MANILA, Philippines?A minifestival of six feature films from mainstream directors started last month at select SM cinemas: The ?Sine Direk? series opened with ?Fuschia,? starring Gloria Romero, Eddie Garcia and Robert Arevalo and directed by Joel Lamangan.

Soxy Topacio?s comedy, ?Ded Na Si Lolo,? topbilled by Roderick Paulate in another gay role, examines superstitious beliefs related to Pinoys? death-related practices.

Culinary school

In Lore Reyes? ?Litsonero,? a fresh graduate (Paolo Contis) from a Swiss culinary school accepts the challenge of cooking a good lechon. The stakes get higher when a bet is made.

Mel Chonglo directs Richard Gomez and Jinggoy Estrada in ?Bente,? which follows a hard-hitting radio commentator?s conflict with his former classmate, who?s now a mayor.

?Agaton and Mindy? marks the return of Peque Gallaga. The film raises the question: What role does craziness play in making art and making love? Cherie Gil stars in the movie, with Chase Vega, Louise delos Reyes, and Dina Bonnevie in a special role.

The festival closes with ?Kamoteng Kahoy? by Maryo J. delos Reyes. Topbilled by Nash Aguas, Robert ?Buboy? Villar and Gloria Romero, the film is based on a true story that took place in 2007 in a barrio in Bohol, where 21 students died after eating homemade cassava cakes sold by an old woman (Romero), who might have accidentally used pesticide as one of the cake?s ingredients.