Cine Manila: Sights and Signs: The Deaf in Cinema
giselle montero
We highly recommend the following films:
SILENT ODYSSEY - October 22 7:15 pm
Cinema 6 Market Market
Philippines / Documentary / 92 mins /2008
Directed by Miranamedina
Cast
Members of Deaf Filipino Community with the special participation of Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, Dulaang Tahimlk Philippines, The Silent Steps
Synopsis
Silent Odyssey documents the filmmaker's journey with Deaf people. The film shows their sentiments towards the hearing society, history, language and culture. The film takes a close look at the Filipino Sign Language (FSL)-Its probable origin, uniqueness, present status vis-a-vis other sign systems and its importance as index to the cultural identity of Deaf Filipinos as a cultural-linguistic minority group. The journey leads to a realization that they are disabled and impaired by the society's failure to understand them as an ethnic group--and that just like our indigenous groups they have a language and a culture uniquely their own. That -Deaf can" is no illusion but a reality that can shame those who think of themselves as superior just because they can hear.
DINIG SANA KITA- October 24 6 pm Market Market Cinema 6
Philippines / 90 mins /2008
Directed by Mike Sandejas
Cast Zoe Sandejas, Romalito Mallari, Robert Sena, Lorenzo Mara The Silent Steps
Synopsis
The film is a love story between a Deaf boy who loves to dance and a Troubled rocker girl who abuses her hearing. One lives in the world of solitude and silence. The other in noise and fear. Crossing paths In a Bagulo camp that mixes Deaf and hearing kids, both find that they have more In common with each other including a love for music. This is the first Filipino film to have a Deaf actor in a lead role. Romalito Mallari Is a Deaf performer that has played several stage productions as actor andlor dancer. It also features several Deaf actors in the cast and ensemble.
PUNTOD (BABY'S TOMB) - October 22, 12:15 pm Market Market Cinema 6
Philippines / 2009 / 113 mins
Directed by Cesar Apolinario
Synopsis
Baby is a 10-year old deaf who was born amidst the stench of poverty. Destitution was her first teacher. The cruel realities of life were magnified to her through her gift of sight.
But Baby saw all these through the eyes of an innocent child. Using her eyes as her guide, Baby swims the murky waters of Manila Bay gathering plastic bottles and empty cans to save enough to fulfill her only goal in life to pay for a tomb where she could put her dead mother's bones.
RIVER OF DREAMS - October 21, 1 pm, Fully Booked Bookstore
Directed by Michael Angelo Dagnalan
Set in the historical Pasig River (Manila), River of Dreams is an enigmatic romance between two Deaf children drawn together by a unique emotional connection. Together they dare challenge their physical limitations in order to answer the call of innocent love.
River of Dream is about having dreams and pursuing dreams.
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Director’s Biography
Miranamedina, a film editor turned independent advocacy filmmaking is the UP Film Center scholar to the Film and Television Institute of India where she obtained a Post-graduated Diploma in Cinema. She has edited, collaborated and worked with independent producer – director Tikoy Aguiluz in many of his films. She later producer, directed and edited Alyana – A study of autism in the Philippines and Silent Odyssey, the first local digital feature length documentaries on autism and Deaf Filipinos. Currently, she is an active member of the Board of Trustees of the Filipino Deaf Women’s Health and Crisis Center, associate member of Support and Empower Deaf Abused Children and Autism Society of the Philippines.
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MIKE SANDEJAS wrote, producer and directed the Cinamalaya 2006 Best Film Tulad ng Dati. He works as a filmmaking that creates out -of-the-box media solutions for his government and corporate clients. Mike is also a finalist in the Cinemalaya 2009 short feature category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cesar Apolinario is a broadcaster and news producer at GMA 7 and a freelance movie director and producer. He was recognized as Metro Manila Film Festival’s Best Director for the film,
“Banal” in 2007.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Michael Angelo Dagñalan is
a writer/director
Based in Manila, Philippines.
He attained the degree of
Bachelor of Arts,
Major in Communication
Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila
A Co-founder of Sinelab
Workshop where he teacher Independent Filmmaking. He is the present Creative
Director of Kuwentista
Youth Vote Philippines
should there be a need, will there be english subtitles?
many thanks,
Justine
YPS Program Coordinator
Youth Vote Philippines
Let your voice be heard in 2010!
LAUGH DANCE VOTE
http://www.youthvotephilippines.com
http://www.yps.org.ph
John Xandre Baliza
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde