19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

The 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival was held from August 4 – 13, 2023 in Metro Manila, Philippines with the theme being “IlumiNasyon” (illumination). A total of ten full-length features and ten short films competed. The festival was opened by the film Where is the Lie? (Marupok AF) by Quark Henares and its closing film was Third World Romance by Dwein Baltazar. This year, the festival proper was held at the Philippine International Convention Center instead of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its annual venue, due to the latter being under renovation until 2025.

During the press launch held on July 5, 2023, it was revealed by Cinemalaya Foundation president Laurice Guillen that each director in the feature-length category received a seed grant amounting to ₱2,000,000 (US$40,000~), the largest amount given in the history of the Festival. On the other hand, the finalists of the short film category received a total of ₱100,000 (US$1,785~) each for their finished films.

Entries

The winning film is highlighted with boldface and a dagger.

Full-Length Features

Short films

Awards

The awards ceremony was held on August 13, 2023, at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Under the full-length feature category, Iti Mapukpukaw won Best Film along with the special NETPAC award. Dolly de Leon also received the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in the film. The films Rookie and When This Is All Over each won three awards, with the former receiving the Best Actress award for Pat Tingjuy's performance, the Audience Choice Award, and Best Editing, and the latter receiving Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Original Music Score.

Under the short film category, Hinakdal won the most awards with three: Audience Choice Award, Best Screenplay, and the short film counterpart of the NETPAC Award. Meanwhile, Sibuyas ni Perfecto won Best Film.

The complete list of winning films are as follows:

Full-Length Features

• Best Film – Iti Mapukpukaw by Carl Joseph E. Papa
  • Special Jury Award – Ang Duyan ng Magiting by Dustin Celestino
  • Audience Choice Award – Rookie by Samantha Lee
• Best Direction – Ryan Espinosa Machado for Fin
• Best Actor – Mikoy Morales for Tether
• Best Actress – Pat Tingjuy for Rookie
• Best Supporting Actor – Bon Andrew Lentejas for Fin
• Best Supporting Actress – Dolly de Leon for Iti Mapukpukaw
• Best Screenplay – Jopy Arnaldo for Gitling
• Best Cinematography – Martika Ramirez Escobar for When This Is All Over
• Best Editing – Ilsa Malsi for Rookie
• Best Sound Design – Gian Arre for Tether
• Best Original Music Score – KINDRED for When This Is All Over
• Best Production Design – Kaye Banaag for When This Is All Over

Short films

• Best Film – Sibuyas ni Perfecto by Januar Yap
  • Special Jury Award – Hm Hm MhM by Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan
  • Audience Choice Award – Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino
• Best Screenplay – Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino
• Best Direction – Mike Cabarles for Makoko Sa Baybay

Special Awards

• NETPAC Full-length Feature Award: Iti Mapukpukaw by Carl Joseph E. Papa
• NETPAC Short Film Award: Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino

References

External links

• Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival