FRIDAY NIGHT
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION 6:30
PM
Join the Filipino American
Network and the Chicago Filipino American Film Festival in
kicking off our fourth annual event, at our free OPENING NIGHT
RECEPTION with refreshments provided by Portia Guerin
and WITH PANACHE. Special guests from the cast and crew
of our films will be in
attendance.
COLMA: THE MUSICAL features the writing, acting,
and musical talent of H.P. Mendoza, and tells the
story of three recent high school grads, played by Mendoza, Jake
Moreno, and L.A. Renigen, facing the challenges of
adult life in the dead-end San Francisco suburb that
gives the film its name. COLMA: THE MUSICAL has gained critical
and festival acclaim, and will enjoy continued success
on DVD later in November. With thirteen musical numbers,
a sharp, insightful script, and an ultra-low budget,
COLMA infuses a smart, honest coming of age indie
film with the energy of the movie musical. "An itty-bitty movie
with a great big heart, COLMA is about three young
people on the brink of that terrifying adventure called life,
but it�s also about how we learn to give voice � joyfully,
honestly, loudly � to the truest parts of ourselves, parts
not everyone else hears. "�The New York Times. In
English.
Contains strong
language.
POST-SCREENING
PARTY
[ FRI. 11/9 10:00 PM ]
Join us for an after-party right next door at
EVIL
OLIVE, at 1551 W.
Division. MORE POST-SCREENING EVENTS ANNOUNCED
SOON.
OFFICIAL SITE
VIEW TRAILER
[ FRI. 11/9
10:00PM ]
Khavn De La Cruz, an underground
legend in the Philippine cinema, delivers a unique glimpse
at the bleak landscape of the slums of Isla Puting Bato.
SQUATTERPUNK captures a day in the life of a group of
squatter children with stunning black and white clarity and
the unflinching eye of a documentary, accompanied by a
nonstop, driving punk rock soundtrack by De La Cruz's own
band, The Brockas. The mix is urgent, defiant, and often
moving. Although SQUATTERPUNK contains no dialogue, this
"silent" film's edgy soundtrack brings to life the spirit
and courage of the children as they find moments of joy in
the midst of devastating poverty and constant dangers.
Challenging and experimental, SQUATTERPUNK earned a Grand
Jury Prize at the 2006 Cinemanila International Film
Festival and has received acclaim at international festivals
from Brisbane, to Singapore, to Rotterdam, and serves as an
important contribution to world cinema.
The
honest depictions of poverty in this film may not be
appropriate for young or
sensitive viewers.
SATURDAY
SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP [
9:00 AM- NOON ]
Got
a screenplay inside you waiting to be put on the silver
screen?
For more
information about this three-hour workshop, click
here. Tickets on sale now.
VIEW TRAILER
[ SAT 11/10 12:30
PM ]
This colorful and scenic digital feature follows the story of
a tribal Ilfugao youth (Alcris Galura) living among the famed,
and now endangered rice terraces of Batad. While the members
of the boy's traditional community rarely wear shoes, his
encounters with Western tourists leaves him envious of
their modern hiking boots, and his big city dreams place him
in conflict with the his family and his cultural values. Directed
by Benji Garcia, the film was awarded Special Jury Prize,
Best Actor (Alcris Galuran), and Best Screenplay (Vic Acedillo).
Presented with the animated short film, THE BURIAL,
by Ramon del Prado and Tuldok Animation Studios: a search for a
cell phone lost in the woods becomes a magical journey for a
young girl and her dog. English
subtitles.
Batad
contains mild language but should be approrpiate for
families and younger viewers.
OFFICIAL SITE
VIEW TRAILER
[ SAT 11/10 2:30
PM ]
LETTERS FROM NOR revolves around the importance
of the written letter in a time without e-mail, mobile
phones, or text messaging. Set in the 1970s, LETTERS
FROM NOR is inspired by a real life incident in which the
mail stopped coming and going in a remote village in Negros.
When Nor (John Michael Lee), a simple errand boy, forges
love letters to Karen (Karylle), he opens his heart
to the girl of his dreams, while his manipulative cousin Mando (John
Arceo) fails to warn him of the consequences. Jay Abello
and Manny Montelibano directed this bittersweet tale in
a vividly photographed rural landscape. Tagalog with English
subtitles.
[ SAT 11/10 4:30 PM ]
Directed by
Collis Davis, Jr., and based on the award-winning book PINOY
JAZZ TRADITIONS by Filipino jazz musician and historian,
Richie C. Quirino, PINOY JAZZ explores the roots of jazz
music in the Philippines, from the earliest introduction by
African American soldiers in 1898, to contemporary infusions
of tribal sounds and traditional jazz. PINOY JAZZ documents
this colorful history with archival photographs, vintage
recordings and footage, and interviews with musicians from
the classical and contemporary schools of the Filipino jazz
scene.
