In praise of the Filipino ‘indie’

Philippine cinema is undergoing a “renaissance” of sorts as a growing number of new filmmakers are beginning to make their mark and gaining laurels for their accomplishments, particularly from international award-giving bodies. No doubt about it; the Filipino independent filmmaker or “indie” is here to stay and virtually remaking the country’s movie industry in the process. It is in recognition of this growing phenomena that the Cinefilipino Film Festival was conceived to banner the outstanding works of new and up-and-coming Pinoy filmmakers. Cinefilipino is a project of PLDT-Smart Foundation in association with Unitel Productions and TV5. The festival features a competition for feature-length movies that have narratives that delve into the Filipino identity and culture. Eight screenplay finalists were selected with each one receiving P1.5M as initial investment in their respective productions.

Cinefilipino festival director Vincent Nebrida has cited the pioneering work of former TV5 president and CEO, lawyer Ray Espinosa, who proposed the idea of the digital fest to Tony Gloria, head of Unitel. Overall, the indie films’ primary use of digital technology fits right in the Kapatid Network’s alley as TV5 is at the forefront of broadcast digitalization in the country.

For its banner year, we present to you the eight films which made it to the Cinefilipino Film Festival:

1. Puti by Miguel “Mike” Alcazaren. Mike has won several Ad Congress awards and a first prize in the 2007 Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature. His film Puti (Achromatopsia) follows the story of a counterfeit painter who figures in a freak car accident that   rendered him color blind.

2. Mga Alaala ng Tag-ulan by Renato “Ato” Bautista Jr.

For CineFilipino, Ato presents a coming-of-age love story about a young man’s first encounter with love, romance and heartbreak, told in bits and pieces of poetic and melancholic memories that began on one rainy night.

3. The Guerilla Is A Poet by Sari Raissa Dalena and Kiri Dalena.

With Guerilla Is A Poet, the sibling duo of Sari and Kiri Dalena weaves an intricate tale of an activist’s journey during the turbulent years of martial law and his nine years of imprisonment leading to his birth as a poet.

4. Ang Huling Cha-cha Ni Anita by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. Sigrid’s film tells the story of a 12-year-old Anita who falls in love with the new woman in town; years later, a girlhood crush blossoms during the Fiesta of Santa Clara in Obando, Bulacan.

5. The Muses by Janice Perez. Janice’s directorial debut Sabongero (2009) was screened at the short film corner at the 2009 Festival de Cannes. Her entry for CineFilipino is titled The Muses, a story of sibling rivalry in the music business where two sisters find the hidden truths about fame, family and their own selves.

6. Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti by Ramon “Mes” de Guzman. Mes has won several Palanca awards for scriptwriting. His film Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti tells the story of a healer named Mabuti, who despite her poverty, still looks at life positively.

7. Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin by Randolph Longjas. In Ang Turkey Man Ay Pabo Rin, Randolph presents a cross-cultural comedy about a Filipino-American couple who celebrates life with some love on the side.

 8. Bingoleras by Byron “Ron” Bryant. Ron worked with the late Celso Ad. Castillo. His Bingoleras is a comedy about six single women, whose lives intersect when a bingo marathon is launched in their church for the barangay fiesta.

One of the newcomers in the festival is TV5 princess, Jasmine Curtis Smith, who stars in Puti. It is interesting to note that Jasmine recently bagged a Best Supporting Actress award for her debut film, Transit, in the New Breed category of the 2013 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. But Puti is actually her first cinematic role. Speaking of her character in Puti, Jasmine disclosed that it was “Puti which I filmed first and Transit afterwards but the latter was shown first.” Its director, advertising megman Mike personally asked Jasmine to be part of his initial foray into feature-length filmmaking. Mike has known Jasmine since she was five years old since he directed her first TV commercial. “He specifically cast me in this role and I felt it was very challenging, as I was required to show just mere reaction and less dialogue,”continued Jasmine. For the movie, the young actress had an actual piercings to embody her character portrayal.

All in all, the Cinefilipino Film Festival promises to give Filipino audiences a kaleidoscope of the Filipino personality and soul — a tribute to the long line of distinguished Pinoy cineastes who have made Filipino movies as among the best in this part of the world. Truly, a fine tribute to the achievements of the Filipino artist now rising in the Age of Digitalization.