil M. Portes, director of the GawadUrian-winning MgaMuntingTinig directs Isang Tag-arawni Twinkle, an account of a drug addict who seeks rehabilitation and in the process re-connects with her dying father. Isang Tag-arawni Twinkle stars actress Ellen Adarna.

Much awaited among the line-up is the familiar powerhouse tandem of Lore Reyes and PequeGallaga who, for this festival, has Sonata to offer. Sonata, which stars dramatic artists Cherrie Gil and Richard Gomez, tells the story of a worn-out artist who recovers her spirit through a relationship with a young boy. Gallaga and Reyes had worked on a few films in the past which includes Magic Temple and Batang X.

Jose Javier Reyes, known for his mainstream blockbusters such as Kasal, Kasali, Kasaloand Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi directs AnoAngKulayngmgaNakalimutangPangarap?which has Bobby Andrews, Angel Aquino and Ryan Agoncillo in the cast. The movie traces the life of Teresa, who has dedicated sixty years of her life to the service of a middle class family at the expense of her own happiness and fulfilment. Now that the matriarch of the family has died, the children who were under her care have flown back from abroad to bury their mother and decide on the fate of their nanny.

RomySuzara comes back with his NFF opusTinik. Tiniktells the story of a middle-aged couturier who faces the many problems of being gay while, in the midst of all the dilemma, tries to hold on to his own dignity. Tinik stars Raymond Bagatsing and Hayden Kho. Suzara rose to fame in the early seventies with movies like TatlongMukhani Rosa Vilmaand Carinosa, both starring veteran actress Vilma Santos. TikoyAguiluz, on the other hand, directs Eman, a biopic on EmanLacaba, a brilliant poet turned activist with Matinee idol Derek Ramsey playing the lead role. Aguiluz has directed a similar biopic in the mid-80s:Balweg which is about rebel priest Fr. ConradoBalweg.

Lauriana by Mel Chionglocenters on domestic drama about a Philippine Constabulary soldier’s mistress in the 1950s. The film tackles obsession, passionate love and abuse.  Based on a true story, Chionglo describes the film as a psychological thriller. The film casts Bangs Garcia and AllenDizon.

A couple of this year’s NFF’s films have strong political themes. ChitoRono’s film Badil’s story revolves around a small barrio’s corrupted voting system seen through the eyes of a young boy while Joel Lamangan’sLihis is set in the 70s Martial Law era where two male members of a rebel organization, in the midst of their crusade, share an intimate relationship. Lihis stars Jake Cuenca and JoemBascon with Isabelle Daza, Lovi Poe and Ms. Gloria Diaz.

Veteran director Maryo J. Delos Reyes’Bamboo Flowers completes the line-up and is a film that tackles the rousing beauty of the Bohol Island and the lives of the people in it. The film casts indie film siren MyleneDizon with Max Collins, Neil Ryan Sese and Ruru Madrid. Maryo J. Delos Reyes directed Magnifico which won the Crystal Bear Award in the Berlin International Film Festival.
Each of the director’s film is set in their respective hometowns: Maryo J. de los Reyes in Bohol, TikoyAguiluz in Davao, PequeGallaga in Bacolod, and Mel Chionglo in Quezon, with undisclosed places for ChitoRoño and Jose Javier Reyes.

NFF will also feature a Masters’ Master Tribute to the late grate Celso Ad Castillo with the screening of his last film BahayngLagim with the documentary The Gospel According to Celso Kid. The festival, in honor of two other Philippine cinema legends Lino Brocka and Manuel Conde, will also screen the late directors’ films namely the restored version of Maynila: Sa MgaKukongLiwanag and Genghis Khan, respectively.

SinengPambansa National Film Festival 2013 will run from September 11 to 17 at all SM Cinema branches nationwide