Filmmakers support ANC's crusade for human rights

MANILA, Philippines - ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, launches Kinse, a powerful collection of four to six-minute short films on human rights directed by some of the Philippines’ finest filmmakers.

A follow-up project to last year’s controversial amBisyon2010, Kinse features 15 stories that will hopefully pave the way to putting a stop to different kinds of abuses being experienced in the country.

Joining ANC’s crusade for human rights are directors Erik Matti, Carlos Siguion Reyna, Mark Meily, Auraeus Solito, Raymond Red, Jim Libiran, Jon Red, Richard Somes, Ato Bautista, Kiri Dalena, Ray Gibraltar, Raymund Amonoy, Kidlat de Guia, Nico Puertollano and Paolo Villaluna, who all offered their time and talents pro bono for this project.

Kinse is also not bereft of star power with mainstream performers such as Gina Alajar and Anne Curtis acting in some of the films.

Executive producer Patricia Evangelista, who was at the helm of amBisyon2010, said that the films in Kinse will tackle a wide array of issues that include domestic violence, media harassment, extra-judicial killings, children and women’s rights, indigenous rights and justice.

She added each filmmaker was given creative freedom and funding by ANC and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the support of the Commission on Human Rights, so that they could pursue and fulfill their visions for Kinse.

In his film Batch 2011, Palanca-awardee Libiran will let us into the story of young men entering a “brotherhood” as a way to tell the graduates of this generation to protect democracy.

Matti, meanwhile, aims to defend the right to live freely in his opus featuring award-winning actresses Gina and Anne.

Villaluna, who co-created amBisyon2010 with Evangelista last year, will show the story of a little boy whose life was cut short because society didn’t approve of his sexual preference.

Kinse is part of ANC’s year-long celebration of its 15 years of telling the nation’s stories. Evangelista said they hope that for every film in Kinse, “there will be one less victim whose story ANC will tell.”

ANC has also partnered with the Springfilm Foundation and The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, for a full-length film on human rights being directed by Dutch filmmaker, Jacco Groen.  The film will be released later this year.

Kinse will have a by-invitation theatrical premier at the Tanghalang Aurelio V. Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) tomorrow, May 19. To win invitations, join the Kinse contest on Twitter (@kinseanc) by sending your answers to 15 questions about film and human rights. The posters with the best answers will win two tickets each.

ANC will also air a six-part TV special on Kinse hosted by Angel Aquino beginning May 23, 9:30 p.m. on SkyCable ch. 27.

For details, log on to www.kinse.tv.