To date, the Cinemalaya Foundation has nurtured over 200 Filipino filmmakers and showcased over 1,000 of their works, including full-feature films, shorts, documentaries, Filipino film classics, and art films. True to its mandate of promoting Philippine independent film, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is proud to announce that four films from its extensive 2022 roster have been officially nominated for Indie Movie of the Year at the 39th Star Awards for Movies. Among the seven films nominated for Indie Movie of the Year are four Cinemalaya 2022 films: The Baseball Player by Carlo Obispo, Blue Room by Ma-an L.
Asuncion-Dagñalan, 12 Weeks by Anna Isabelle Matutina, and Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin by Real S. Florido. The filmmakers are also nominated for Indie Movie Director of the Year.
Awarded as the Cinemalaya 18’s Best Film, The Baseball Player follows the journey of a 17-year-old Moro child soldier whose father was killed in an all-out war in 2000 as he dreams to become a baseball player. The film also won Best Screenplay (for Carl Obispo), Best Editing (for Zig Dulay), and Best Actor (for Tommy Alejandrino). Blue Room is about Rebel Rebel, an indie rock band composed of woke albeit sheltered teens, who gets its biggest break at a prestigious local music festival but gets arrested for drug possession after a celebratory night out at a local bar.
The film won the Special Jury Award, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Produ.