Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival 2016 - GUIDE


The 2nd Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival will run from April 21 to 26, 2016. The festival is comprised of five full-length feature films, 13 short films, and nine Samsung Cinefone films.

The films will be screened at the following SM Cinemas: SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Manila.

The awarding ceremony will be held on April 24, 2016, at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.

The five full-length films in competition are:


MRS. by Adolf Alix Jr. 
(R-13 | 1h 33min)



70-year-old Virginia shares the old ancestral house with Delia, her ever-loyal maid. Delia is marrying her long-time boyfriend, Rene, and tearfully confides to Virginia that she wants to go home to her parents in the province to start a new family life with him. Haunted by a past that Virginia tries to conquer—her only son Sonny Boy who disappeared years ago, what follows shows a portrait of a woman and a mother trying to juggle the sad realities of life in a cycle of life and death. “MRS” stars Elizabeth Oropesa, Lotlot de Leon, Rosanna Roces, Anita Linda, Mark Herras.




EXPRESSWAY by Ato Bautista
(R-13 | 1h 33min)


A syndicate old-timer named Ben needs to do one last assignment before the boss he works for grants him his much delayed retirement. Assigned to be his partner is the neophyte Morris, a trigger-happy, sadist who yearns to impress the syndicate boss. For Ben, this last assignment turns out to be a journey of introspection, self-healing and redemption. With this awakening, he takes it upon himself to pull Morris out of the eventual hell-of-a-life he says he has lived as a hitman. “EXPRESSWAY” stars Alvin Anson, Aljur Abrenica, RK Bagatsing, Kiko Matos, Inez Bernardo, Japo Parcero, Arpee Bautista, and Jim Libiran.




DYAMPER by Mes De Guzman
(R-13 | 1h 33min)


Three friends wait along Dalton Pass every dawn to jump at the back of rice delivery trucks to steal the goods and sell it at the wet market as their means of income. One of them accidentally gets a pack of drugs in one of the trucks they jumped and finds themselves in jeopardy when its owners track them down to retrieve the stash, and gives them a chance to get off the hook by means of taking on a risky mission. “DYAMPER” stars Carlo Aquino, Alchris Galura, Tim Mabalot, Kristofer King, Liza Dino-Seguerra, and Debbie Garcia.




T.P.O. by Joselito Altarejos
(PG | 1h 16min)

Teresa is a battered mother in the hands of her husband, Miguel. When their son Miguelito starts to get hurt as violence erupts at its worst, Teresa will seek Temporary Protection Order (TPO) against her husband. Meanwhile, Miguel, together with their son, goes through the same long and arduous process of applying for the custody of their son on the town’s most festive and busiest day. When they see each other in the middle of the road, an accident will ensue leaving them both destroyed and at the losing end. The narrative will start repeating backwards, the truth will be revealed with scenes that have yet to unfold. “T.P.O.” stars Oliver Aquino, Mara Lopez, Micko Laurente, Menggie Cobarrubias, and Lui Manansala.



LILA by Gino Santos
(R-13 | 1h 22min)




Jess is a young woman running from her past and moves into the house of a warmhearted landlady. She finds a diary in her room that belonged to an old tenant. As days pass, strange occurrences ensue and the diary's words take an eerie turn when Jess finds herself in the middle of a malevolent turn of events from a dark past not entirely her own. “LILA” stars Janine Gutierrez, Enchong Dee, Sherry Alingod, and Migs Cuaderno.




Short Film Finalists
The short film entries will be screened only at SM Megamall on April 23 and 24.
  1. Ang Kapinunan Kan Mga Alon Sa Danay – Jennifer Lyn Romano
  2. Ang Piyeta (The Pieta) – Maestro Mark Sherwin Marquez
  3. Apo – Joshua Roque
  4. Apuhap – Raf Evangelista
  5. Fructus Ventris – Wence Albert R. Trajano & Elton James Marcelo
  6. Hide Post – Envangello Cyedel Dela Pena
  7. Ilog Waga – Jae-re Louise Liwanag
  8. Ina Namin (Our Mother) – Brian Spencer Reyes
  9. Indio – Leahlou D. Abellanosa
  10. Neon – Rod Michael Tumbaga
  11. Nino – Ferdinand Mesias & Ronyel Compra
  12. Plus Sign – Nikko Paciben
  13. The Foreseeing – Daniel Morial & Jeth Ordeniza
Samsung Cinephone Finalists
  1. 99% – John Paolo S. Barcena
  2. Changing Roads – Angela Andres & Freana Garcia
  3. Espayb – Ebone Cimafranca, Jacquiline Hidalgo, Jessica Rubete & Juselle Roble
  4. Google Map – Chaira Mae Prado
  5. In a Dog’s Eyes – Michaela Veronica B. Padora
  6. Lapis – Partick Joseph C. Leano
  7. Litrato ng Nakaraan – Angelika Deofilo, Danilo Garcia & Samantha Mariano
  8. Tapat Si Tatay – Klaire Marie Zubiri & Faye Isabel Estrada
  9. Walang Wi-fi sa Dagat – Paul Arrenze Dionela

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