A Kapampangan full-length film in Cinemalaya 2008?

The ten finalists for the 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (full-length feature category) have been chosen recently by the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

They are: 100 by Chris Martinez, 1434456 by Emmanuel Dela Cruz, Ang Concerto by Paul Alexander Morales, Antiparang Basag by Edith Asuncion, Baby Angelo by Joel Ruiz and Abi Aquino, Brutus by Tara illenberger, My Fake American Accent by Onnah Valera, Huling Pasada by Paul Sta. Ana, Jay by Francis Xavier E. Pasion and Ranchero by Michael Christian Cardoz.

At first, I was sad to hear the news that a supposed-to-be Kapampangan semifinalist, Kristo, by a Pangasinan friend of mine named Jerwin Espiritu, did not make it. His film would have tackled Maleldo practices along with the cockfights in Pampanga.

It was sad because for Cinemalaya 2007, another Kapampangan film did not make it. That time, it was TV writer Agnes De Guzman's Atin Cu Pung Parul which made it to the semifinals, but not in the finals. As the title suggests, it's about the giant lanterns of San Fernando City.

But wait, looking at the names of the 2008 finalists, doesn't the name Francis Xavier E. Pasion sound Kapampangan to you? His entry Jay goes like this:

Jay is the name of the two protagonists in the film, one is living, the other dead. The living Jay is producing a documentary of the dead Jay, a gay teacher who was brutally killed. As Jay recreates and examines the life of his subject, his own life is affected when he unravels his subject's hidden life and secret love.

Then, looking at their team's call for auditions, they mentioned these:

Auditions for a Cinemalaya film will be held on 2-27 (Wednesday), 10 AM - 4 PM at the Guillermo Hall, Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade, Sta. Ines, Bacolor, Pampanga.
We are looking for the following:

Major Roles
1. 23-30 years old, Male with pleasing personality. Goodlooking and appealing. Must know and understand how to speak Kapampangan.
2. 18-25 years old, Female with pleasing personality. Must know how to speak Kapampangan.
3. 13-21 years old. Male with pleasing personality. Must know how to speak Kapampangan.

Could it be? That a Kapampangan "modern film" (look at the story, it's not the culturati type, but more of a murder mystery of some sort) is finally being produced? If so, then luid ka Francis Xavier Pasion! Another Kapampangan filmmaker who valued his own mother tongue!

Let us support Jay.