Sinag Maynila 5 to premiere this April

Rodney Artida

Independent films will shine again as Sinag Maynila, the independent film festival established by Solar Entertainment Corporation and award winning Director Brillante Mendoza, will premiere its fifth year this April.

True to its mission of bringing “sine lokal, pang-internasyonal,” Sinag Maynila has become an important platform for Filipino film artists to communicate their stories, and an irresistible opportunity for movie lovers to watch unique and exciting films.

Sinag Maynila was born from the vision of Mr. Wilson Tieng and Direk Brillante Mendoza’s wish to have a movie festival that not only inspires but educates and enlightens Filipino movie audiences.

What started as a movement to support local indie filmmakers has now grown into one of the country’s major filmfests. Sinag Maynila now features three competition sections, noteworthy international exhibition films and a variety of cinema-related activities.

Five films will compete in Sinag Maynila’s full-length category:

AKIN ANG KORONA (Zig Dulay)
JESUSA (Ronald Carballo)
JINO TO MARI (Joselito Altarejos)
PAILALIM (Daniel R. Palacio)
PERSONS OF INTEREST (Ralston G. Jover)

Competing in the short film category are:

BISPERAS (Ralph Quincena)
DANA JUNG (John Rogers)
DUDE PARE BRO (Lora Cerdan)
KISS (Harlene Bautista)
KILOS (Marjon Santos)
MARIAN (Brian Patrick Lim)
MEMORIES OF THE RISING SUN (Lawrence Fajardo)
NAGMAMAHAL, SAL (Jeff Subrabas)
NGITI NI NAZARENO (Louie Ignacio)
PANAGHOY (Alvin Baloloy)

Meanwhile, those competing in the documentary category are:

ANDAP (Calista Allyson Geronimo and Roma Mangahas)
AT HOME (Arjanmar H. Rebeta)
ENTABLADO (Lie Rain Clemente and Nori Jane Isturis)
HOPE SPOTS (Joseph Dominic Cruz)
HYATT: MGA KUWENTO, LIHIM, AT KATOTOHANAN (Jayvee V. Bucsit)
TATA PILO (Dexter Macaraeg)

Sinag Maynila 5 will premiere on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. The film fest will kickoff with “Lakbayan” a three-part omnibus film by Brillante Mendoza, Lav Diaz, and National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik — all of whom are awardees at the Berlin International Film Festival and have made their marks in several international film fests. Festival proper starts on Thursday, April 4 in select cinemas (full schedule to follow)