As part of the Bagong Agos Film Festival of the Indie Filmmakers' Cooperative, these full-length films will be shown at the IndieSine this Sunday, January 21.
Award-winning indie films show that crime, indeed, does not pay. Watch the disturbing Cavite by Ian Gamazon and Dominique Gonzales at 1:30 PM. Ato Bautista's visceral Sa Aking Pagkagising sa Kamulatan will be screened at 4:00 PM. By 6:30 PM, moviegoers can watch the critically acclaimed Kubrador directed by Jeffrey Jeturian. Finally, Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez's hilarious Big Time screens at 9:00 PM.
CAVITE. This tense thriller follows Adam (Ian Gamazon), an American citizen who visits his native Philippines—a country he barely knows—for his father's funeral. On his way back to America, he receives a phone call from a member of an infamous and dangerous terrorist group who tells him that his family has been kidnapped and if he doesn't do exactly what they say, they will be killed.
In the province of Cavite, people will do just about anything to survive. This is the harsh reality for many Filipinos living in a poverty stricken nation. This tense thriller follows Adam (Ian Gamazon), an American citizen who visits his native Philippines—a country he barely knows—for his father's funeral. When he arrives at the country's airport, he receives a phone call from an anonymous caller letting him know that his mother and sister have been kidnapped and will be killed if he doesn't comply with his demands. Helpless and alone in a country he barely knows, Adam must submit himself to the fanatic's every wish or face the consequences.
Cavite won in the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards and bagged the Maverick Award during the 2005 Woodstock Film Festival.
BIG TIME. Danny (Winston Elizalde) and Jonas (Nor Domingo) are two petty crooks who dream of moving into the big scene. They're harmless members of the Tambo community who dream of running their own big organized crime operation, like the one of Don Manolo (Michael de Mesa)-the local crime lord.
Their ticket to the big scene is to kidnap Melody (Joanne Miller), the prettiest girl in Tambo. Her parents both have big dreams for their little girl but in reality, all Melody wants is to become a big movie star.
On the night Danny and Jonas kidnap Melody, they discover a secret Melody has been keeping from her parents for quite some time—her boyfriend Wilson (Jamie Wilson), an Amboy who happens to be the only son of Don Manolo. Wilson wants to take over the family's business in the underworld, but his father has plans of his own for his son.
The four main characters meet, and as comic situations go, all plans turn absurdly awry. Danny, Jonas, Melody and Winston must find what is truly in themselves to fulfill their ultimate dreams. Big Time is the non-linear story of two small-time criminals, a wannabe actress, the son of a crime lord, and the kidnapping that brings all of them together for what should be the ticket of their dreams.
In this crazy world, everybody wants to go big time.
Awards: Winner, Best Screenplay, Best Score, Best Sound, 2005 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival / Winner, Best Sound, 2006 URIAN Awards / Rated A, Cinema Evaluation Board / Official Selection, 2006 Chicago International Film Festival / 2006 Imaginasia Film Festival / Nominated for 9 URIAN Awards / Nominated for 1 Golden Screen Award
KUBRADOR. Watch Gina Pareño in her breakthrough performance as the kubrador (bookie) who continues to collect bets despite the government crackdown on the game. Director Jeffrey Jeturian's masterful storytelling demystifies jueteng as the movie reveal how this underground betting game plays an intrinsic part among many Filipinos.
Kubrador has earned great recognition in various international festivals all over the world, among them winning at the prestigious 2006 Moscow International Film Festival, the FIPRESCI Prize, best picture and best actress award (for Gina Pareño).
SA AKING PAGKAGISING SA KAMULATAN. Ato Bautista's film whose title translates to My Awakening from Consciousness was released during the first quarter of 2005.
Sa Aking Pagkagising sa Kamulatan brings to life archetypes—the cocky punk receiving "foreign aid" from his mother overseas, the siga or neighborhood toughie, the petty thief—all of whom vent their frustration by beating up a hapless young boy Rey (played by Carlo Aquino). Carlo was named as Best Actor during the 3rd Golden Screen Awards for his role in this digital movie.