Sana Dati, Ekstra, Transit rule Cinemalaya Awards night. Listen to our Sana Dati podcast with Jerrold Tarog.
Ekstra opens in cinemas on 14 August 2013.
Instant Mommy opens on 28 August 2013.
Sana Dati opens on 25 September 2013.
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No one can ever say that we choose half-measures. When we said we loved Sana Dati, we meant we would go to the mattresses for it (and that includes mixing up Breaking Bad and Godfather references).
We’ve just spent the last 48 hours geeking out on Jerrold Tarog’s anti-romcom. On Saturday we did a podcast with its maker. On Sunday we got up early to go to Alabang Town Center and watch it again. And then we had merienda at Juan’s house and talked our friends’ ears off about the movie. Then Ricky decided to blow off his evening appointment so we could attend the Cinemalaya awards night at CCP. Where we were astonished to find that the jury agreed with us (because this never happens).
In the Directors’ Showcase, the awards for Sound Design, Musical Score and Editing went to Jerrold Tarog (and his pseudonyms Roger TJ Ladro and Pats R. Ranyo) for Sana Dati. The Production Design award went to Ericson Navarro and the Cinematography award to Mackie Galvez for Sana Dati. TJ Trinidad won the Best Supporting Award for his heartbreaking portrayal as the other guy in Sana Dati.
The only movie standing in the way of a Sana Dati sweep was Ekstra. We’re very pleased for our friend Jeffrey Jeturian, who won the Best Screenplay award (with Zig Dulay and Antoinette Jadaone) for his very first attempt at writing. Ekstra also won the Jury Prize and the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) prize. The jury opted not to hand out a Best Actor award. Ruby Ruiz as the harried talent coordinator in Ekstra bagged the Best Supporting Actress prize, and Vilma Santos won Best Actress in her first indie outing. Ate Vi could not attend the CEremony; if she had appeared, our eardrums would’ve liquefied from the cheering. Ekstra opens in theatres on August 14—you have to see it.
Best Director went to Jerrold Tarog and Best Film to Sana Dati. We hope that GMA Network, which saved the production at the last minute by buying the broadcast rights (Thank You!), will give it a theatrical run.
In the New Breed section, Transit by Hannah Espia (which we haven’t seen because we couldn’t get tickets) also managed a near-sweep, bagging the Best Film, Direction, Cinematography, Actress (Irma Adlawan), and Supporting Actress (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) awards, among others.
Best Supporting Actor went to Joey Paras for Babagwa, and Best Actor to Mimi Juareza for Quick Change. If we’re not mistaken, this is the first time a transgender has won a major acting award here. Shouldn’t Mimi be in the Best Actress category though? In any case she was brilliant in Quick Change, and we were moved by her genuine shock and emotion at hearing her name called.
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One of the sources.
Jerrold Tarog wrote his first screenplay Sana Dati in 2006, and over the years he pitched it to a lot of producers. Nothing happened. In the meantime he made six feature films. In 2013 Sana Dati was accepted in the Directors’ Showcase at Cinemalaya, and he still couldn’t find the funds to shoot it. Just as he was about to quit, a producer appeared. Listen to the back story of Sana Dati in our podcast interview, along with tips on how to prevent overacting and questions he never wants to be asked again.
Our interview with Jerrold Tarog in the not-quite weekly podcast. Listen, download, or get it on iTunes.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
August 5th, 2013 at 15:47
san pa ba pwede mapanood to
SOLD OUT ang screening sa Trinoma nung staurday 1:30 pm
nagmamakaawa ako sa Theater Uhshers na kahit tumayo ako at magbayad ng 500 pesos gagawin ko mapanood ko lang ito pero di umumbra lumayas ako ng nakanganga
August 5th, 2013 at 15:50
BTW pansin ko lang halos lahat (around 95%) ng lalaking nanonood ng Cinemalaya ay mga BEKI!!!!!
dahil ba mga art film lover ang mga bekilya?
August 5th, 2013 at 16:25
that scifi film sounds like an episode in Community.
August 5th, 2013 at 20:09
Just finished listening to the podcast. Argggh…I wanna watch this movie!! So sad I’m based outside the Phils now…I hope i-release nila online…would gladly pay for it!
August 6th, 2013 at 01:11
swanoepel: Siguro naman ngayong humakot ng tropeo yung pelikula, ipapalabas ito ng distributor sa sinehan. At kung walang distributor, kami mismo ang mabubwisit sa Ayala Cinemas para makanood kayong mga bekilya este art film lover.
August 6th, 2013 at 01:25
spooky: There’s an idea. Will pass it on.
August 6th, 2013 at 02:43
JZ: I have been enjoying what has been listened to in the podcast thus far. You guys were talking about extending Cinemalaya screenings out there as a sub-topic. May I suggest that the organizers would follow how things have been done in the Seattle International Film Festival? After their events conclude, SIFF holds screenings composed plainly of award winners. The theaters host the films for about a week or two and would call it “The Best of SIFF”.
These are the kinds of films that would make me wish for a more global release. Crossing fingers for a DVD distribution deal, but would definitely settle for an iTunes release.
August 6th, 2013 at 11:25
I’m happy that Mimi Juareza won. Thanks for letting us know. I haven’t seen Quick Change but will try to catch it when I can. You’re right Jessica. Mimi should’ve been in the Actress Category. Is it true that Cinemalaya does not announce the nominees of its awards? If yes, then that’s probably why Mimi was surprised when her name was called.
August 6th, 2013 at 16:47
Sinubukan naming mapanood ito sa Trinoma noong Linggo, ngunit wala na ring mabiling ticket. Hindi naman namin gustong ihalili ang “Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?” kaya umuwi na lang kaming nakasimangot.