SINULOG 2012: SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Mark Anthony A. Cabanlit Hum 1-C January 31, 2012 Last Saturday (January 28), our Humanities 1 class was given the opportunity to watch the special screening of the Short Film Festival of Sinulog 2012. I was quite excited for the event because it is indeed rare to have free access to these kinds of events. We have watched different types of short films ranging from dram to comedy to documentary. Everything was really entertaining and I think that all short films presented deserve a prize. These are my top-five films according to the way I liked it.

Mananahi This short film by Franz Arrogante has a very creepy intro sound effects but the concept behind it was really great. I loved it because it was the only entry in black and white. It also involved a unique story of not just a normal sewer but someone who sews the outfits of Sr. Sto. Nio. For me, the most memorable line from the movie was, Kay sa atong kinabuhi, ang Ginoo ang tinuod nga Mananahi. This movie deserved its Best Picture and Best Cinematography award. (Photo on the left: Screenshots from the short film, Mananahi )

Feeling the Faith This movie touched my heart so much that I almost cried even if there were only a few lines being said. This movie by Paul Halili is a very touching and moving one. This movie shared to us a story of a mute girl and his blind brother and their very tragic and contented life. This movie taught me to thank the Almighty Being on all the things that He has given to me. This film also deserved their Best Musical Scoring award and the Best Actor award for Eli Razo.

Dagang Guwang This movie by Fatrick Tabada will surely become a hit. At first, I thought that this movie would make me cry a liter of tears because the intro was about an ugly girl which is unable to find love, which is most likely to be my situation right now. This movie made me laugh so hard that I even shed some tears of joy. It was really funny and amazing how the Sto. Nio saved the life of this hopeless and loveless woman. This movie for me should win best Picture but apparently it didn t. Wonderfully played, the main actress, Florena Barriga really did deserve her Best Actress award in the movie, Dagang Guwang.

Tao Tao This short film by Aldo Nerlbert Banaynal is included in my list, not because of its story but because of the uniqueness of the concept and portrayal of the film. What was unique about this film was the mind-boggling intro. I was really curious of how a man with a gun, a duck, an army and an Indian tribe would relate. Oh well, it was only a game in the peryahan. I was really amazed when I realized that it was what the film was about, about a game in the peryahan where players tend to shoot certain figures of soldiers, Indian people and ducks in order to have a prize. A very creative film indeed.

Ingon Bitaw Ko... Mao Gyud! This short film by Roy Empleo is really funny and somehow touching at the end part. Roy Empleo was also the main actor of the movie and was also nominated as Best Actor. Something weird or shall I say unique about this movie was that it s flow of emotions on the scenes. At first, the movie was really funny until the climax and then it reached a point where it was really sad and somehow boring for me due to its sudden transition. Well, this movie was really funny and had made me laugh in a while.