Cinemanila 2010

John Sayles' AMIGO is Cinemanila's Closing Film

Screening Schedule

December 1 - Wednesday
December 2 - Thursday
December 3 - Friday
December 4 - Saturday
December 5 - Sunday
December 6-8 Cinemanila Extension

Download Screening Schedule

The internationally celebrated opus of renowned filmmaker John Sayles, ‘Amigo’ (2010) has been chosen as the closing feature presentation of the 12th Cinemanila International Film Festival on December 5, 2010. The film, which was shot entirely in the Philippines and has already traveled in a number of international film festivals, tells the story of a group of Philippine villagers dealing with the US invasion in 1900 while still recovering from the successful rebellion against Spain.

The film has been described by critics as brave, provocative, and insightfully funny. Sayles, who also wrote and edited ‘Amigo,’ attempted to capture the complexity of the war in the movie while connecting the chaotic war policy of US in Iraq with its imperialist venture in the Philippines. He has also stayed true to his art as an independent filmmaker by remaining free of
Hollywood constraints and freely explored social issues and human nature through the silver screen.

Previously titled ‘Baryo,’ ‘Amigo’ features a powerhouse cast of Filipino and international actors. They include Joel Torre, Bembol Roco, Ronnie Lazaro, Rio Locsin, Pen Medina, Bodjie Pascua, Irma Adlawan, John Arcilla, Spanky Manikan, Miguel Faustmann and Joe Gruta. The international cast, on the other hand, has Academy Award winner Chris Cooper (‘Adaptation’), Garret Dillahunt, DJ Qualls, Lucas Neff, Bill Tangradi, Yul Vasquez, Dane DeHaan, James Parks and Stephen Taylor.

The screening of ‘Amigo’ by John Sayles as the closing film of the annual festival is presented by the Cinemanila International Film Festival Foundation and supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The 12th Cinemanila International Film Festival will be held from December 1 to 5, 2010 in Robinsons Movieworld Galleria, Quezon City. Around 50 international and local films will be screened in a span of 5 days – from the current toasts of the local indie scene to the award-winners and favorites at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Sundance, and Pusan. The festival will also feature workshops, seminars and master classes. For more info, or jpegs for a release, please contact cinemanila.press@gmail.com and cinemanila@gmail.com or go to www.cinemanila.org.ph.

The 2010 Cinemanila is presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Cinemanila International Film Festival Foundation, together with Robinsons Movieworld Galleria, in cooperation with Cinema One, Manila Bulletin, Business World, Click the City, Pep.ph, Spot.ph, Web Philippines, TBWA\Mangada Santiago Puno, Outpost Visual Frontier, Solid Video Corporation and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

CINEMANILA 2010 is presented by

BULOL AUTOCARTOON by Gertjan Zuilhof