(SPOT.ph) No matter how often you watch movies, you have to admit that it's not every day that audiences give a film a standing ovation. Heck, it's already a big deal when you hear the crowd applauding during a scene or when the film ends. That's exactly what happened after screenings of the Martial Law film Liway at the 2018 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (which ran from August 3 to 12).

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Not only did the audience give the film a minutes-long standing ovation at the Gala Screening, but they were so moved by the movie that they also started shouting chants used during protests against the dictatorship. It wasn't just a one-time occasion, either. Audiences also erupted into chants at screenings in mall cinemas. And now, you can find out for yourself what made viewers stand up from their seat because Liway is hitting select cinemas nationwide on October 17.

Liway tells the story of a young boy named Dakip (Kenken Nuyad). The son of anti-Marcos activist Cecilia Flores-Oebenda a.k.a. Commander Liway (Glaiza de Castro), he was born and grew up in a prison camp housing during the dictatorship. The film is based on true events—as Dakip is actually the film's director, Kip Oebanda.

Other stars of the film include Dominic Roco (as Commander Toto, Liway's husband and Dakip's father), Soliman Cruz, and Sue Prado. The film was awarded Special Jury Commendation for Film, the Audience Choice Award, and the Special Jury Award for Acting at Cinemalaya. There's no word yet on the cinemas that will be screening Liway.



Liway isn't the only Cinemalaya film that'll be having screenings. Select entries from 2018 and previous years will also be showing at the first-ever Cine Areté Film Festival until October.



Liway hits select theaters nationwide on October 17.

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