Sinag Maynila is the brainchild of globally famous Filipino director Brillante Mendoza and Solar Picture’s big boss and long-time Filipino cinema advocate Mr. Wilsong Tieng.
This year’s Sinag Maynila is the biggest yet as the festival includes five full-length films that are making their Philippine premiere, four of which are world premieres. Also in competition are six documentaries and ten short films, plus a post-production lecture series, a film appreciation symposium, filmmakers’ Fellowship Night, special screenings of world-class films and other activities.
The full-length feature films in competition are “He Who is Without Sin” by Jason Paul Laxamana, “The Highest Peak” by Arnel Barbarona, “Kintsugi” (Beautifully Broken) by Lawrence Fajardo, “Latay ” (Battered Husband) by Ralston Jover, and “Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan” (The Revolution Knows No Gender) by Joselito Altarejos.
In Sinag Maynila 2020’s official selection in the documentary section are “A Remembering of Disremembering” by Cris Bringas, “Agos” by Jerel Travezonda; “Coal Story, Bro” by RA Rivera; “Kung Saan Ka Happy: An A.D.N. Story” by Kimberly Ilaya; “Mga Bayaning Ayta” by Donnie Sacueza; and “Vahay: A Documentary on The Ivatan House” by Rica Arevalo.
Selected for the lineup of short films are “Ang Kaibigan ni Imaginary F.” by Joey Paras; “Dasal” by Angela Andres; “Leave Notes” by Yssa Valdes; “Nilalang (Of Being and Deceit)” by Juan Carlo Tarobal; “Pabasa kan Pasyon:” by Hubert Tibi; “Silang Mga Nakatago sa Dilim” by Diana Manguiat and Angelica Nitura; “Supot” by Philip Giordano; “Tahanan” by Mick Quito; “Tarang (Life’s Pedal)” by Arvin Belarmino and Patsy Ferrer; and “Together” by Blasgil Tanquilit.
The festival’s opening ceremonies will be on March 17 featuring the screening of the digitally restored and remastered 1985 Lino Brocka masterpiece, White Slavery.
Another highlight is the Film Development Council of the Philippines Film Talks series with two free Post Production Workshop form John Wong of Shutter Post. Part of the FDCP Film Talks is a Film Appreciation Workshop featuring the 44th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture Mindanao by Brillante Mendoza to be held on Saturday, March 21 from 1 pm to 5 pm at SM Megamall.
Part of the FDCP Film Talks is a Film Appreciation Workshop featuring the 44th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture Mindanao by Brillante Mendoza to be held on Saturday, March 21 from 1 pm to 5 pm at SM Megamall.
Sinag Maynila 2020 will also focus on promoting filmmaking collaborations between the Philippines and other countries. AFF’s La paranza dei bambini by Claudio Giovannesi and Dafne by Federico Bondi will also be screening at the UP Film Institute’s run of Sinag Maynila. Then, beginning March 25, AFF unveils in Rome and will be opening with Mindanao, then showing some of Sinag Maynila’s notable films as well as some Solar Pictures’ released films. Sinag Maynila 2020 is made possible through the support of our official venue partners SM Retail, Inc.
