All posts tagged: Spider-Man Brand New Day

Ruby Ruiz in STATUS REJECTED

Filipinos Are Still Going to the Movies. They’re Just Being Pickier About Which Ones

Metro Manila has spent most of August under Habagat — the southwest monsoon that floods the city’s streets on a schedule closer to weekly than seasonal — and people have still been crossing town for Cinemalaya. The past week’s heavy weather hasn’t stopped Filipinos from flocking to malls and theaters for this year’s lineup, ticket-runs and all. That’s not a small detail for a festival built on films most of its audience had never heard of a month ago. Cinemalaya — the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ independent film festival, now in its 22nd year — is having its longest run ever this August: 13 days, August 6 to 18, up from its usual Friday-to-Sunday weekend format, screening nine full-length films and 10 shorts across Shangri-La Plaza, Ayala Malls, and Gateway Cineplex. The Balanghai Trophy — the festival’s award, named for the balangay, the plank-built outrigger boat early Filipino seafarers used to move between islands — goes out August 17. Results aren’t in yet as of this writing. [Update: See the results below]. That timing …