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13th Cinemalaya Showcases The Best of Asian Cinema in Visions of Asia

The Cinemalaya's Visions of Asia section will screen award-winning Asian indie films on August 5 to 12, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The Cinemalaya's Visions of Asia section will screen award-winning Asian indie films on August 5 to 12, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). 

The featured films include: “Above It All” by Anysay Keola (Lao PDR); “A Gift” by Chayanop Boonprakob, Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn, Nithiwat Tharatorn and Jira Maligool (Thailand); “Please Remember Me” by Zhao Qing (China); “Poolsideman” by Hirobumi Watanabe (Japan); “Singing in Graveyards” by Bradley Liew (Malaysia/Philippines); “The Painter's View” by Kim Hee-chul (Korea); and “Turah” by Wicaksono Winsu Legewo (Indonesia). 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

In “Above It All” by Lao PDR director Anysay Keola, a male medical graduate and a Hmong woman – both named Noy – confront their predicaments amid conflicting emotions. Noy, the male medical graduate, has to decide whether to abide by his parents’ wish to marry his girlfriend or follow his desire to come out and tell the truth about his sexual preference. Meanwhile, Noy, the Hmong woman, looks forward to celebrating her graduation after a long struggle to support herself in Vientiane. However, her parents forced her to decide whether to remain in the city or get married overseas in order to repay her parents' debt. The film stars Athit Silavong, Soukhanith Inthavong, Bie Lauj, Hema Vilaisane, Chanthasone Thavixay, and Sonexay Keomanivong. 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

Thai film “A Gift” features three stories – “Love at Sundown” by Chayanop Boonprakob and Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn, “Still on My Mind” by Nithiwat Tharatorn, and “New Year Greeting” by Jira Maligool. Featuring actors Naphat Siangsomboon, Violette Wautier, Sunny Suwanmethanont, Nittha Jirayungyurn, Chantavit Dhanasevi and Nuengthida Sophon, the 144 minute-long film presents the parallel story of six people who are trying to overcome life’s challenges. “A Gift” honors the King’s musical compositions highlighting his songs within a cinematic symphony of romance, soul-searching drama and heartwarming humor. 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

In “Please Remember Me,” Chinese director Zhao Qing documents the struggle of an old couple as they battle against Alzheimer’s disease. The 78-minute documentary follows 88-year-old Feng and 87-year-old Lou who would go out hand-in-hand to practice Tai Chi. Anybody could hardly tell that Lou has Alzheimer’s disease. Over the years, Lou has forgotten almost everyone but still firmly believes that Feng is the one she is going to spend the rest of her life with. 

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Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

Director Bradley Liew's “Singing in Graveyards” narrates the story of Pepe, a 68-year-old impersonator of a Filipino rock legend who lives alone on the borders of reality, imagination and mysticism. One day, he is finally given the chance to open for the rock legend’s concert but he must do something neither of them has done before – write a love song. The film stars rock legend Pepe Smith, Mercedes Cabral, Lav Diaz, Ely Buendia, Susan Africa, Bernardo Bernardo, Joel Saracho, Matt Daclan, and Sunshine Teodoro. 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

“The Painter's View” by Korean director Kim Hee-chul depicts the struggles of a painter. Moving from Busan to Jeju during the Korean war, the painter and his family kept life going by receiving food rations as he draws pictures of neighbors in return for their help. But when his wife and children left, his lonely refugee life began. Actors Bang Seung-chul and Do Nam-gung stars in the film. 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

Indonesian director Wicaksono Winsu Legewo tackles the life of the Kampung Tirang residents who live in dilapidated shacks and earn just enough for their next meal in “Turah.” In the film, the hardworking and reliable Turah has been appointed by the cooperative leader to tend to the complaints and settle conflicts that arise in the village. Peace in the settlement is disrupted when the alcoholic Jadag starts questioning the governance of the village. Actors Ubaidillah, Slamet Ambari, Yono Daryono, Rudi Iteng, Bontot Sukandar, Bambang Suwidagdo, Ali Mukti and Khaerul Anam bring the story to life. 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

“Poolsideman” by Japanese filmmaker Hirobumi Watanabe takes viewers to the suburb north of Tokyo where Yusuke Mizuhara works as a lifeguard at a swimming pool. With no family, friends or love, he leads a lonely and monotonous life until one day when he goes to another pool as a replacement guard. The film stars Mizuhara Yusuke and Shirasaki Koji. Catch director Hirobumi Watanabe onAugust 5, at 6p.m., following the premiere of his film at the CCP's Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater). 

Cinemalaya Visions of Asia

The Visions of Asia will also feature the Asian Three-fold Mirror 2016: Reflections, featuring works by Brillante Ma Mendoza (Philippines), Isao Yukisada (Japan), and Sotho Kulikar (Cambodia). Co-produced by Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Japan Foundation Asian Center, the Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2016: Reflections is the first of the omnibus film series that aims to generate new perspectives as it reflects on the history and culture of the chosen countries — Philippines, Japan, and Cambodia. 

The first film, “Shiniuma Dead” by Filipino filmmaker Brillante Ma Mendoza, tells the story of an illegal Filipino immigrant (played by actor Lou Veloso), who works as a stable hand at a ranch in Hokkaido but gets deported back to his home country. 

Japanese director Isao Yukisada's “Pigeon,” the second film of the series, follows the life of a lonely old man, his discord with his son and interaction with his helper, along with his distant memories of the Pacific War. Actors Masahiko Tsugawa, Sharifah Amani and Masatoshi Nagase bring the story to life. 

“Beyond the Bridge” by Cambodian director Sotho Kulikar completes the series. The film portrays a love story that connects the director’s homeland of Cambodia to Japan through times of civil war to reconstruction. Starring Masaya Kato, Chumvan Sodhachivy and Osamu Shigematsu, the film includes rare documentary footage of the civil war. 

The Asian Three-fold Mirror 2016: Reflections and the “Poolsideman” will be screened through the partnership of Cinemalaya and Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival. The alliance aims to provide both festivals with opportunities for film exchange, help in the promotion of both events, and contribute to audience building and film education. The screenings of the Japanese films will be free admission. 

The films “Above It All,” “Singing in Graveyards,” “The Painter's View” and “Turah” are curated by NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema), a worldwide organization founded in 1990 to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Asian films and filmmakers at a time when Asian cinema was just coming into its own but was relatively unknown regionally and internationally. In 2015, the Netpac committee has decided to expand its geographical landscape up to the Pacific Region. 

Visions of Asia is part of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc., the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Ayala Malls Cinemas. Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers. 

Cinemalaya will be held on August 5 to 13, at the CCP theaters and Ayala Malls Cinemas in Greenbelt 1, Glorietta 4, Up Town Center, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces and Marquee Mall in Pampanga. 

For more information, visit www.cinemalaya.org or www.culturalcenter.gov.ph. You may also call CCP Media Arts at (63 2) 832-1125 local 1704 to 1705 and the CCP Box Office at (63 2) 832-3704. Or follow the Cinemalaya Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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