The only film documentary in the 10 film Montañosa Film Festival practically comes home when the filmfest holds its showing at the Loakan Airport on March 25 – 27.

The three day drive in cinema that will start from dusk until before midnight showcases Lynette Carantes – Bibal’s Pengsasan and among the 10 films that comprise the filmfest.

The 10-minute film will pay homage to her late father, the late Ibaloy historian – artist Geoffrey Carantes who was born and raised at the airport.

Carantes-Bibal says that Pengsasan is a documentary film of her perspective as a woman of the Cordilleras and as a daughter of Ibaloy historian, Dr, Geoffrey Carantes,…”

She added that “it touches on memory and modernity, shattering the illusion of time and crossing the border from the past to the present day.”

It will premiere on Thursday at 8 PM and will be shown at 630PM and 730 PM the next two days.

The Loakan portion of the filmfest will also have the Musiklamon Food and Music Fair featuring local musicians and local culinary experiences. Screenings will start at sunset and conclude at least two hours before midnight.

The airport is also the venue for the premiere of the MFF’s Films In-Competition category.

Organized by The Workshop for Infinite Media, Inc., the MFF “aims to uplift stories of the Cordilleras – stories skillfully woven and told by seasoned filmmakers of Philippine Independent cinema.”

The organizers added: “Traverse our mountains. Immerse yourself in the rich takes that our peoples have to offer. Discover our traditions, our heritage, our ways of life that define us as being of the Cordillera Administrative Region.”

Contending Films

The other entries to the MFF are The Highest Point by Karl Patacsil; Clint Tynan’s The Scaffold Farmer; This Day by Red Aquino; Panaginip of Enrico Laoagan; Angelo Aurelio Operation Pukis: Haircut for a Cause; Igem ni Nanang (In Mother’s Arm) of Moises Soriano; Hendrix Sanchez’s Duron; 14 Days by Nars Santos; and, 10,000 Errors by Guillene Sanchez.

The Highest Point is a story of John and Mary whose dream getaway in Benguet is the title of the film. It poses the question: “But what happens when the border between hallucinations and reality blurs beyond recognition?” Film will be shown at Loakan on March 25, 26 and 27 at 8PM.

The Scaffold Farmer is a story of a potential experimental urban farmer who struggles to stop himself to becoming a criminal in order to survive. It “crosses the border between dreams and reality as he battles with his anger and his conscience.” Showing for this film will be at 5PM on the three days.

This Day is the story of a farmer’s son studying in the city – “and the obstacles that everyday life throws at him once he crosses the borders into situations of uncertainty.” Catch this at 8PM on March 25, 630 PM on March 26 and 730PM on March 27 at Loakan.

Panaginip takes you into Ryan’s death – a dream of a past life and of a love that transcends lifetimes.

It will be shown at 5PM on March 25, 26 and 27 at Loakan.

Operation Pukis sees Carlito Dacanay organize a for caue event after his bar closes and him contracting Covid-19. It will be shown at 5PM during the three days.

Soriano tells of Elvira and her struggles to smuggle her daughter into Baguio City under GCQ in order to gain access for the medical treatment her daughter sorely needs. Showtime is at 5PM.

Duron is the story of a merchant and his kariton that artfully unfolds on the fringes of Baguio City and on the fringes of society itself. Film will be shown at 8PM on March 25, 630PM on March 26 and 730 PM on March 27.

Before graduating, Philippine National Police trainee Elijah is assigned to watch over Arvin, a law student and part-time tour guide who was recently exposed to a Covid-19 positive case. Nars Santos’ 14 Days will be at 8PM on March 25, 630 on March 26 and 730 PM on March 27.

Finally, 10,000 Errors tells the story of two men who met in a purgatory on the brink of an epidemic. Screen time at Loakan will be 5 PM on March 25-27.

The folmfest opened last Saturday at the Baguio Convention Center for only 100 attendees with national artist for film Kidlat Tahimik as speaker and where his film Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III was screened.

The 10 contending films will be shown at the Burnham Rose Garden, the Burnham Lake, among other venues.