Over a hundred films from all over features at the 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival, and no less than the country’s Cannes award winner Brillante Mendoza and Raymond Red will kick it off and close it in style.
Once a production designer for film and advertisements, Mendoza found his place as a director in the independent film industry, garnering the respect and admiration of the international film community no less. He was recently awarded as the best director at this year’s Cannes Lions Film Festival for his film “Kinatay”.
His current work, “Lola” follows the story of two grandmothers as they deal with a criminal case involving their two grandsons, where one is the victim, and the other is the suspect. The movie was an entry to this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Having won the Palme d’Or in 2000 for his short film “Anino”, Red’s latest film, “Himpapawid”, centers on a deranged highjacker, pushed to the edge by the hardships and demands of Philippine modern society. The film is inspired by an actual incident in May 2000 involving PAL Flight 812.
A television commercial director as well, Red is currently with Filmex Productions, this year’s Agency of the Year – Best Production House.
For 10 days, Cinemanila screens about a hundred international and local films, including festival favorites such as “Inglorious Basterds”, “Hunger”, “Mammoth”, “Let the Right One In”, “Cheng Du, I Love you”.
The festival runs from October 15 to 25 at Market, Market Bonifacio Global City Taguig.
For the complete screening schedule, go to http://cinemanila.org/?page_id=1484
