IFFR 2006

Amable Tikoy Aguiluz

Disconcerting portrait of ambitious newcomer in the world of sweaty sex shows, who seems to want to do anything to get success. A variation on the classic story of the country kid looking for work in the big city.

Cinema Regained: Noel Vera

Boatman

Mario O'Hara

Original combination of romantic melodrama and realistic indictment of political abuse from the Marcos era with style attributes from the horror and fantasy genre.

Demons

Chito Roño

Strongly acted drama about two respectable Filipino citizens who are suddenly arrested by the army. They descend further and further into the mire of the military regime of Ferdinand Marcos, in a nervewracking scenario by José Lacaba, himself a former prisoner of the junta.

Escape

Raymond Red

Nightmares pursue the Faustian scientist. Eternal life is cold and expensive.

Eternity

Mike de Leon

Retired policeman holds a woman and daughter in a claustrophobic grip with his dictatorial behaviour. His son-in-law resists and the result is a confrontation. A gruesome monster in his familiarity: it could be your next-door neighbour.

In Just the Wink of an Eye

Lino Brocka

Very intense film is probably Brocka's masterpiece, about the most painful treachery imaginable: of the mother and family. 'Eventually you are alone.'

Insiang

Lav Diaz

A military junta has taken power on the Philippines. Their takeover is fought by Moslem separatists, communists and rival military. In the middle of the chaos there is Hesus Mariano: academic, musician, poet and sniper. Politically tinted science-fiction action drama with an attitude.

Jesus the Revolutionary

By the man who keeps the heritage of Lino Brocka alive on his own. Festival director and organiser. And maker ofunforgettable films. Like this one.

The Last Wish

A rock band orders a music video, but the film maker already had his head in the next film. A surrealist carpet.

Meckam

Made with the video function of a mobile phone. And already in 2004. Low resolution. High poetry.

Melancholy

Provided the young 8mm film maker Raymond Red with a mention in the The Oxford History of World Cinema.

Pelikula

With this film, the maker won the Golden Palm for short film in 2000. But he already was the king of the short film in the Philippines.

Shadows

Comic impression of the ancient desire of man to be able to fly.

IFFR 2025
30 Jan – 9 Feb 2025