CineKasimanwa 2: The Western Visayas Film Festival Overview

The CineKasimanwa 2 was a Success!!!
by Reymundo Salao

It was a memorable week for Iloilo City and the film arts of Western Visayas, as the second CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival was held last December 8 t0 13, 2014. The three venues namely; the UPV Cinematheque, the FDCP Cinematheque, and SM City Iloilo Cinema, were showing films made by filmmakers of Western Visayas. From magnificent works by established Visayan artists like Lav Diaz, Peque Gallaga, Tara Illenberger, Ned Trespeces, and Jay Abello, to pioneers like Joenar Pueblo and Ray Gibraltar, the amazing features from TM Malones, Kip Oebanda and Aimee Apostol Escasa, to the works of filmmakers from Guimbal, Negros, and unforgettable short films from various artists, among them are young directors coming out with their debut masterpieces. Undoubtedly, the CineKasimanwa definitely accomplished their objective this year, of giving spotlight on marvellous films of Western Visayas and introducing them to the mainstream public. [hit the jump to continue]

The CineKasimanwa was pioneered in 2013 by mastermind festival head Elvert Bañares who has long been an important figure in film festivals, not only in Metro Manila, but outside the country as well. And beside him in the creation of this festival are his partners Ruth Borja Pequierda and August Andong, with Daniella Caro of the FDCP Iloilo Cinematheque and Frances Lacuesta (last year), and Alfredo Diaz of the UPV Cinematheque, along with the filmmakers like TM Malones and Joenar Pueblo (among many others as well) who are frequently active and strongly support the festival.

Aside from the renowned filmmakers, the festival was graced with various guests that included “Norte” producer Raymond Lee and actor Sid Lucero, and “T’yanak” actress Alessandra De Rossi.

The festival’s opening film “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” which is the Philippines’ official entry to the foreign film category in the upcoming Oscars/Academy Award in the US, was packed with audiences who endured the four-hour epic with delight and appreciation. The producer noted that the Iloilo audience reacted to the various scenes of the movie in a manner that indicated that this was an audience that was smart enough to comprehend the beats of the movie and is able to appreciate film art with sincere love. Producer Lee also noted that this screening of “Norte” had the most number of audiences to sit through the movie, and were able to honestly enjoy it. The three celebrity guests(Lee, Lucero, and De Rossi) were all present in the screening and was able to engage the audiences in a Q&A after the screening.

All three venues did showcase masterpieces from Western Visayas, full-length films and short films alike. And audiences did come in, most of them fascinated with the idea that Western Visayas is capable of being the home of all these awesome masterpieces. This was the same kind of fascination the first CineKasimanwa did, and the same kind of fascination that can be expected from this festival for years and decades to come. I am happy and proud to shout out that CineKasimanwa 2: The Western Visayas Film Festival is a success.

On the other side of all the positive news, it cannot be denied that the festival this year had its own complications and imperfections. Because of unavoidable circumstances that emerged, some few short films which were scheduled for SM Cinema screenings were cancelled. These circumstances were the result of Typhoon Ruby which was able to cause some disruption with the flow of activities that surrounded the festival’s plans. That is why the programmers of the festival had devised a more strict set of policies in preparation for the next CineKasimanwa; these are foolproof plans that aim a hundred-and one percent efficiency and targets for the kind of success that is giant steps further from the success of what they achieved now.

The road for CineKasimanwa 3 has been paved. Call for entries shall already begin Jan. 1, 2015. Deadline for submission of films is set on August 25, 2015. Deadline for submission of sponsorship lock-ins is on October 15, 2015. Deadline for submission of all press materials and festival requirements is on September 15, 2015. Our festival workshops and conference are scheduled Nov. 25-28, 2015. And the main festival is set on Dec. 1 to 6, 2015. See you there, at CineKasimanwa 3!!!