TINGIN shines again with its exciting line-up of outstanding ASEAN films and talks with SE Asian directors

Hailed as one of the most revelatory film fests of 2017, the first TINGIN ASEAN Film Festival was NCCA’s groundbreaking initiative that introduced students, teachers, filmmakers, and local art enthusiasts to representative films from all over Southeast Asia. With our curiosity piqued and our eyes firmly set on the cinemas of our ASEAN neighbors, TINGIN shall return for the second time this coming November 26 to 29, 2018 at the GATEWAY CINEPLEX in Cubao, Metro Manila.

Just like last year, admission to all of TINGIN Year II’s events (film screenings and master classes) is completely free of charge. The impressive film selection of TINGIN this year includes Yasmine (Brunei), A Copy of My Mind (Indonesia), Vientiane In Love (Lao PDR), The Monk (Myanmar), hUSh
(Singapore), The Road to Mandalay (ASEAN x Taiwan), Homogenous, Empty Time (Thailand), and Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories (Vietnam).

Of particular interest is Dain Said’s Dukun (Malaysia), which is loosely based on the true story of gruesome murder of a former Malaysian politician, Datuk Mazlan Idris by Mona Fandey, a once popular Malaysian singer-turned-witch doctor. It wrapped up production in 2006, but it was only
released this year. Dukun’s inclusion in this ASEAN film festival will be the first time that it will be officially screened outside of Malaysia.

Thus says NCCA Commissioner Teddy Co: “This festival will once again encourage meaningful discussions and collaborations with our colleagues and friends in Southeast Asia. In this Post-Truth era where fake news is threatening to become the norm, the stories we tell each other (through film) may be perhaps our best and most effective line of defense.”

Maya Quirino, TINGIN festival head, tells us more of what we can look forward to this year: “We are honored to have award-winning Cambodian director Kulikar Sotho with us – her film The Last Reel will be our opening film. We are also excited about showing two foundational films (Perfumed
Nightmare, and Who Invented the Yoyo? Who Invented the Buggy?) by our own National Artist for Film, the inimitable Kidlat Tahimik, to a whole new generation. Yield, Victor Tarago’s quietly powerful documentary, shall surely hold audiences enthrall with its stark portrayal of child labor and pervasive poverty in the Philippines.”

In addition to these screenings, special sessions have been arranged for the audiences to better appreciate the creative processes of our film directors, namely:

- Master class by Kulikar Sotho, Director (The Last Reel, Cambodia) on November 26 at 3:15 PM in Cinema 1;
- Master class by Victor Tagaro, Director (Yield, Philippines) on November 27 at 5:00 PM in Cinema
6 will immediately follow the screening, at 3:15 PM;
- Lecture: The Art of Kidlat Tahimik on November 28 at 2:40 PM in Cinema 6, set between the screenings of his short films, Perfumed Nightmare (1:00PM) and Who Invented the Yoyo? Who Invented the Buggy? (3:40 PM)

In line with NCCA’s goal to help build strong ties with our ASEAN neighbors through culture and the arts, TINGIN promises to be a celebration of our multifaceted region’s many cinematic treasures. This will also encourage Filipino audiences to gain a deeper appreciation of our Southeast Asian peers.

For your inquiries, feel free to send us a message on our FB page (@TinginASEANFilmFest), or email us at tinginfilmfest@gmail.com.

For more information or to speak to TINGIN spokespersons, please contact Shelley Francisco at mobile no. 0947 990 1209 and email shelley.francisco@gmail.com .