DEATH OF TRADITIONAL CINEMA

The year 2018 is many things: the Metro Manila Film Festival went back to its archaic ways, Cinemalaya had the highest number of finalist backouts in its 14-year run, and for the first time, Cinema One Originals was held earlier than QCinema. I missed some of the films from the festivals due to various reasons (scheduling conflict, venue accessibility, financial incapacity), with the exception of Cinemalaya and QCinema, which I was able to complete the respective full-length film lineups. I only saw two MMFF entries, and will no longer watch a third. On to the list then: 20. BILLIE & EMMA Samantha Lee QCinema Billie & Emma  showcases Sam Lee's maturity as a filmmaker, a far departure from her debut feature Baka Bukas . While at the start a coming-of-age story about a teenage lesbian, the film is also about a girl dealing with unplanned pregnancy. Billie & Emma  has a big heart, and the way it brings back power in the hands of its female characters is most