Its that time of the year again and film afficionados are definitely counting the days to the Cinemalaya Festival 2019. The festival which celebrates proudly Filipino independent films kicks off in less than a month on August 2 and will run until August 11 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and select theaters.

Here’s your first glimpse at the finalists. Expect our take on these film trailers in the following days to get you even more excited about this amazing festival of artistry.

Iska

 Iska, a film by Theodore Boborol is written by Mary Rose Colindres, about a poor but  grandmother of an autistic child who loses everything and is  left with no choice but succumb to the stereotype society has framed for her.

John Denver Trending

Director Arden Rod Condez bookmarks a period in people’s lives when they allow social media to reshape their mindset. Based on true events and set entirely in Pandan, Antique, John Denver Trending  narrates how the life of a young boy changes when he is caught on a viral video brutally attacking a classmate.

ANi

ANi by Kim Zuñiga and Sandro del Rosario revolves around an orphan and his malfunctioning robot as they embark on a quest to save his grandfather’s life.

Belle Douleur

Co-written by Carl Adrian Chavez and Kristin Barrameda and directed by Joji V. Alonso , Belle Douleur, which translates to A Beautiful Pain tells the story of a self-made woman in her late 40s who is bent on living on her own for the rest of her days. The film depicts her journey to finding happiness in complete surrender and sacrifice.

Malamaya

Malamaya, directed by Danica Sta. Lucia and Leilani Chavez, and written by Leilani Chavez and Liberty Trinidad, is a film about a pessimistic, uninspired middle-aged artist who finds spark with a millennial photographer who leads her on a path of creative and sexual reawakening.

Annak Ti Karayan

Annak Ti Karayan, interpreted as Children of the River is helmed by Maricel Cariaga, and shares the story of four children as they battle their own demons and take care of their families while their fathers are away.

Ward

Director Thop Nazareno returns to the film festival with Ward, a film about a teenage boy who has been forced to live under the hospital bed of an ailing father and tries to live with some semblance of normalcy.

Fucc Bois

Award winning director Eduardo Roy Jr. returns to Cinemalaya for Fucc Bois. The director has won Best Director and Best Film for his film “Pamilya Ordinaryo” in 2016.

Pandanggo sa Hukay

Pandanggo sa Hukay by Sheryl Rose M. Andes follows a small-town midwife as she prepares for a job interview abroad.

Tabon

Actor Xian Lim directs his first film Tabon, a story of how a man’s belief in reality is tested when suspects are accused of a crime they believe to not have committed.

See you in this year’s Cinemalaya Festival!