Last week the organizers of the Binisaya Film Festival presented the list of films for this year edition. The festival will take place in Cebu (Philippines) from September 22nd – 30th, 2017.

2 Cool 2 Be Forgotten by Petersen Vargas – Philippines | 2016 – 95 min.
Section: Regional Films

The coming-of-age film narrates the relationship Felix Salonga, a friendless achiever, has developed with half-American brothers Magnus and Maxim Synder. As the story progresses, Felix finds himself drawn toward them, realizing he‘s starting to reveal desires he has never come face to face before. Starring Khalil Ramos, Ethan Salvador and Jameson Blake

Awards:
2016 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography

2016 Young Critics Circle
– Best First Feature

Trailer:

Aberya by Christian Linaban – Philippines | 2012 – 109 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

The film revolves around 4 individuals, each with an agenda of their own: An egomaniac Fil-Am boxer (Devaughn) on a pleasure trip, a prostitute from Luzon (Cabral) out to accomplish a mission, a local drug dealer (Varela) experimenting with time travel and a social climber from Mindanao (Moto) caught up in a scandal. Starring Will Devaughn, Mercedes Cabral, Nicholas Varela, and Iwa Moto.

Awards:
2012 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Supporting Actor, Best Sound

Teaser:

Baboy Halas (Wailings in the Forest) by Bagane Fiola – Philippines | 2016 – 105 min.
Section: Regional Films

A family of the last forest people of old copes with the unusual changes in their ancient environment, disturbed by the imposing lifestyle and customs of the tribes on the plains.

Awards:
2016 QCinema International Film Festival
– NETPAC Jury Prize, Best Artistic Contribution in Cinematography

2016 Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle
– Best Cinematography, Best Visual Design

Trailer:

Confessional by Jerrold Tarog, Ruel Antipuesto – Philippines | 2007 – 90 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

A documentary filmmaker from Manila sets out to cover the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, but gets in over his head when he meets a retired, corrupt politician who is ready to tell all. Starring Jerrold Tarog, Publio Briones III, International premiere: 10th Osian Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema in
New Delhi, India.

Awards:
2018 CinemaOne Originals
– Best Picture, Best Directors, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editor, Best Screenplay, Best Sound

24th PMPC Star Awards (Digital Category)
– Best Film, Best Directors, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Sound

2008 Star Awards for Movies
– Digital Movie, Digital Movie Director, Digital Movie Original Screenplay, Digital Movie Editor of the Year, Digital Movie Sound Engineer

2008 FAMAS Awards
– Best Theme Song

10th Osian’s Ceinfan, India
– Best Film (First Features Category)

10th Cinemanila International Film Festival
– Best Film (South East Asian Category)

Trailer:

Damgo ni Eleuteria (The Dream of Eleuteria) by Remton Siega Zuasola – Philippines | 2010 – 90 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

While employing the one long shot technique, the film tells the story of a young woman named Terya who lives in a poor Philippine fishing village. She is about to board a plane to marry an old German man she has never met, to settle her family‘s debts. Starring Donna Gimeno.

Awards:
2010 CinemaOne Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Music, Special Jury Prize

2010 Cinemanila International Film Festival
– Best Southeast Asian Film

2011 Gawad Urian
– Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music

12th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea
– Special Jury Prize

2011 Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival
– Golden Hanoman Award and Geber Award

Moscow International Film Festival
– NETPAC Award Special Mention

Trailer:

Di ingon ‘nato (Not Like Us) by Brandon Relucio, Ivan Zaldarriaga – Philippines | 2011 – 99 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

Life in a remote village in the Visayas turns upside down when villagers are stricken by an unknown disease. As the village chief and doctor try to control the situation, they discover that the dead are rising from their graves. Starring Franco Reyes, Mercedes Cabral, and Rez Cortes.

Awards:
2012 Macabre International Film Festival
– Best Picture

Fantaspoa International Film Festival
– Official Selection

2012 Rojo Sangre Film Festival
– Official Selection

Trailer:

Forbidden Memory by Gutierrez Mangansakan II – Philippines | 2016
Section: Regional Films

The documentary feature summons remembrances and memories of the 1974 Malisbong Massacre, where 1,000 men were killed while 3,000 women and children were subjected to the horrors of the Martial Law regime. The film documents the atrocities done by the Marcos administration, shedding light on the events surrounding the gruesome massacre.

Awards:
2016 CinemaOne Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Documentary

Iskalawags by Keith Deligero – Philippines | 2013 – 77 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

One day, in the small peaceful town of Barrio Malinawon, seven young punks, who call themselves the Iskalawags because of their shared love for Filipino action movies (particularly those starred by their idol Jeric Raval), decide to set out on a mini quest to find the tree that according to Palot—the gang‘s de facto leader—bears the lone papaya fruit as large as the belly of Intoy‘s father.

Trailer:

Lily by Keith Deligero – Philippines | 2016 – 93 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

Stories abound in Cebu about Lily – a woman rumored to be an “aswang”. But behind the myths is a story of a mother who, hurt and abandoned by her own husband, is now seeking revenge. Starring Shaina Magdayao, Rocky Salumbides and Natileigh Sitoy.

Awards:
2016 CinemaOne Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing

Trailer:

Martes Martes (In production)
Section: Cebuano Orphan / Hybrid Features

Martes Martes is the fourth part of the Adlaw Adlaw film series started in 2012 and the omnibus feature produced by this year’s film lab, showcasing seven short films by seven different directors all condensed into a single day.

