(From left) Susan Africa, Brillante Mendoza, Kaye Tinga, wife of Taguig mayor Freddie Tinga and Tikoy Aguiluzposed for photographers before the start of the program and the screening of Lola.

Brillante Mendoza posed with Lola star Anita Linda and Himpapawid actor Ronnie Lazaro (right). That night served as the Philippine premiere of Brillante's obra, Lola.

Giselle Sanchez (left) served as the host of the event while Eugene Domingo attended the opening in support of Cinemanila. Eugene stars in Biyaheng Lupa, one of the six entries competing for the Digital Lokal category of Cinemanila.

Brillante Mendoza is a multi-awarded director who is the first Filipino to compete in Cannes Film Fest and Venice International Film Fest in the same year. His Kinatay earned for him the Best Director plum in Cannes while his film Lola was chosen as a surprise entry in Venezia 66.

In Biyaheng Lupa, Eugene Domingo plays a mother who is fearful for the sake of her child whom she will leave behind when she goes to work abroad. The comedienne will soon be shooting for the upcoming film Working Girls 2010.

Giselle Sanchez has not yet starred in an indie film and she announced her willingness to star in one.

Maria Isabel Lopez made a comeback on the big screen through Brillante Mendoza's film Kinatay. She was tapped to play the prostitute who was brutally raped and hacked to pieces by a group of men.

Marife Necesito's biggest break is being cast in the film Mammoth, which stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Michelle Williams. Marife portrayed a Filipina nanny who misses her two sons terribly.

Brillante Mendoza posed with Kinatay screenplay writer Armando "Bing" Lao. This film tells the story of a prostitute brutally killed by police officers and a criminology student (played by Coco Martin) who became a witness to the crime.

Raymond Red directed the film Himpapawid, which was chosen as the closing film of Cinemanila. This film was also chosen to compete in the 2009 Tokyo International Film Festival.

In his speech, Cinemanila founding festival director Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI revealed that they have come up with " Project Tropical Storm: Mga Imahe sa Loob ng Bagyong Ondoy." This is a moving image compilation of stories from people affected by the devastation of the recent typhoon. These films will be screened in various barangays using the Cinemanila Sine Barangay caravan.

(From left) Cinemanila founding festival director Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI, Kaye Tinga, and Taguig mayor Freddie Tinga officially opened Cinemanila by ringing the gong.

One of the foreign guests of Cinemanila this year is Francis Bosco, the star of the Singaporean film My Magic.

Bing Lao recently had a mild stroke but he assured people that it could be treated with medication.

Tribal rock group Pinikpikan performed during the opening ceremony along with rappers who sang about Cinemanila.

Tribal music greeted the guests gathered at the fourth floor of Market! Market! where cocktails were served before the program.

The bulol (Ifugao rice god) has been the symbol of Cinemanila since the film fest started out 11 years ago. The organizers invoke the bulol as a blessing towards the Filipino film industry in general--ensuring a good harvest, a plentiful bounty of excellent Filipino films.