DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/9 Feb) – The 3rd Cinema Rehiyon kicked off here this morning with its opening ceremonies at the Pinnacle Hotel. Gracing the ceremonies were members of the National Center for Culture and the Arts-Cinema Committee, including its chairperson, Dr. Mike Rapatan.
Cinema Rehiyon, flagship activity of the NCCA-Cinema Committee for the Philippine International Arts Festival (PIAF), bears the theme “Forging Philippine CineDiversity.”
“This event is especially significant for this is the first time that Cinema Rehiyon, true to its name, left the dream theatre of Cultural Center of the Philippines and hold it in one of the regions with vibrant film industry, Davao,” said Rapatan.
Forty-five delegates from as far as the Cordillera are attending the festival.
“We provide a window for the Philippine psyche. We celebrate the great strides the filmmakers who first showed their film in Cinema Rehiyon have made,” Rapatan added.
Among the feature-length films that will be exhibited during the festival is the 2010 Cinemalaya best picture “Halaw” by Sherwin Dayoc and “Balangay” by award-winning director Sherad Anthony Sanchez.
John Sayles, a renowned American independent film maker and Hollywood writer will also premiere with his film “Amigo,” starring Joel Torre and Ronnie Lazaro. Some of the local films that will hold its premiere in the festival is Orvil Bantayan’s “Mananabang” and Bagsy Fiola’s “Ngilngig Stories.”
Over 50 films are to be exhibited in the festival. Admission is free and discussions with the filmmakers will be conducted after the viewing, according to Dax Canedo, the festival director.
Cinema Rehiyon runs from Feb. 9 to 13 at the Gaisano Mall Cinema 6. (Joan Mae Soco-Bantayan / MindaNews)