Miss Bulalacao by Ara Chawdhury – Philippines | 2015 – 91 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

The film narrates how a formerly quiet barrio, Punta de Bulalacao, Isla de Panamao is sent into a frenzy by the news of a gay boy‘s pregnancy. Starring: Russ Ligtas, Chai Fonacier, Tessie Tomas, Mon Confiado, Nanette Inventor.

Awards:
2015 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress

2016 Young Critics Circle
– Best First Feature

Trailer:

My Paranormal Romance by Victor Villanueva – Philippines | 2011 – 110 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

A young girl who dreams of getting into the toughest university in the country finds herself the unwilling recipient of supernatural powers, which make her question her scientific approach to everything in her life. Starring Phoebe Kaye Fernandez and Van Roxas and Paul Jake Castillo.

Awards:
2011 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Production Design, Best Editing, Special Mention

Trailer:

Patay na si Hesus by Victor Villanueva – Philippines | 2016 – 90 min.
Section: Cebuano Orphan / Hybrid Features

When single mother Iyay learns that her estranged husband has died, she drags her children – Hubert, who has Down Syndrome; Jude, a lovesick transman; and Jay, who is living the bum life – on a road trip from Cebu to Dumaguete to attend the funeral. Starring Jaclyn Jose, Chai Fonacier, Melde Montañez, Vincent Viado. Directed by Victor Villanueva

Awards:
2016 QCinema International Film Festival
– Audience Choice Award, Gender Sensitivity Award

Trailer:
https://www.facebook.com/pataynasihesus

Salvage by Sherad Anthony Sanchez – Philippines | 2015 – 100 min.
Section: Regional Films

A found footage horror film, Salvage is a film about a suspended TV news team redirected to an unwanted assignment covering news about Aswang rumors in Central Mindanao. They follow their lead towards a remote barrio where it is said to have started it all. They get lost along the way and ended up being abducted by a group of armed men in military. As they find their way out, they met a series of events questioning the real identity of their abductors and experiencing the vast definition of the word ¬salvage¬. Starring: Jessie Mendiola,JC De Vera, Joel Saracho,Karl Medina,Barbie Capacio

Soap Opera by Remton Siega Zuasola – Philippines | 2014 – 103 min.
Section: CinemaOne Originals

Desperately finding ways to support their sickly child, Noel and Liza welcomes a new addition to their family, the unwitting Ben, a rich foreigner who is hoping to build a family of his own. Together, they play the game of deceit and make believe but the truth is far from being hidden as the daily soap operas vividly mirror what they have been hiding all along. Starring Natileigh Sitoy and Matt Daclan.

Awards:
2014 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival
– Best Actor

Swap by Remton Siega Zuasola – Philippines | 2015 – 90 min.
Section: Cebuano Orphan / Hybrid Features

Based on the real life story of the director Remton Siega Zuasola. A young father is torn between solving a crime and committing another crime when one day his only son is kidnapped and the criminals demand him to steal another kid in exchange for the life of his son. Starring Dionne Monsanto, Matt Daclan, Mon Confiado

Awards:
2015 Sinag Maynila
– Best Picture

10th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival
– 2nd Best Picture

Trailer:

The Muses by Janice Y. Perez – Philippines | 2013
Section: Cebuano Orphan / Hybrid Features

This music-filled youth drama tells of the sibling rivalry between The Muses‘ vocalist Marthe and guitarist sister Marie, and their discovery of the hidden truths about fame, music, family and self on the night of an indispensable music competition. Starring Kitchie Nadal, Janelle Jamer, Marvene Rom Munda and Chicoy Romualdez.

Trailer:

Tu pug Imatuy (The Right to Kill) by Arnel Barbarona – Philippines | 2017 – 90 min.
Section: Regional Films

Based on actual events, Tu Pug Imatuy, which means ¬The right to kill¬ in Manobo, tackles the Manobos‘ struggles against abuse, environment plunder and continuous militarization of their communities. Starring: Jong Monzon, Malona Sulatan, Luis Georlin Banaag III, Jamee Rivera, Jillian Khayle Barbarona, Henyo Ehem, Mentroso Malibatu, Nona Ruth Sarmiento

Awards:
2017 Sinag Maynila
– Best Music, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actress

Trailer:

Waves by Don Gerardo Frasco – Philippines | 2015 – 90 min.
Section: Cebuano Orphan / Hybrid Feature

A film about the love affair between two troubled souls torn apart by culture and distance, Waves narrates how Ross and Sofia rekindled their abandoned friendship as they ventured into a trip to an isolated island, bringing their past emotional struggles along with them. Starring Baron Geisler, Polish model Ilona Struzik, Pilar Pilapil and Leo Pilapil.

Trailer:

Women of the Weeping River by Sheron R. Dayoc – Philippines | 2016 – 120 min.
Section: Regional Films

Two women in a remote Muslim community confront an escalating blood feud. Satra, a widow, initially seeks vengeance for the death of her husband yet Farda convinces her to leave the land after the death of her only child Amiya. She find herself secretly meeting up with the matriarch of the rival clan in hopes to undo the feud tracing back generations. Starring Laila Ulao, Taha Daranda and Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans.

Awards:
2016 QCinema Film Festival
– Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress

2016 Circle Competiton
– Best Director, Best Actor

Trailer:

To know more about this festival please go to the Festival Profile or to the Official Website.