The annual Cinema One Originals Film Festival, a division of ABS-CBN Films, had a star-studded opening at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Thursday night. The stars of the competing films were in full force to support the independent film fest’s 15th edition.
Regine Velasquez, Rayt Carreon, Arron Villaflor, Jane Oineza, Jerould Aceron, Yayo Aguila, Mara Lopez, and Jana Agoncillo were among the celebrities who walked on the red carpet.
Meanwhile, Cinema One Originals brings multitude of new takes on storytelling through its exciting World Cinema section line-up for its 15th year, featuring the films The Lighthouse, the much-awaited sophomore film from The Witch director Robert Eggers. The film stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as lighthouse keepers slowly going insane on a black rock.
David Sims of theatleantic.com commends the film for capturing its audience in its strangeness. He wrote, “It’s a bracing squall of a movie, a briny delight that’s as amusing as it is mesmerizingly strange.”
Completing the lineup of foreign films to be exhibited in this year’s edition of Cinema One Originals are The Father, The Invisible Life of Eurice Gusmao, Knives Out, Matthias and Maxime, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, “The Truth, and The Two Popes.
The main competition, on the other hand, offers eight entries of different genres.
Victor Villanueva’s Lucid, written by Natts Jadaone, stars Alessandra de Rossi and JM de Guzman. The story is about Ann, a luminous dreamer crosses paths with another of her kind which makes her realize her dreams are far more alive than her reality.
Metamorphosis is a coming-of-age story about Adam, a 14-year-old kid who was born with a secret of having both male and female genitals. It stars Jerould Aceron, Iana Bernardez, and Ivan Padilla, and it is directed by J.E. Tiglao.
Lauren Young, Anna Luna, Sarah Carlos, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith lead the cast of Kevin Dayrit’s O, where vampire drug lord Matilda forces morgue intern Maria to become a blood pusher in exchange for her life, selling dried blood sachets to modern-day, harmless vampires.
Giancarlo Abrahan returns to C1 Originals with Sila-Sila, a comedy about a boy who falls in and out of love with “the same people.” The movie stars Topper Fabregasand Gio Gahol.
Tayo Muna Habang Hindi Pa Tayo, a romance drama by Denise O’ Hara, zeroes in on the roller coaster breakup of Alex (Jane Oineza) and Carlo (JC Santos).
Eve Baswel’s horror entry Tia Madre is about 10-year-old Angel (Jana Agoncillo) who is living alone with her warm and loving mother (Cherie Gil), who unexpectedly became distant and violent towards her.
A crime comedy entry, Dustin Celestino’s Utopia stars Vin Abrenica, Arron Villaflor, and Enzo Pineda. The film is about a videographer, a rookie police officer, and an undercover agent whose lives intertwine in the labyrinth of a violent city’s underbelly.
Yours Truly, Shirley that sees Regine Velasquez-Alcasid’s return to doing movies is a comedy directed by Nigel Santos. The film sees Regine play a widow who believes a young popstar (Rayt Carreon) is the reincarnation of her deceased husband.
The festival runs until Nov. 17 at Trinoma, Glorietta, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Gateway, and Powerplant Makati.
There will also be screenings at Vista Cinemas in Iloilo and Evia Lifestyle and in Cinema Centenario, Cinema ‘76, Black Maria, UP Cine Adarna, and FDCP Cinematheque Manila.