Castillo, Diaz-Abaya posthumously honored at opening

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) -- The 14th Cinemanila opened Wednesday in Taguig City as the longest-running locally held international film festival pays tribute to late Filipino filmmakers.

Film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya's son Marc holds up the trophy for the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award conferred Wednesday night on his mother.

The 2012 Cinemanila kicked off at the Market! Market! Cinemas in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, with the Japanese film "Flashback Memories 3D" opening the annual film festival.

Screening over 50 local and foreign films, the TIkoy Aguiliuz-founded film fest will run until December 11. The awards night will be held at the Bonifacio High Street Central Amphitheater on December 8.

This year, Cinemanila takes on the theme "tributes" as it honors late filmmakers with the screening of their films. A tribute program will be held on December 7, celebrating the works of film luminaries such as director-actor Celso Ad. Castillo, who died in November due to a heart attack.

Other late film veterans who will be honored at the event are director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who died of cancer in September; producer Tony Veloria, who died in a bus accident in November; and director-actor Mario O'Hara, who passed away due to leukemia in June.

Ahead of the tribute night, Cinemanila on Wednesday conferred on Diaz-Abaya and Castillo a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. Diaz-Abaya's son, Marc, was at the opening ceremony to receive the honor on behalf of his mother.

"Sa ngalan ni Marilou Diaz-Abaya, ang aking ina, nagpapasalamat kami sa Cinemanila, sa inyong lahat para sa napalaking karangalan na ibinibigay niyo sa ina namin ngayong gabi," Marc Abaya said.

"Maraming salamat po. My family and I would like to thank Cinemanila for continuing to encourage and inspire the next generation of Filipino filmmakers to tell relevant stories," he added.

Likewise, this year's Cinemanila will celebrate the talent of local young independent filmmakers, through the screening of short films in the open-air Bonifacio High Street Lawn at the Bonifacio Glocal City also on Friday.

Headlining Cinemanila's international lineup is Cannes 2012 Palme d’Or winner “Amour” by Michael Haneke, Olivier Assayas’ Venice International Film Festival entry “Something in the Air” and Korean director Hong Sang-soo’s Cannes 2012 main competition entry, “In Another Country.”

Other foreign films that will be screened are those from Thailand, Korea, Bangladesh and Mexico.

Various local films and documentaries will also be featured, including “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE” by Lav Diaz, and “Give Up Tomorrow” by Michael Collins.