Star Magic' Light Camera Magic reveal the TOP 20

Star Magic’s first-ever video-making competition, Lights, Camera, Magic has proven the abundance of amateur yet globally competitive video creators as it successfully received 220 entries on its first run.

LCM’s two-month submission period boasts of receiving different genres of videos not only from various parts of the country, but also from other corners of the globe like Canada, UAE, Thailand, Libya, US and Germany. Judged based on originality, creative and technical execution and impact, the 20 shortlisted videos range from drama, thriller, rom-com, horror, science fiction and musical.

Of these promising entries, the screening committee composed of Piolo Pascual, Nash Aguas, Khalil Ramos, Janus del Prado, Ketchup Eusebio, Renee Dominique and Star Magic’s very own, Johnny Manahan, chose the 20 videos, which will be advancing to the next round of deliberation.

Here are the TOP 20 finalists of Star Magic' Lights, Camera, Magic.

1.ANTIPARA

by Evangello Cyedel Dela Peña

SYNOPSIS:

A man finds a mysterious pair of eyeglasses which turns out to reveal his future through its lense. 

#LCMAntipara

2.CONTRITION AS A FORCEFUL ACT

by Erick Jerard Gagui

SYNOPSIS:

A woman is being chased by someone who might be the answer in determining guilt through a forceful contrition. 

#LCMWiredDreams

3.HELLO... DJ EROS?

by Kervin Angelo Quieta

SYNOPSIS:

A hesitant caller braves the sound wave of nighttime star, DJ Eros, as he continues his program where he gives love advice. Her confession stirs up the emotion of the radio's listeners, and more importantly, the DJ himself. 

#LCMCallMeKat

4.MALAMPASAN MO SANA ANG SAKIT

by Arnie Valdez

SYNOPSIS:

An unconditional love of a man who passed away that led him to suicidal thoughts. 

#LCMMSAS

5.VIRAL KIDS

by Arjanmar Rebeta

SYNOPSIS:

Kristal is a street kid who now becomes a viral sensation for signing her self-made song dedicated to her mother. While the people who watch her street performance give her more alms, her friend, Buboy hurriedly asks her to come with him. As she follows him, the smile of the young lady turns into fear as she approaches a queue of street beggars surrendering their own earned money to the boss of the syndicate. 

#LCMViralKids

6.ISANG GABI LANG 'YON. 

by Danielle Aquilino

SYNOPSIS: 

A groom-to-be invites a prostitute to his wedding, asking him to be his best man. Said prostitute just wants to finish eating his spaghetti

#LCMIsangGabiLangYon

7.OH, AKING KATOTO

by Jerome Pineda

SYNOPSIS:

Everything seems to be grim for Nymfa after her parents had separated, until she found a mysterious friend who is willing to ease her pain in an undesirable way. 

#LCMKatoto

8.NAPAANO KA, ARNA?

by Patricia Ann Rivera

SYNOPSIS:

A year after Arna Carlos' body is found lifeless, her mother weeps for two reasons: her daughter's passing, and the seeming death of justice itself. Arna's ghost recount the night of her own demise as she watches over her grieving mom. When the candle flame is snuffed out, Arna greets her mother with a reminder to hope; letting all bereaved know they are not alone, not in grief, nor in the never-fearless-but-fierce pursuits of truth. This is a tribute to Carl Arnaiz and to the Arnas in society; a message of solidarity to those whose truths were silenced and to loved ones who soldier on. It is not only dedicated to those deemed innocent but also, to the forgotten innocence in each Filipino

#LCMNapaanoKaArna

9.PLOT TWIST

by Precious Diane Rivera

SYNOPSIS: 

Jet and Iya are two aspiring young filmmakers who have been best friends for years. They wrote and completed a story to make a film, determined to finish whatever it takes. One of them is experiencing tough trials in life yet did not stop, for it is her dream and passion to produce even a single film in her life. But something happened while trying to finish the whole thing. 

#LCMPlotTwist

10.HELLO NANAY

by Kelvin Aguilar

SYNOPSIS:

Ester, a domestic helper in America, misses her daughter in the Philippines. As the Christmas holiday draws nearer and nearer, she and her daughter get excited to spend time together. Using a newly shipped phone from the US, her little girl regularly sends video over the internet to update her mom on her whereabouts. She is ecstatic about the thought that her mom will be home after many years. Apparently, all the joys and excitement have turned to sadness due to an unforeseen reason. 

#LCMHelloNanay

11.WALANG MALI

by Aaron Maagma

SYNOPSIS:

One day, Aya met Jerome who is somehow what she perceives to be the "perfect boyfriend." It is no doubt that Jerome is indeed the "perfect boyfriend," but how is it that this perfect guy exists in a world full of heartbreakers and broken hearts?

#LCMPerfectBoyfriend

12.AKO

by Roi Emille Cabral

SYNOPSIS:

An intricate memory leads a woman to decide: life or death. 

#LCMAko

13.LIWANAG 

by Harold Gersano

SYNOPSIS: A story of a man who is living in a bright world, living love to the fullest, while his eyes are closed. 

#LCMLiwanag

14.NGAWA

by Victor Elijah Gabor

SYNOPSIS:

Before the end of their semester and their upcoming graduation day, Sam discovers that she is pregnant. Keeno, her boyfriend, forces her to abort and bury the child after graduation day to pursue their plans in the future together without a responsibility other than to themselves. 

#LCMNgawa

15.ANINO

by Jason Fajardo

SYNOPSIS:

A young man named Mike is walking the streets of Manila when a dark and brooding figure suddenly appears behind him, following him everywhere he goes. As he walks the dark city streets, his past begins to haunt him while the figure lurks behind him - ever present. 

#LCMAnino

16.PALA'U

by Camille Lipnica

SYNOPSIS: 

A narrative-drama film about the unfortunate lives and journey of two Badjao children who migrated to Manila due to a chaotic environment in Zamboanga. 

#LCMPalau

17.STATIC

by Kent Donguines

SYNOPSIS:

Static is an experimental film that features a 10 year-old girl trapped in a grave-like environment surrounded by television that shows a metaphorical representation of technology taking over the world; as we go more and more into the future, tech slowly suffocates us and becomes one of us. 

#LCMStatic

18.KASARINLAN

by Kris Cazin

SYNOPSIS: 

Hopeless, tortured, and lost Mr. Nobles finds himself the victim of a psychiatrist's cruel and unusual ploy to confront the wrongs he has done in the past. Mr. Nobles is left to reconcile the sins he has committed in order to unravel his dire situation that he needs to face and accept. 

#LCMKasarinlan

19.KARAMAY 

by Raphael Robes

SYNOPSIS:

An addict escapes from an intervention arranged by one of his friends. What follows seems to be an even more severe scolding, but turns into a deep, intimate communion. Benji patronizingly lecture Allan on how one should approach life and that one must act accordingly. Allan refutes by telling Benj where he's really coming from: his inner demons, his painful upbringing, and the circumstances that led him to choose poorly and use drugs as an escape; Allan completely opens up and lets Benji inside - vulnerable and exposed. Only then was Benji able to truly understand and empathize with Allan, breaking his prejudice and harsh judgments. Emotional awareness saves lives. 

#LCMKARAMAY

20.BEST FRIENDS 

by David Hulbert

SYNOPSIS:

Friend to the END. 

#LCMBESTFRIENDS

The 3 finalists would be receiving P50,000 in cash and would have the full experience of developing their submitted entries into a 15-minute short video for digital entertainment; while being mentored by one of the three aforementioned young directors and with Star Magic artists as their videos’ headlining stars.