THE Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino — Filipino Film Festival — is back for its third run, this time with 10 full-length feature films which will be shown on Sept. 13 to 19 in cinemas nationwide, coinciding with the celebration of the first 100 years of Philippine cinema.

“This year is very special because this year we’re officially celebrating the 100 years of Philippine cinema… the films we chose fit just right with what the 100 years of cinema mean to all of us… all our films revolve around the themes of love, family, and friendship which is a reflection of the Philippine cinema,” Mary Liza B. Dino-Seguerra, chair and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) said in the vernacular in her opening speech during the festival’s launch on July 11 in Quezon City.

The official centennial celebration of the Philippine Cinema is on Sept. 12, a full hundred years after the first Filipino film, Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden) by the so-called Father of Philippine Cinema, José Nepomuceno, was released in 1919.

Unlike the earlier editions of the festival which presented eight full-length features and eight short films, this year’s Pista or PPP will have 10 feature films, three of which are in the “Sandaan” or “100” showcase.

Each festival entry will receive “up to P2 million worth of co-production fund to support the production and marketing cost of each film entry,” according to a press release.

“[The Sandaan showcase] is our way of [paying] homage to our living legends and to what has been the journey of Philippine cinema,” Ms. Dino-Seguerra explained.

One of the three films under the Sandaan showcase is Circa by Adolfo Borinaga Alix, Jr. It stars acting veteran Anita Linda as a once celebrated film producer who wants to celebrate her 100th birthday by seeing the actors and staff she worked with in the past.

“This is my tribute to cinema, my tribute to Anita Linda and all film workers,” Mr. Alix said during the launch.

Lola Igna, by Eduardo, Roy Jr. stars 70-year-old character actor Angie Ferro as an irascible old woman who just wants to die already, but her neighbors are hung-up on winning the world record for the oldest living grandmother which makes her an instant celebrity. She then finds the will to live with the appearance of her grandson.

The third film in the showcase is Pagbalik by Hubert Tibi and Maria S. Ranillo which stars the Queen of Visayan Films, Gloria Sevilla. The black-and-white film chronicles the struggles of three generations. The film stars Ms. Ranillo, who is Ms. Sevilla’s real-life daughter, and her son.

“This is the story of our lives,” Ms. Ranillo said.

Among the other seven feature films which will be shown in the festival is Cuddle Weather by Rod Marmol, starring Sue Ramirez and RK Bagatsing. The film is about an experienced prostitute and a neophyte call-boy who meet and fall in love.

“All of us are whores in some ways: we’re whores for work and we’re whores for love,” Mr. Marmol said of his film.

LSS (Last Song Syndrome) by Jade Castro — starring Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos, and indie folk band Ben&Ben — tells the story of two friends who finds themselves in almost-but-not-quite romantic encounters as they follow an upcoming indie band.

The Panti Sisters by Jun Robles Lana stars Paolo Ballesteros, Christian Bables, and Martin del Rosario as three gay brothers who are offered P100 million by their estranged father in exchange for giving him a grandchild.

G! by Dondon Santos, starring McCoy de Leon and Jameson Blake, follows the hijinks of four friends who try to fulfill their cancer-stricken friend’s bucket list.

I’m Ellenya L. by Boy II Quizon stars Maris Racal and Inigo Pascual in a film that “makes fun of the millennial generation,” said the film’s director. It tells the story of a young woman who resigns from her job to try and become a social media influencer.

Open by Andoy Ranay, starring JC Santos and Arci Muñoz, tells a story about “how not to be in an open relationship,” according to Mr. Ranay. The film follows a couple who have been together for 14 years but decide to try an open relationship to salvage their what they have.

Finally, Watch Me Kill by Tyrone Acierto, starring Jean Garcia and Jay Manalo, follows a female assassin whose plans go awry after she discovers that her target might be hiding more than what she expected.

Aside from the full-length features, the PPP will also be present nine Sine Kabataan short film entries (each of which will be given P10,000 and will be paired with a full-length feature when screened).

The short film entries are: Pinggu, Pwede Na? by Elle Ubas and Johanna Valdez; Magna by Geoffrey Solidum, Alexis Siscar, and Stanley Barroga; Kalakalaro by Rodson Verrr Suarez; Chok by Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay; Baon by Czareena Rozhiel B. Malasigl; Tinay by Andre Jacques Tigno and Angelo Fernando; Atchoy by Regin de Guzman; Kanlungan by Leslie Ann Ramirez; and Toto, Tawag Ka ng Ate Mo by Mary Franz Salazar.

The Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino will run from Sept. 13 to 19 in cinemas nationwide. — Z.B. Chua

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