Indie filmmakers and film enthusiasts threw competition out of the window as they feted the success of the
Cinemalaya Cinco 2009 over canapés and cocktails at the Ishmael Bernal Gallery in UP Diliman.

Organized by the University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI) with UP Cineastes and Cinemalaya "as a get together and as a gesture to acknowledge the film makers of the festivals," says UPFI Theatre Coordinator Yason Banal, the festive cocktails gave filmmakers time to bond with their fellows. "It's (Cinemalaya Film Festival) really not a competition but more of a camaraderie," says Mark Philipp Espina, who won Short Films Best Screenplay for Behind Closed Doors.

Espina adds he became close with the other Cinemalaya participants and did not expect to bag the award because the other short films were "very good" especially Bonsai, which won best film.

Cinemalaya citations championed equal strengths

The Cinemalaya citations were scattered among the participants this year. Cinemalaya film programmer Edward Cabagnot said, "This year's Cinemalaya is different from last year because there is no clear winner and the film makers have equal strengths."

Adolf Alix Jr., who recently participated in the Cannes Film Festival in France, says this year's Cinemalaya is interesting because of the variety of the entries. Cinemalaya Cinco 2009 entries' film genre ranged from horror to satire. Each film stands out in the chosen genre leaving audience either in awe, shock, amusement or tears.