Marking the Fifteenth: CINEMAGIS bridges Northern Mindanao Cinema
Marking the Fifteenth: CINEMAGIS bridges Northern Mindanao Cinema
Kinse na! Rolling into its 15th year, Cinemagis continues to nurture and recognize Mindanaoan filmmakers. The Northern Mindanao Film Festival empowers to produce a significant body of work that leads to national recognition, contributes to the growth of the Mindanao film industry, and bridges the rivers of Mindanao as it goes invitational.
With this year’s theme, “Framing and Sensibility,” Cinemagis of Cagayan de Oro—among the first of its kind—spotlights filmmaking as both catalyst and mirror: a catalyst for audience development, and a mirror of how filmmakers respond to their communities. Through film as language and text, realities are captured: folklore, gender, health and well-being, environment and climate change, preservation of life and dignity, values and family solidarity, and the sustainable development goals.
Screenings run from September 24 to 27 at the Xavier University Little Theater. This year’s lineup spans both competition and non-competition categories: Lantaw for the competition program, and Viva Mindanao, CINEMAGIS EXTRA: Short Documentary Films, CINE Mga Inday, Mga Ondo, and Special Film Features for the non-competition program.
The festival opens with Mamay: A Journey to Greatness – The Marcos Mamay Story (2024), directed by Neal “Buboy” Tan, and closes with Alvin Yapan’s Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa—a Cinemalaya 2011 entry, Gawad Urian’s 35th Best Film of the Decade, and Best Picture. In between, highlights include Sockie Fernandez’s Gulong (Cinemalaya 2007).
CINEMAGIS 15 Lineup
Competition Program
LANTAW
PAWNS OF FAMINE by Ailjunn Katipunan
BALAY BALAY (PLAYHOUSE) by Gilar Saberon
FROM THE DIRT by Noeh Jesu Eli Antolo
LEFT UNSPOKEN by Earl Judd Sullano
BINHI – THE SEED OF RESILIENCE by Junryl Ybañez
KINABUHI SA POBRE by Fernando Omboy Jr.
HOLI SH*T by Kez Fuentes and Marion Ybañez
READY WHEN YOU ARE by Earl Judd Sullano
AIDAN by LNHS SPA Media Arts
Non-Competition Program
VIVA MINDANAO
NIBGIS BUSINESS by Sharlene Mercado and Angelo Dabbay
DILA SA GABA by Clyde Godoy
LAWOD by Bea Bianca Allado
TÔ PÁGSALLAP KATÓ ÁLLÓ KA DABÓ (WHEN THE SUN SETS OVER DAVAO) by Adrian Lo
OLD WORLD by Roland Cartegena
HALIGI SA KAHIBAWO by Dann Jake Niño
BEAT by Evzen Conejero
MAO RAY ATO! by Roziel Nabuya
AGSULIB by Lee Joshua Sardoma
KANTA SA NGIUB by Judennis Palarao
CINEMAGIS EXTRA: Short Documentary Films
UHAW SA PAGBABAGO by BSTCM 1A USTP Jasaan
LAYAG by Jezreyll James Cabasag
PANIKAD by Macasiding Abdul Raffy
HIMAN SA KABILIN by Elaiza Marie Empat
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE? by Joseph Marc A Salas
CINE Mga Inday, Mga Ondo
ALITAPTAP by Adriano Sanchez
HOLD ME TIGHTER THAN BEFORE by Mar-Ian Ejandra
SINGKWENTA’T ISANGDAAN by Jheigndrey Alfonso
Special Film Features
MAMAY: A JOURNEY TO GREATNESS 'THE MARCOS MAMAY STORY' by Neal "Buboy" Tan
GULONG by Sockie Fernandez
ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA by Alvin Yapan
Activities
With free admission, Cinemagis bridges filmmakers and audiences, welcoming everyone to experience the richness of Mindanaoan cinema. This year, it is honored to host Zig Dulay (director of Firefly, Best Film – MMFF 2023; Green Bones, Best Picture – MMFF 2024) and Tito Genova Valiente (Vice-Chair of the NCCA Executive Committee on Cinema) for the 2-day FDCP Film Talks and Workshop.
Headstarted by Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Cinemagis 15 is made possible with partners: the Center for Culture and the Arts, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Cinemagis remains steadfast in its advocacy of promoting Mindanao’s rich culture, heritage, and tradition through film. At the same time, it hones the craft of regional filmmakers and nurtures a thriving film community.
SINEGANG.ph is an official media partner of this year’s 15th Cinemagis: Framing and Sensibility
