06 August 2015 - The Sinehan sa Summer film festival at the Philippine Consulate General in New York has a rich line-up for its run for every Tuesday night from August 04 to September 01.
It's an exciting selection, not the least the films for the Shorts Nights which are generally the most well-attended events of the festival, especially by young Filipino-Americans and their mixed friends. Most of the shorts this year are Cinemalaya finalists and winners and this Consulate General festival will be a rare, likely the only, chance to see this amazing ferment of youthful creativity.
All the films are subtitled, except for the acclaimed “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino” by National Artist Lamberto Avellana, set in old Intramuros, which was filmed with the original English dialogue by another National Artist, Nick Joaquin, generally considered the greatest Philippine writer of his generation. It features another National Artist, Daisy-Hontiveros Avellana. It is a privilege to present this film, which is rarely seen due to the vagaries of Philippine film preservation, on its 50th anniversary and the 100th birth anniversary of Director Avellana as well as Producer Manny de Leon of the LVN family.
“The Animals”, the entertaining and audacious film by Gino Santos, is set in the Alabang world of rich, spoiled kids. Caveat: The faint of heart might find the film too daring, and parents might want to bring their teenage kids for juvenile guidance. It will be preceded by a charming short featuring this young director in an acting solo. “The Animals” won Best Editing and was a finalist for Best Film at the 2012 Cinemalaya film festival.
“K'na The Dreamweaver” by Ida del Mundo is a timeless fable set in the world of the T'bolis, one of several ancient tribal cultures that have survived in Mindanao. It had a one-week theatrical run earlier this year in New York City, and is back at the request of those who missed it or who would like to see the film again with friends in tow. The film garnered Special Jury Prize and Best Production Design at the 2014 Cinemalaya film festival. It recently won Best of Show at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto in a field of 86 films selected from 350 international entries.
The film festival is free admission and free food and refreshments will be served. END