Gawad Alternatibo Retrospective on Narrative
Gawad Alternatibo Retrospective on Narrative
by Christ Dustly Go Tan
Narrative films mirror truths to expose the fragility of the nation. From stories in our quiet personal spaces at home to the streets and into institutions that reveal the systemic forces at play. These films challenge conventional storytelling and also challenge dominant narratives that have shaped and wrecked the nation.
As Cinemata continues to be a growing archive of Philippine Alternative Cinema, let’s revisit the past winners of the CCP Gawad Alternatibo Narrative Category that are now part of Cinemata’s archives and their continued relevance in the contemporary political climate. This curated set of past winners, with a conversation with the filmmakers, reflects how narrative mirrors truths that expose the fragility of the nation.
Pagbilang Kong Tatlo by Xzy Dumabok
34th CCP Gawad Alternatibo Narrative Category, 2nd Place Winner
When the idea of human rights feels fabricated in these societies, police violence heightens, which reflects the choice to respond with violence as the very institutions to provide justice are now unreliable. Films calling for accountability are responses to the existing dominant narratives created by the past regime.
Watch Pagbilang Kong Tatlo here
Sa Mga Mata ng Bata by Chauncy Cruz
35th CCP Gawad Alternatibo Narrative Category, 3rd Place Winner
This cult-like behavior is continuously rampant when their idol is currently facing charges, as they stormed social media by trolling any victim seeking justice, invalidating their traumas of losing their families. Stories like these at any level are difficult to platform due to facing censorship and institutional withholding, hence the need for a platform that also becomes a safe space for these stories.
Watch Sa Mga Mata ng Bata here
Beep Beep by Iane Patacsil
36th CCP Gawad Alternatibo Narrative Category Honorable Mention
Even when good behaviour starts within a person, it becomes a toxic personality of resilience that doesn’t call for accountability for the government to improve the transportation system. It’s a stark reminder that beneath all these spectacles of social unrest, we must remind ourselves to be kind with one another.
To mirror truths that expose the fragility of the nation, narrative films become responses to dominant narratives, platforms to tell these stories, and give freedom to spark conversations and dialogues. Narrative films use conventional storytelling to tell these stories that are too familiar and hit close to home, in our streets, to reveal these buried narratives overshadowed and manipulated by the mainstream consciousness that wrecked the state of democracy of our country.
For its 4th consecutive year, Cinemata has been the official streaming platform of CCP Gawad Alternatibo, bringing Filipino alternative cinema to the digital regions to continue sparking critical conversations while providing a safe space for these alternative works.