The 3rd Edition of Cine de Oro Film Festival just got underway at Karumata (across Macasandig Covered Court) along Tomas Saco Street in Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City. The 2-day film festival set December 16-17 features a powerful lineup of shorts and narratives that will compete for the Golden Giant Fish Trophy designed by sculptor/painter Jericho Valjusto Vamenta. Browse over the contending films below and also get to know the filmmakers. For more info, just visit its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/orodecine
Experimental Category
It’s Raining Frogs Outside by Maria Estela Paiso
Maria Estela Paiso has been working in post-production since 2016 and has edited several features and shorts. After various visual experiments and hiphop music videos, she forayed into directing with her short Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol (It’s Raining Frogs Outside) in 2021. She spends her free time trying to get a 100 at karaoke.
Mga Kadini sa Kaugmaon by Karina Jabido and Shievar Olegario
Karina Jabido is a filmmaker and an educator. She has been writing since she was allowed to hold a pen. Through her films, she makes the seemingly ordinary scrutinized and seen differently. The 24-year-old filmmaker was a participant of the Cine De Oro Indaypendent Film Workshop (2020) and Sine Kabataan 5.Shievar Olegario is a multi-disciplinary artist. His works revolve around motion design, still, and performance art. His filmmaking career started by being a fellow of the 2019 Story Development Camp of Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival. He then made his debut short, OctoGod, which bagged the Golden Durian Prize for Best Mindanao Short at the Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival 2019 and also won the Best Short Film during the Binisaya Film Festival 2020. The film was programmed in several film festivals, such as Cinemalaya 2020 and Cinema Rehiyon 2020.
Ang Tawag ha ika-Pito nga Inop by Chickenligaya
Born and raised in Tacloban City, Leyte, Ligaya Villablanca is a believer of universality found in regional cinema. As an alumna of BFA Cinema from University of San Carlos, she was an acting officer of CINEMATA for three consecutive years; founded the film exhibition initiative, Salida;Serbesa in 2019; she was a member of the Society of Filipino Film Reviewers, and Founded the film exhibition initiative, Moving Eyelands PH, in hopes to promote regional cinema for the people from the regions. She was a participant of Cinema Without Borders Southeast Asia Workshop and served as a Jury in Lawadan: The Annual Short Film Festival in 2021 and Piling Obrang Pilipino in 2022. She produced Ako Sila (2022) a Santafehanon Queer film; her directorial works include Maupay Nga Aga, Puniti Kita (2019) and Ñawa, Mauli-Uli-Na (2021), & An Tawag Ha Ika-Pito Nga Inop (2022) all under Oks Manoks Productions. Currently based in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, she is now exploring the regional waves of film programming, cultural work, and being kind to oneself.
Ikot by Leander Tamayo
Leander B. Tamayo is currently a 3rd-year college student taking up Film at Mapua University. With filmmaking as his hobby, he has directed several mini projects, with post-production as his forte.
Jakol by Doydoy Megriño
Ralph Kevin “Doydoy” Megriño has been a long-time cinephile and a newbie filmmaker from Monkayo, Davao de Oro. After working as an English teacher in Japan for two years, he returned home and joined the FDCP Film School’s Basic Workshops on Filmmaking (2019) and Globe Studios’ G Sa Matek Movies + Workshops (2020), both at Cinematheque Centre Davao. He has written, directed, and produced short films under Hagdanan Productions.
Living Dead to Hell and Back by Conrad dela Cruz
Conrad dela Cruz was the Best Short Film Awardee during the recently concluded Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival.
Nasa Diyos ang Awa Nasa Tao ang Gawa by Johner Zulueta
Johner Zulueta is an author, actor, award-winning speaker and film director. He has done theatrical performances and musical plays; he has also worked with numerous student production houses and established JEZ Studios, creating documentaries and short films such as IN ACTION: Pagbangon Mula sa Panahon, Tulad ng Dati, DOBLE KARA: Online Influencer, and NASA DIYOS ANG AWA NASA TAO ANG GAWA.
One by One by Timmy Harn
Timmy Harn is a Filipino visual artist whose works are mostly based on the filmmaking process, and reflect personal experiences around his historic hometown of Manila. Like most Filipinos, Harn grew up in a strict Catholic upbringing that might be the reason for his eclectic interests ranging from the mystical and occult to extra-terrestrial culture. Most of his influences are characterized by the Philippines as a cultural melting pot brought by pre-historic early settlers from the region, down to its known stories of colonization. His interest in the old also translates to the use of various filmmaking formats, from the analog textures of film celluloid and home videos, to the high-definition clarity of digital imagery, allowing him to merge historical timelines and define “the feeling of a future.” Timmy’s feature films include “Dog Days” (2018), which premiered at the 2018 QCINEMA and at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; and “Reptilia in Suburbia” (2013). Ranging from full-length to short and video installations, his works have been exhibited at the Palais de Tokyo, Echo Park Film Center, and in festivals such as Wavelengths at the Toronto International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, Images Festival, among others.
