Carlo Obispo’s 1-2-3 will open the 12th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The festival runs from Aug. 5 to 15.
1-2-3 will be shown at 7 p.m. following the Cinemalaya opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on Aug. 5. The event is open to the public.
The film follows the overwhelming circus of unfamiliar and harsh realities of a country boy’s search to find his sister, locked up in a brothel.
Luis is just one of the teenage boys in the idyllic and fishing island of Silag. He goes through the issues of adolescence with his childhood sweetheart, Maricar, while his younger sister, Lulu busies herself by joining amateur singing contests hoping to be a star.
One day, a talent manager discovers her singing and offers her to undergo vocal coaching in Manila, and later to join a popular TV singing contest. Lulu eagerly takes the opportunity and leaves for the city, thinking her dreams are finally coming true. However, after a few months, Lulu’s family loses communication with her. This drives Luis to go to Manila in search for his sister.
In the cast of 1-2-3 are Carlo Dala as Miguel, Barbara Miguel as Lulu, Therese Malvar as Maricar, Sue Prado and Patricia Javier.
Obispo also wrote the screenplay.
Obispo is a Cinemalaya alumnus. He directed his first full-length film Purok 7, which was one of the finalists in the full-length feature category in the 2013 Cinemalaya. Born and raised in Camiling, Tarlac, Carlo ‘Arc’ Obispo went to Saint Louis University to major in Philosophy, minor in Communication Arts.
This year’s Cinemalaya carries the theme “Break the Surface”. Nineteen new digital independent films will compete in the full-length feature and short feature categories. In addition to the Main Competition, Cinemalaya will offer Festival’s Best, Asian Showcase, Cinemalaya Documentaries, Tribute to Francis Pasion, and Cinemalaya Institute showcase. The Cinemalaya Campus, a major component of the Festival, will be held on Aug. 9 to 10 at the CCP Little Theater.
The Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, which is considered the longest-running independent film competition of its kind in the ASEAN/Asian region, will have its 28th run during Cinemalaya.
Cinemalaya is 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.