The Cinemalaya Foundation has named the five finalists in the Open Category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition 2010.

The finalists in the Open Category are:  Isang Pirasong Buhay by Mark Meily, Pink Halo-Halo by Jay Altarejos, Sigwa by Joel Lamangan,  Ang Paglilitis ni Bonifacio by Mario O' Hara, and Two Funerals by Gil Portes.    

The five finalists will be awarded a seed production grant of P500,000 from The Grassroots Film Production and Distribution Inc. plus an additional P100,000 post production grant.  These five final entries will be screened during the festival week on July 9-18, 2010.  The winner will receive a prize of P300,000 and the Balanghai Trophy.

The Open Category is a new section being introduced in the 2010 Cinemalaya.  It is open to Filipino filmmakers who have directed at least three full-length feature films that have been released commercially. 

Cinemalaya has two major competition categories, namely the Full Length Feature category and the Short Feature category. Awards for all categories will be given on July 18, 2010 at the CCP. The Best Full Length Feature film will receive a prize of P200,000 and the Balanghai Trophy. The Best Short Feature film will receive a prize of P100,000 and a Balanghai Trophy. 

Now on its sixth year, the Cinemalaya Competition and Festival is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, CCP, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.  It is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.

For more information, please call the CCP Media Arts Division at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1704-05.