August 26, 2022

This edition highlights Cinemata’s exclusive partnership with the 34th Gawad Alternatibo film competition to stream the winning entries highlighting the best of Philippine alternative storytelling. Also featured in this edition are human rights videos from Bangladesh and Thailand, as well as our upcoming partnership with Malaysia’s FreedomFilmFest 2022.

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CINEMATA PARTNERSHIPS

Cinemata is exclusive streaming partner of 34th Gawad Alternatibo film competition

Cinemata is the online screening platform of the 34th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the longest-running annual independent film competition of its kind in Asia.

From August 14 to October 31, 2022, over 60 Philippine films from the independent film competition’s five categories will be streamed exclusively on Cinemata.

At the awarding ceremony last August 13, CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division Head, Mae Urtal Caralde, highlighted the safe space provided by Cinemata to more meaningfully engage with audiences. “We chose Cinemata because of their digital rights advocacy and commitment in providing a safe online space for alternative media [and] content to flourish, reach more viewers, and enable a more meaningful engagement than what commercial platforms offer”, she said.

The 60 films are now available on Cinemata, accessible via playlists on the homepage:

Animation

Experimental

Documentary

Short Feature

Curated Section

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FREEDOMFILMFEST 2022: Pandemik Dua Jarkat

After more than two years, Malaysia’s FreedomFilmFest (FFF) is returning to the big screen with a lineup of deep, difficult, and daring films produced just before and during the pandemic. With the theme Pandemik Dua Darjat (Pandemic of Inequality), the films in this year’s festival highlight the economic inequalities and power disparities exposed by the pandemic. Over 35 films will be screened from September 9 to 17 at the PJ Live Arts Theatre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

FreedomFilmFest is Malaysia's first and only international human rights documentary film festival. Established in 2003, the festival provides a platform for stories that are unseen, unheard, and untold from Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and across the globe.

Cinemata is an official partner of this year’s festival. Follow Cinemata’s social media channels and newsletter to receive more updates.

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FEATURED VIDEOS

'Letters to our Little Brown Brothers'

In the late 1890s, the United States occupied the Philippines and adopted a policy of “benevolent assimilation”. This speculative historical documentary film by Noli Agbayani Manaig features excerpts from William Howard Taft’s letters that sought pacification of the new colony by winning Filipinos’ hearts and minds.

Letters to our Little Brown Brothers is among the first place winners at the Gawad Alternatibo film competition's experimental category.

Director: Noli Agbayani Manaig

Country: Philippines

WATCH THE FILM

‘Shrinking Civic Space in Bangladesh’

The past decade has seen the gradual shrinking of civic spaces in Bangladesh, with the government using state mechanisms and the legal system to suppress citizens' opinions and constitutional rights in online and offline spaces.

This documentary is part of the project "Shrinking Civic Space in Bangladesh during Covid19" implemented by Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment and supported by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.

Director: Zayed Siddiki
Country: Bangladesh

WATCH THE FILM

‘Protecting Personal Data and Privacy in Southeast Asia’

How is personal data protected in Southeast Asia, and do ASEAN member states have adequate safeguards in place?

In this talk, human rights researcher Sutawan Chanprasert examines policies related to personal data and privacy protection in the region and how the lack of regulations puts people's data at risk of being exploited.

Organised by Goethe-Institut Indonesien, the talk was part of the 2020 Digital Discourses series titled “Total Transparency? Privacy in the Age of Data Capitalism”. 

Producer: Goethe-Institut Indonesien
Country: Thailand

WATCH THE VIDEO

‘A Sabbath on the Longest Day of the Year’

With their lives about to change, Historia and Criselda both defy the most critical day of their lives in the most mundane way – doing nothing on the day the holy image of the Blessed Virgin of Cotta returns to their city.

Directed and written by Edmund M. Telmo, A Sabbath on the Longest Day of the Year won first prize in the 34th Gawad Alternatibo Short Feature Category.

Director: Edmund M. Telmo
Country: Philippines

WATCH THE FILM

 

More Videos on Cinemata

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Black Sheep

Jay Ruiz

Buwal na Mga Imahe

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Diva, Divine?

Francisco Tavas

Wetsitales: Aponibonilayen and the Sun

Jade Dandan Evangelista