Binge-watch these local films for free while on lockdown
Most of us by now are probably running out of ways to keep ourselves busy as we enter the fifth week of the extended enhanced community quarantine. Some people have already fallen down the rabbit hole and decided to join the TikTok bandwagon just to see what the hysteria is all about while others opted to flex their workout routines or ‘dalgona’ iterations on their Instagram stories simply because there’s nothing else left to do.
But if you’re among those people who’d like to binge-watch shows but don’t have access to a streaming service, here’s a good news: several local film production companies have uploaded their films online in a bid to keep the masses entertained amid the extended quarantine period.
TBA Studios
Among the local film production companies which released their films online for free is TBA studios. Some of the indie films that you can stream right now on their YouTube channel include ‘Dormitory’ by Ces Quesada, Cesar Hernando’s ‘Gayuma’ and Jerrold Tarog’s critically-acclaimed ‘Bliss’ which stars COVID-19 survivor Iza Calzado.
Cinema One
There’s also an array of award-winning films that are available on Cinema One’s YouTube channel. Among the films are Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez’s satirical documentary ‘Ang Anak ni Brocka’ and director Antoinette Jadaone’s ‘Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay’.
Regal Entertainment
If you’re feeling nostalgic, Regal Films also uploaded its iconic films from the ‘80s and ‘90s such as ‘Ipaglaban Mo Ako Boy Topak’, ‘Batang Quiapo’, ‘City After Dark Manila By Night’, and Lino Brocka’s ‘Ina, Kapatid, Anak’.
Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere
Speaking of classic films, Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere by Gerardo de Leon is also available for streaming on Vimeo.
Bar Boys
Following TBA and Cinema One’s initiative, director Kip Oebanda also released his film ‘Bar Boys’ in a bid to help out people kill the boredom amid the lockdown.
Hopefully, these local films are enough to get you through the rest of the quarantine period. But of course, there are other ways to keep your mind occupied, like finishing some of the books you’ve stockpiled over the years or completing the remainder of the games you’ve left months ago.