The 11th edition of Cinemanila International Film Festival will showcase Brillante Mendoza's latest work, Lola, as its opening film. Shot partly in the flooded areas of Malabon, this indie film will be screened during Cinemanila's opening night on October 15, 2009.

Director Mendoza's latest work, Lola, was preceded by his film Kinatay (The Execution of P), which earned him the prestigious Best Director Award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival last May 2009.

Starring Philippine cinema icon Anita Linda in the leading role, Lola is about two elderly women who try to cope and survive life's harsher realities for the elderly. She will be joined by vetaran actress Rustica Carpio. Both bear the consequences of a crime involving their respective grandsons—one is the victim, the other is the suspect. Both weak and poor, they laboriously solicit money in the midst of a storm—one for the victim's burial, the other for the suspect's bail bond.

The association between Cinemanila and Direk Dante (Brillante's nickname) goes way back, as the festival was one of the very first to give recognition to this now world-renowned filmmaker. Direk Dante won the Grand Prize and Best Director Award in Cinemanila's Digital Lokal competition for his film Manoro with Christian Jeune of Cannes Film Festival at the helm of the 2006 Main Competition Jury.  He was also the Director in Focus during  Cinemanila's momentous 10th edition last year. And for Cinemanila 2009, Direk Dante is now head of the Main Competition Jury of this year's festival.

The 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival will be held from October 15 to 25, 2009 in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.  Around 100 international and local films will be screened in a span of 10 days—from the current toasts of the local indie scene to the award-winners and favourites at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Sundance, and Pusan. The festival will also feature workshops, seminars and master classes. For more info, contact cinemanila.entries@gmail.com and cinemanila@gmail.com or go to www.cinemanila.org.ph.