Roundtrip to Happiness by Claudia Fernando
CLAUDIA FERNANDO has produced short films focusing on women and children empowerment and the out-of-school youth sector. In her last year at the UP Film Institute, she joined the Digital Filmmaking Workshop in Malaysia. Her undergrad film Ang Alamat ng Sari-Saring Sari Store (The Legend of the Filipino Sundry Store) won Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the UPFI Black Beret in 2019. It was screened in various film festivals, including Cinema Rehiyon and the Nabunturan Film Festival in 2021. Her second film Roundtrip to Happiness won the Jury Prize for Emerging Cinema at the Montanosa Film Festival 2022 and Special Citation Award for Innovation at the Sine Isla 2022. The filmmaker could be reached at fernandoclaudiam@gmail.com
Silo by Ashley Manugas
Ashley Manugas is a Cum Laude graduate from the University of the Philippines Cebu, holding a degree in Mass Communication. She expresses all her raw emotions and deep thoughts through her short films, which have been part of various film festivals all over the Philippines. That is when she’s not pleasing clients and bosses in the field of marketing, where she keeps a day job.
Narrative Category
Daybreak by Angelo Dabbay
Angelo Miguel G. Dabbay is a filmmaker from Cagayan de Oro City. He also works as a freelance artist: as a videographer, photographer, and graphic designer. His notable films are Kabuang og Kasakit (2017) and Perya (2018), which competed at Cinemagis Digital Short Film Festival as finalists in their respective years. Baruganan (2019) competed at Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival, Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival, and won the Golded Giant Fish Award during the first Cine de Oro Film Festival 2019. It was showcased at Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2020 and Cinema Rehiyon 2020.
Naboc by Rodel Artiaga
Rodel Jr. Artiaga is a filmmaker from Monkayo, Davao De Oro and a member of Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition (NABIFILMEX). He became part of the Sine Indie 5 workshop during Nabifilmex 2017 and debuted as a filmmaker in the 6th edition of NABIFILMEX with his film Konam, which was programmed for the 15th Mindanao Film Festival and Cinema Rehiyon 11. In the same year, the Konam was programmed for Camera Zizaño Film Festival in Greece and the IN-SHORT Film Festival in Nigeria. His most recent film Naboc (River of Gold) won the Gimadyawan Award for Best Film and Best Cinematography during the 9th edition of NABIFILMEX. Rodel continues to make films and tell stories focused on the Mindanawon people with our diverse and unique landscapes.
A Sabbath on the Longest Day of the Year by Edmund Telmo
Edmund Telmo is a Cum Laude graduate of International Studies at Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan. He founded Ilustrado Films, a local group of artist-filmmakers in Ozamiz City. He is presently a film instructor in La Salle University – Ozamiz. His past films have competed and have been recognized in film festivals like Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival and Cinema One Originals. His latest work, A Sabbath on the Longest Day of the Year, premiered at the Bangkok ASEAN Film Festival. Currently, it is a part of Kinosaurus Virtual Cinema in Indonesia.
i get so sad sometimes by Trishtan Perez
Trishtan Perez is a regional queer writer and director from Pagadian City. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines with a degree in Film whose short films have screened in local and international film festivals. His latest project, i get so sad sometimes (2021), was developed under the Objectifs Short Film Incubator (Singapore) in 2020 and eventually won Best Film at the QCinema International Film Festival. The film made it to CNN Philippines’ Best Filipino Films of 2021, was nominated for a Gawad Urian for Best Short Film, and received two nominations from the 38th PMPC Star Awards for Best Short Film and Best Short Film Director. He is a fellow of the Ricky Lee Scriptwriting Workshop and Mindanao Film Lab and has been listed as one of the “Eight emerging Filipino directors to look out for” by CNN Philippines. When not directing and writing, Trishtan Perez works as an Assistant Director and a Production Associate.
Maudi nga Arapaap by Daniel Magayon
Daniel Magayon is an independent filmmaker based in Manila,Phil ippines. Studying BA Digital Film at Mapua University, he started being a cinematographer after his first few student films until he decided that his talent and passion is on Directing. Now he produces and directs his own projects to create films that are both story-driven and visually-appealing.
