CARLOS SIGUION-REYNA TAKES OVER NEW ROLE IN CINEMALAYA

Carlos Siguion-Reyna has been appointed as the chairman of the Cinemalaya Competition and Monitoring Committee. He replaces Jose Javier Reyes, who now serves as the new chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

This places the award-winning filmmaker at the forefront of one of Southeast Asia's most influential film festivals, known for its pivotal role in nurturing independent filmmakers and showcasing innovative Filipino films. This new role is in addition to his position as the head and program director of the film festival's educational arm, Cinemalaya Institute, since 2015.

Carlos Siguion-Reyna as a Revered Figure in the Filipino Film Industry

One can say that Carlos Siguion-Reyna was born into the industry. He is the son of Armida Siguion-Reyna (1930 - 2019), a singer, film and stage actress, producer, and television show host. In 1991, the mother-and-son tandem opened Reyna Films, which produced critically acclaimed films like Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit (1996 Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival Best Picture), Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (1998 Berlin International Film Festival Special Jury Prize), and Kahapon, May Dalawang Bata (1999 Newport Beach International Film Festival Best Foreign Film). Reyna Films produced 13 films between 1991 and 2000, 12 of which were directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna and one by Jose Mari Avellana (Kung Mawawala Ka Pa).

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Siguion-Reyna received his MFA in Film at the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he also taught graduate film courses at its Singapore campus. Patas Lang (Fair Exchange), his thesis film, was recognized in the narrative category of the 1989 Nissan FOCUS Awards.

Hari ng Tondo (Where I Am King), his entry in the Directors’ Showcase category of the 10th Cinemalaya in 2014, received the Special Jury Prize. He has also earned accolades in international film festivals in San Diego, Toronto, Newport Beach, Berlin, and Singapore, and local film awards Gawad Urian, FAP Awards, FAMAS Awards, and Young Critics Circle Awards.

Outside taking the director's chair, Siguion-Reyna has acted on TV for Helen Vela’s Lovingly Yours, Helen in the '80s and '90s; in a sequel to Nick Joaquin’s Larawan staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1991; and in the stage play A Doll’s House, Part 2 in 2018.

As the new chairman of the Cinemalaya Competition and Monitoring Committee, which has similarities to the role of an executive producer, Siguion-Reyna is poised to lead Cinemalaya in celebrating and promoting Philippine cinema on both a national and international stage. His leadership is not just a win for the festival but a significant moment for the Philippine film industry as it continues to produce films that resonate with audiences worldwide.

2024-05-08T08:10:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd