If June is your cinema comeback month (or you’re just catching up on your Letterboxd to-watch list as much as your to-read book pile), make sure not to miss some Filipino films gracing the microcinemas.
You can catch some local film festival favorites this month such as Carlo Francisco Manatad’s “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” (an official entry to the 47th Metro Manila Film Festival) and Martika Ramirez Escobar’s “Leonor Will Never Die” (Cinemalaya 2022’s opening film) on Jun. 4 at the Cinematheque Center Manila. The films are part of the Pamanang Pelikula 2023 lineup, which also features some Philippine cinema classics. Don’t worry, admission is free.
But if you and your friends are free on a much later date, Cinema ’76 is giving us multiple chances to see Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan’s “Blue Room,” one of Cinemalaya 2022’s competition films—which also bagged the special jury prize, best direction, best cinematography, best supporting actor, and best production design at the independent film fest. Each ticket costs P320; peep the dates below.
Starring Juan Karlos, Harvey Bautista, Nourijune, Keoni Jin, and Elijah Canlas, this coming of age tale spotlights a progressive indie rock band called Rebel Rebel, which is composed of privileged and sheltered teens. After being arrested for drug possession and getting sent to the Blue Room, they have to choose between using their privilege or sticking to their principles.
What’s the next local film you hope to see in the theaters again?
Read more:
‘About Us But Not About Us’ got me questioning my own moral compass
Understanding Filipino youth culture through regional cinema
A senior chef falls for a siren in this dark fantasy WLW animated short
“Blue Room” still from Cinemalaya’s website