Watch the films for free
Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino returns this September with classic films of new National Artists
Cinephiles are in for a treat this September as Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) is heading back to the big screens.
The flagship film festival of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is returning for its 6th edition this year and will showcase award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts that you can watch for free.
The event is being held to celebrate "Philippine Film Industry Month" this September and appreciate the achievements of local filmmakers and actors.
The festival consists of three programs, with the highlight being PPP Classics, a section dedicated to renowned films from the old days. For this year, the section spotlights cinematic works of the three new National Artists for Film, namely, actress Nora Aunor, screenwriter Ricky Lee, and late director Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
The other sections are Sine Isla: LuzViMinda and Sine Kabataan, which are short film competitions to recognize regional and young filmmakers respectively.
Here are some of the classic films you can watch:
Atsay
Directed by the late Eddie Garcia and starring Aunor, Atsay tells the story of a woman named Nelia who leaves her poor town to work as a maid in the city. She works herself to death to fulfill the wishes of her family all the while receiving harsh treatment from her employer because of her impoverished status.
However, it is also in the city where her life begins to change as she discovers an opportunity to move to a better life in the arms of a lover.
Cain at Abel
Written by Lee and directed by Lino Brocka, Cain at Abel follows brothers Elis and Lorenz, who have a sibling rivalry due to their mother favoring the younger Elis over Lorenz. Over the years, their relationship turns even more bitter as their mother continues to support and give more opportunities to Elis than Lorenz, until the tension between the brothers eventually grow into an armed conflict.
Brutal
Directed by Diaz-Abaya, Brutal centers on a female journalist who strives to unearth the truth behind the case of a woman who murdered her drunk husband and his friends in a rented house in Manila.
Other films include Tatlong Taon Walang Diyos (1976), Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (1990), and Karnal (1983).
The films will be shown for free in TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheques Centres nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, and Nabunturan) from Sept. 9 to 23. To register, check out the the links provided in each festival section in PPP's Facebook page.