Cinema One Originals 2009 opens at Gateway

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  Aside from screening the five finalists of the 5th Cinema One Originals Digital Movie Festival, select films of Danny Zialcita and Brillante Mendoza will be screened at Gateway cinemas in Cubao until November 17, 2009.

Five digital movie finalists are now being screened at the 5th Cinema One Originals Digital Movie Festival. The film fest kicked off last Friday, November 14, at the Gateway Cineplex 10, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Moviegoers have until Tuesday, November 17, to watch the five entries competing in this year's Cinema One. The lineup is composed of: Maximus & Minimus, a sweet comedy starring Carissa "Cai" Cortez, Baron Geisler, Mikel Campos, Liza Lorena and Malou Crisologo, and directed by Nap Jamir; Wanted: Border, a thriller starring Rosanna Roces and Raffy Tejada, and directed by Ray Gibraltar; Bala Bala, a mystery-fantasy starring Micah Munoz, Angel Jacob, Richard Quan, Jao Mapa and Glenda Resurreccion, and directed by Melvin Brito; Paano Ko Sasabihin, a romantic comedy starring Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee, and directed by Richard Legaspi; and Si Maymay, Si Baning at Ang Asong Si Bobo, a children's film starring Rio Locsin, Simon Ibarra and Gene Karley Largueza, and directed by Rommel Tolentino.

Produced and mounted by Cinema One and the Creative Programs, Inc., through the annual Cinema One Originals project, since 2005, the five-day digi-film fest coincides with the 15th anniversary celebration of Cinema One.

MAXIMUS & MINIMUS. After the opening ceremony and the first premiere of one of the finalists, Maximus & Minimus, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) got a chance to ask Cai Cortez, who portrayed the film's female lead character Max, about the love scenes she did with her two male co-stars.

"Suwabe!" Cai exclaimed before adding: "Besides, kaibigan ko rin talaga sina Baron and Mikel, so, I didn't have problems with doing that. Inalalayan din naman nila ako."

Fate has been reasonably fair to Max, a full-figured young woman with, in the words of the character herself in the film, "has a ton of confidence, a hefty bank account, and a hearty sex life."

How did she prepare for the portrayal of her character Max especially, in doing the love scenes?

"I just did what I had to do... Sinunod ko lang ang puso ko. Kung ano 'yung nakita sa pelikula, ako talaga 'yun," shares Cai, who is a first-timer in independent/digital films. She has had experience acting in theater and has appeared in the Star Cinema film And I Love You So.

In his statement, Maximus & Minimus director Nap Jamir said that the objective is to tell a good, funny and very visual story—an attempt to extract humor from a quirky Filipino situation.

"Maximus & Minimus touches on subjects that do not normally come up in public discussion. We present these delicate matters in a way that cushions any unpleasant impact, and that is through humor," Jamir pointed out.


Aside from Cai, the other stars who attended the opening night were Baron Geisler, Liza Lorena, Rosanna Roces and Lance Raymundo.

DOUBLE TREAT. Aside from the five finalists, moviegoers also have the chance to view classic films of Filipino filmmakers Danny Zialcita and Brillante Mendoza.

A master of improvisation on the shooting set, Zialcita possesses the knack for choosing the right storyline materials and casting the perfect actors and actresses for his projects.


Dubbed the "Independent Filmmaker" in its truest sense, Mendoza recently won Best Director for his film Kinatay in the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. He started directing in 2005.

Zialcita's cinematic gems Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan, Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba Ng Gabi, Palabra de Honor, and Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap; and Mendoza's masterpieces Serbis, Lola, Tirador and Masahista are slated for viewing during the movie feast.

Watch Zialcita's Nagalit and Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi starring Laurice Guillen, Gloria Diaz at Dindo Fernando on November 15. Palabra de Honor starring Hilda Koronel, Eddie Garcia at Tommy Abuel will be screened on November 16. Bakit Manipis ang Ulap starring Tommy Abuel, Janice de Belen at Mark Gil is slated for November 17.


Meanwhile, Mendoza's Lola starring legendary Anita Linda will be screened at Gateway on November 15. Tirador starring Jiro Manio and Coco Martin is scheduled on November 16. Masahista starring Coco Martin and Alan Paule will unreel on November 17.

"[Featuring] the select films of both filmmakers alongside the five festival finalists not only add to the magnitude of Cinema One Originals being a highly anticipated film festival," ABS-CBN's public relations arm said in a statement. "It also bolsters the channel's aim to introduce the new generation of movie audience to the classic Filipino films that shaped, defined, and helped local cinema become an important industry in the [country]."

AWARDS NIGHT. Today, November 15, the festival's Awards Night will be held at the ABS-CBN Dolphy Theater.

To be hosted by Piolo Pascual and Eugene Domingo, the ceremony is expected to gather ABS-CBN stars, some of whom will present awards in different categories. Sam Milby will also render an intermission number. Blockbuster directors Joyce Bernal and Cathy Garcia-Molina as well as this year's honorees, Danny Zialcita and Brillante Mendoza, will also grace the event.

Comprising this year's jury are award-winning filmmaker Khavn dela Cruz, screenplay writer Armando Lao, award-winning writer and ABS-CBN Creative manager Ricky Lee, Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino member and University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman College of Mass Communication Dean Dr. Rolando Tolentino, and four-time grand slam winning actress and Star for All Seasons, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos.

For the schedule of screenings of Cinema One Originals 2009, click HERE.

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