Isa ang Limbunan sa sampung full length film entries na magko-compete sa 6th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2010. Pinagbibidahan ito nina Joem Bascon, Tetchie Agbayani, ang Maguindanaoan actress na si Mayka Lintongan, at Jea Lyka Cinco na na-nominate sa nakaraang Gawad Urian bilang best supporting actress (for Hospital Boat).
Ayon sa Muslim writer-director ng pelikula na si Gutierrez "Teng" Mangansakan II, ginagawa pa lamang niya ang script ng Limbunan ay mga pangalan na nina Joem Bascon at Tetchie Agbayani ang kanyang nasa isip upang gampanan ang kani-kanilang characters sa pelikula.
"When I was writing the script, na-envision ko na sina Tetchie and Joem for their roles. It was easy for me to add flesh and blood to their characters (Farida and Maguid, respectively) because I was already imagining them moving, talking, laughing," kuwento ni Direk Teng sa Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP).
Ang Davao-based actress na si Jea Lyka Cinco ay gumaganap na Ayesah, na naipangakong ipapakasal ng kanyang Muslim clan sa isang lalaking ni hindi niya kilala.
Tetchie plays Farida, ang tiyahin ni Ayesah na naatasang pangalagaan ang "limbunan." Joem portrays Maguid, ang childhood crush ni Ayesah na nagbalik sa village bilang CHDF militiaman pagkalipas ng limang taong pagkawala doon.
Bilang isang writer-filmmaker mula sa South, kumusta naman ang pakikipagtrabaho niya sa mga Manila-based actors na sina Tetchie at Joem?
"Tetchie and Joem were so down to earth. Ang babait nila. Walang feeling ng intimidation sa set. They tried their best to stretch their Maguindanaon lines.
"For example, si Joem, 'yung mga Tagalog lines niya sa script, ni-request pa niyang i-rewrite ko 'yun sa Maguindanaon dialect, para daw maging in character siya.
"So, ang nangyari, 'yung simpleng six lines na Maguindanaon, naging doble kasi he insisted. And he got the pronunciation right in two tries.
"Si Tetchie naman, na-memorize niya agad ang mahahabang Maguindanaon lines after one rehearsal. Fascinating!" papuri ni Direk Teng sa kanyang actors.
Naging matulungin rin daw sina Tetchie at Joem sa mga baguhang artistang kasama sa pelikula.
"The two were also helpful in terms of making new actors comfortable during a shoot. Si Tetchie, nagbigay pa siya ng pointers kay Jea Lyka Cinco kung papaano magbigay ng right profile for the camera. Winner talaga!" dagdag nito.
SYNOPSIS. Limbunan captures the rituals of a family preparing for the wedding of seventeen-year-old Ayesah (Jea Lyka Cinco) who is betrothed to a man she barely knows. As Maguindanaon tradition dictates, she is kept from public view in her private quarters called limbunan.
As preparations for the wedding are underway, Ayesah is reunited with her childhood tutor Maguid (Joem Bascon) who returns to the village as a militiaman after five years, reawakening Ayesah's past memory of childhood infatuation. Throughout Ayesah's confinement, her precocious and rebellious eight-year-old sister Saripa becomes her eyes to the world beyond her room.
Her mother Amina (Mayka Lintongan) keeps her composure despite the fact that her husband sleeps with his second wife half of the time. She finds solace in the belief that it is both her religious and familial duty to be an obedient wife.
Ayesah's aunt Farida (Tetchie Agbayani) is tasked to ensure that the young lady is prepared for the wedding. However, Farida's dark past challenges Ayesah's resolve finding herself choosing between love and loyalty to tradition and family.
