Outpacing the Usual Steps through Cinemalaya
Outpacing the Usual Steps through Cinemalaya
Feature art by Abigail Manaluz
Aside from being able to store more than 15 jolens (marbles) in one pocket, I also realized early in elementary school that I had another peculiar talent: I could effortlessly "teleport" to the end of any staircase, at least in my own humorous way of seeing it. However, this talent came at a cost—worn-out calves and a couple of sludging sighs. Stretching my legs to skip stairs was incredibly enjoyable. In fact, I could justify it, just as I arrogantly justified my mistakes back then, by claiming it was great exercise. My mom's worried voice is something I regrettably had to contend with in response.
I learned that by having this skill, I was able to channel my insatiable excitement and energy in action. I remember masterfully breezing the stairs at our mall just to look at the new posters and trailers in our local cinema despite the fact that most weren't allowed for a naughty, odd elementary student like me due to some age ratings my tiny mind couldn't justify with stubbornness. Nowadays, I yearn for that kind of picture-book joy that is perched with full enthusiasm, unbothered by any slothful hesitations. Eagerly containing raw excitement and thrill, not blunted by dopamine so weary by overconsumption that it can't function properly.
Taken from Cinemalaya’s Facebook Page
In a period dominated by immediate conveniences and bulldozing content from every known digital periphery—whether through diverse streaming platforms or easily accessible social applications—the cultural magnetism of going to theaters seems to be fading. So it is no wonder that moviegoers are dwindling as the years gradually slip away at our restless fingertips. In fact, in 2021, a study showed that theater attendance dropped by 4% globally. The shift from communal viewing experiences to isolated screen time, where convenience often trumps the enriching experiences offered by cinemas is not indicative that the one should and must override the other, the key here is balance. Just as streaming platforms need to improve and address strategies for their catalogue infrastructure, theaters must also be preserved and further revitalized as it is here where experiences are at their rawest, where passive consumption is never an option.
Enter Cinemalaya, a Philippine independent film festival that is widely advocated by major local theaters. It's not only a local competitive sphere for emerging talents and new potential to rise in the industry in hopes of garnering contracts or future projects but it also acts as a motivating incentive for audiences to interact with cinema in its intended form. Clearing two hurdles with one leap might never feel the same. This festival is particularly substantial in 2024, as we enter an era marked by greater diversity and a wider representation of societal issues that demand attention from us, Filipinos. Although going to cinemas are seen as an adjacent form of escapism, it has effectively tapped societies through politics and culture, and have the power to flourish newfound perceptions which in turn can mold history. Especially with indie films, due to their decentralized and unique approach to delivering messages.
Taken from Primer.com.ph
Unburdened by conventional constraints, many up-and-coming directors use this event to express their perspective and vision, harnessing their youthful energy and bustling spirit at a time when they are most dynamic and free. Cinemalaya's ethos of pushing filmmakers' instinctive grit in response to the call for substantive and innovative filmmaking is both exciting and essential to our community, for it signifies that the flame is never meant to be rekindled because it has always been there; it just needs to be tended. As early as 2005, Cinemalaya has paved ways for films like Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros which addressed LGBTQ+ issues and challenged traditionalist views, as well as opening the discussion for their rights and the moral imperative of holistic acceptance. 2011's Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is a notable film too. It's a satirical rendition of the Philippine indie film industry that encourages an evaluative mindset and attempts to inspire the audience to appreciate Filipino films as second nature.
Filipino talent exists; it simply requires the right opportunities, visibility and appreciation to be in full bloom. After steadily recovering from the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Philippines, with emphasis on its negative effects on the country's film industry, it's high time we counteract these challenges even if incrementally. With that said, a meaningful way to advance this effort is to attend the upcoming Cinemalaya 2024, which is filled to the brim with intriguing titles that have trailers on the net. It's not every day that we get to witness an artist's upbringing while having the chance to be part of a collective experience that will, in some way, keep the dust on the big screens afloat. So why not seize it?
I think it's time to put these legs to work again and skip one step or perhaps, two this time.
