The Binisaya International Film Festival recently celebrated its 15th year, held at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu Cinema from August 17 to 24. Founded by film director Keith Deligero in 2010, the festival aims to showcase local and international films within a tongue-and-cheek environment that celebrates and parodies Filipino culture and the film industry.
Despite activities such as karaoke sessions, parody commercials, and even handing out teddy bears as trophies, Binisaya is sincere in its goals as a film festival. “It’s not about being on the red carpet or being in a film festival for the clout…It’s pure, genuine, and sincere. Those three words best describe Cebuano filmmaking and its audiences,” shared Deligero in an interview with The Freeman.
Among the winners of the film festival were Mico Lorenzo Minerva’s mockumentary satire “Ang Noble Savage Nagpahungaw sa Iyang Emotional Baggage,” which received a Jury Citation in the Shorts category; Stephen Kelly’s “Dangpanan,” which won Best Film in the Shorts category; Pabelle Manikan’s “Brownout Capital,” which won best film in the Horizons category; Daniel de la Cruz’s “Hasang,” which received a Jury Citation in the Horizons category; Whammy Alcazaren’s “Water Sports,” which won the Binisaya World Best Film. and Adrian Lo’s “When the Sun Sets Over Davao,” which won the Audience Choice Award based on the number of views it received during its limited run on Binisaya’s YouTube channel.
The highlight of the event was the “24-Hour Shootout,” where filmmakers were challenged to make seven shorts, which would all be joined together to form one complete film. Each of the seven groups of filmmakers tackled one of the seven deadly sins, and were given the day to conceptualize, shoot and edit their short. The final feature-length film, “Diring Dapita,” featured an eclectic mix of genres, from comedy, to absurdist drama, to serious commentary. Out of the seven segments, “Lust” was the standout entry, with writer-director Simon Tabaloc, actors Johannes Tejero and Koji Baron, and other members Jose Andy Sales, Xod Plania and Adrei Dulai winning Best Shootout Team.
The Binisaya International Film Festival continues to break new ground, highlighting local and international filmmakers and celebrating films without traditional constraints. For more information on the next edition, follow them @binisaya on Facebook and Instagram.