SineBuano.com

Despite being the Year of the Ox, 2009 has definitely become the Year of the Rooster for Pinoy Indie Filmmaking!

Particularly two latest projects, one a feature film the other a short Cebuano film, sharing the same title “Sabungero/Sabongero” enter the fray of filmmaking festivals.

In Manila

First-time filmmakers Miguel Kaimo and Rozie Delgado’s feature-length “Sabungero” will be shown in the week-long 2009 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, which starts July 17.

The film stars Joel Torre as a man who lost everything to gambling and is picking up the pieces. Supporting him are Ricky Davao, Noni Buencamino, Leo Martinez, Mark Gil and Maritoni Fernandez.

The film is produced by JC Bernardo, a cockfighting enthusiast, based on a script by Luz Innocia. The film took 3.2 million pesos to produce and will have a nation-wide release later in the year. Know more here

In Cebu

Multi-awarded filmmaker Ruel Antipuesto collaborated with New York based Cebuana filmmaker Janice Perez to shoot “Sabongero”, a short film that resulted from a 12-hour shoot in a Mactan island cockfit pit.

The short film has recently been accepted as part of the Short Film Corner of the Cannes Film Festival, one of 5 film entries who made it from the Philippines to the prestigious film festival.

Perez and Antipuesto would be joining compatriots Raya Martin, Adolfo Alix Jr., Brilliante Mendoza, Miguel Ocampo and Aissa Peñafiel in showcasing Filipino filmmaking talent at the Cannes.

Know more about this Cebuano short film here and here

Let us pray and wish for the success for these Pinoy filmmakers!