Presented with
music videos from award-winning directors PATRICIO GINELSA
(Native Guns) and Steven Mallorca (PIC).
SATURDAY
NIGHT
CHICAGO
PREMIERE:
[SAT. 11/10 7:00 PM]
[ repeat SUN. 11/11 4:30 PM ]
Join THREE
TO FIVE star ANGELA RELUCIO and other special guests.
Hawaiian-born filmmaker Colin
Rivera delivers a witty and charming feature film debut
with THREE TO FIVE AND GLASSY. While the film takes its
title from the Hawaiian slang for perfect surfing conditions, Annie
(Angela Relucio), is having a less than perfect day,
locked out of her apartment with just hours before a
hula performance. Wandering the streets of New York with her
eccentric circle of friends, Annie's search for her keys turns
into a quest to reconnect with her family, her culture, and
her direction in life, and even half a world away from
the beaches of Hawaii, learning to surf the perfect wave
might be the answer. In English.
ALL ATTENDEEDS WHO ENTER WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE SCION T-SHIRT, AND OTHER
GIFTS SPONSORED BY SCION.
Join us for an after-party right next door at
EVIL
OLIVE, at 1551 W.
Division.
VIEW TRAILER
[ SAT 11/10 9:30
PM ]
Second-time feature filmmaker Ato
Bautista has created a dark and challenging psychological
thriller that explores the depths of guilt through the eyes
of an alcoholic father, played vastly against type by
Filipino cinema superstar Robin Padilla. While Gil's young
son pleads for him to change his ways during an ongoing
series of alcohol-induced blackouts, Gil's failure to heed
his son's pleadings has dire consequences. BLACKOUT avoids
both the supernatural conventions of the Asian horror genre,
as well as the clinical detachment of the contemporary crime
drama; the result is a haunting exploration of the depths of
guilt that follow a harrowing act that is beyond
forgiveness. Although BLACKOUT contains very little
onscreen violence, it contains horror themes that may
be inappropriate for younger or sensitive
viewers.
SUNDAY
OFFICIAL SITE
VIEW TRAILER
[ SUN. 11/11 12:00 PM ]
CHICAGO PREMIERE
Join director MARTIN ROSETTI and other guests in this
special presentation commemorating the Filipino veterans of
World War II.
A MORAL DEBT a
short documentary, directed by Martin Rosetti, recounts the
story of the nearly 250,000 Filipino veterans who were
inducted into and fought on behalf of the United States
Armed Services in World War II. With up to the minute
dialogue concerning current legislation A MORAL DEBT
includes testimony from veterans, policymakers, and
activists involved in the movement to gain recognition and
fair compensation for the Filipino
veterans.
Told in exacting
detail with archival photography and eyewitness testimony,
THE ISLANDERS, directed by Miranamedina, is a fascinating
look at the fortress island of Corregidor, the U.S. military
stronghold that was all but decimated in World War II. While
Corregidor is often noted for its strategic significance in
the Pacific Theater of World War II, THE ISLANDERS provides
a rare look at the people that lived there, through the eyes
of Filipino and American residents and their descendants.
SHORTS
PROGRAM
[ SUN. 11/11 2:30 PM
]
Shorts,
music videos, and animation from the U.S. and the
Philippines. Some short fims contain mild
language.
THE
BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM� Simon, an aspiring
rock drummer, gets an opportunity to audition for a college
band called the Love Vigilantes, but his insecurities about
filling the indie rock mold result in a comedic lapse in
judgement. Directed by Rey Corpuz. OFFICIAL
SITE
PARANG SIRANG PLAKA
(LIKE A BROKEN PHONOGRAPH)�An old record player brings up
old memories for Leo, a young nursing student who aspires to
be a DJ, and his Uncle Marvin, whose life takes on the
metaphor of the broken record. Directed by Real
Florido.
MARCO�A young man goes on a search
for the elusive �Marco,� but the object of his mysterious
quest may be different than he realized. Directed by Donnie
Sacueza.
VTR� "How much of our
life are we in on and how much are we out of?" is the
question asked by this experimental short that depicts one
side of a conversation about a troubled relationship.
Directed by JP Carpio.
KEEP
UP by PIC and MASH IT UP by KXL�
Music videos directed
by Steven Mallorca. �Keep Up� features the
�Hiphopunkfunkmamboska� of Mallorca�s own musical ensemble,
P.I.C., and the dancehall reggae performer KXL. OFFICIAL
SITE
CHAMPION by Native Guns�Music video
directed by Patricio Ginelsa. Featuring the music of the
West Coast-based hip hop group, Native Guns. OFFICIAL
SITE
MY
FATHER THE ACTOR�Veteran Filipino American actor Abe Pagtama
stars in a fascinating character study of a struggling
actor who applies his dramatic abilities as a con man.
Directed by Don DeLeon. VIEW
TRAILER
