It’s Cinemalaya season once again. And while the prestigious independent film festival has found a new home at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) while the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is being renovated, festivalgoers still need to be prepared to fully immerse in the experience.
If you’re a newbie to the Cinemalaya scene, here are some helpful tips to guarantee your enjoyment.
Plot your schedule. Whether you are holding a festival pass or a regular ticket, check the full festival schedule so you can binge on a full day’s worth of movies with each trip. You can also check the film schedules in Ayala cinemas, which are showing entries from this year’s festival.
Buy your tickets early. Apart from the CCP ticketing booth at the document release section of the PICC, you can also purchase tickets online through Ticketworld. You can select your seats to get the best view. The seating at the PICC is not elevated so you should factor that into your choice of seats.
Bring a jacket. The PICC air conditioning is no joke. If you don’t want to turn into a popsicle while watching an entry, it is best to bring a jacket or scarf to protect yourself from the cold. This will help you focus on the movies instead of worrying about getting frostbite.
Eat up. If you’re planning to do a movie marathon, you can grab a bite before heading to the PICC or simply enjoy the food at their canteen. Mind you though, the canteen has a limited selection so you better grab something on the way if you are a picky eater.
Take in the vibe. There is a certain vibe at the Cinemalaya that is addicting to moviegoers and film enthusiasts. Perhaps, it’s the mutual love for good cinema or the excitement of discovering new talented filmmakers. It can also be the collective joy of supporting local filmmakers and witnessing the fulfillment of their dreams to reach a wider audience. Whatever it is, relish the moment and the feeling. And if you feel bitin this year, there’s always next year.