Tong Adlaw nga Nag-snow sa Pinas by Wowa Medroso
Joshua Caesar “Wowa” Medroso is a graphic designer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Davao City. He has a degree in Mass Communication and a post-graduate degree in literature. His works include Trabungko, winner of the 17th edition of the Mindanao Film Festival, Eyes with Wonder, winner of the first edition of Davao Kilig Film Festival, Here Are Flowers, winner of the Paglaum: Stories of Courage Film Festival, and Kumbiyor, a Special Jury Mention at the 2021 Viddsee Jury Awards.
Mga Handum nga Nasulat sa Baras by Richard Salvadico and Arlee Sumagaysay
Richard and Arlie were born and raised in Iloilo and had both graduated from Central Philippine University. Richard graduated with a degree in Digital Media and Interactive Arts in 2018 while Arlie graduated with a degree in Mass Communications in 2019. They started their filmmaking career in 2018 and has been participating in both regional and national film making competitions since then. They started their career by making the film Dribol (Dribble), which won Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Direction in Gawad Cinemaybank 2018, followed by their film Katungdanan (Obligation), which was awarded Grand Jury Prize Awardee and was a finalist in Gawad Alternatibo in the same year. In 2019, they had their first national screening for his short film Chok, which was a finalist at Sinekabataan Year 3 and garnered the Audience Choice Award and was second best picture in Karapatan at kabataan Paligasahan para sa maiikling Pelikula. In the same year, they produced their film Gulut-anon nga Dulut (Gift of Animosity), which won Best Screenplay and Best Music in Cinekasimanwa Year 7. Their film Utwas (Arise) won Best, Picture, Best Cinematography and Direction in Cinekasimanwa Year 7, was a finalist in Cinemalaya Film Festival 2019, and the winner of the Best Picture dduring the first Bamasa Film Festival in Bantayan Island, Cebu. In 2022, they were granted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’-Eksena Cinema Quarantine 2 to make their film Mga Handum nga Nasulat sa Baras under the producership of the award-winning director of the popular film John Denver Trending, Arden Rod Condez.
Infolitan sa Balay ni Ben and John by Angelo Gillo
Angelo Pimentel Gillo lives in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Ever since he was little, he always enjoyed watching movies, where he learned to speak English. Inspired by Taika Waititi, Bo Burnham, and Wes Anderson, he joined an interschool film competition on his senior year where his entry, Walang Ilaw (Power Shortage), a 15-minute comedic short film, won the Best Director Award. He has directed five short films, D.P.N.N.L. (2019), an official selection at the 33rd CCP Gawad Alternatibo Film Festival, Tahan Na, Hannah (2019), Ninong, Enge Arep, which qualified in the 3-Shot Film Festival 2021 and the Montañosa Film Festival 2022, Siyang Nakaririnig which is an official entry for FaCine 28 and Cinema Rehiyon 2022, and his latest short film, Infolitan sa Balay ni Ben and John, which is currently competing at the Cine de Oro Film Festival 2022
Trash Messiah by Stanley Alcala and Andy Alvarez
Stanley Alcala is a film director, editor, producer, and writer from Dumaguete City, responsible for such short films as Hugyaw sa Ilang Kahilom in 2018, A Wakeful Sennight in 2019, and Best Mayo in 2021. Wakeful Sennight went on to win Best Film back-to-back in the Lutas Film Festival and Pasundayag Film Festival of that year. With Best Mayo, he garnered Best Editing in Lutas Film Festival 2021. He is also beginning a career as a medical doctor, having graduated from the Silliman University Medical School in 2019.Andy Alvarez is a Dumaguete-based film and video director and theater actor. Aside from other numerous projects of note, he has helped Potlight Pictures produce A Wakeful Sennight (2019) and Best Mayo (2021) — two short films that have garnered several awards from local and national film festivals.
Golden Bells by Kurt Soberano
Kurt Soberano has trained professionally as an actor at the American Conservatory Theater, Moscow Art Theater, Repertory Philippines, Negros Summer Workshop, and Star Magic Workshops. He is a former talent for television and advertisments under ABS-CBN Western Visayas appearing in MagTV na Amiga, Kapamilya Mas Winner Ka, and The Morning Show. His previous films have been official selections to the Anatolia Film Festival in Turkey, the Annual Filipino Cine Festival in San Francisco, and the Hanoi International Film Festival in Vietnam. He is currently a host and master of ceremonies for private, corporate, and political events in Bacolod City.
Here’s the Golden Giant Fish Trophy.
all photos/images from Cine de Oro Film Festival FB Page
