Joy Belmonte on QCinema Int’l Film Festival, Herbert, Piolo, Sarah, Kris, Sharon & Yaya Dub

Last Oct. 22, the Philippines’ biggest independent film festival — the QCinema International Film Festival 2015 — kicked off at Gateway Mall led by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte with the screening of the interesting documentary on the late movie action hero Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez. A festive late dinner reception followed at the ballroom of the newly opened Novotel.

Ongoing until Oct. 31 at TriNoma, Robinsons Galleria and Gateway Mall with exciting movies and discourses, the QCinema International Film Festival is a pet project of Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Actor Mon Confiado, who played Emilio Aguinaldo in Heneral Luna, said, “The QCIFF is the largest independent film festival in the Philippines today because Cinemalya held its last festival in 2014 and this year they only showed short films.”

QCIFF executive director Ed Lejano said, “This year, the QCIFF took a giant leap by featuring much more diversity as it wants to encourage new filmmakers. Quezon City is like the Hollywood of the Philippines.”

Excerpts from our exclusive interview withVice Mayor Joy Belmonte:

PHILIPPINE STAR: Do you love movies? How did you start what is now the biggest independent film festival in the Philippines?

QC VICE MAYOR JOY BELMONTE: I’m a film buff and I wish I could watch more films, especially independent films. The Quezon City Film Development Commission was actually established by Mayor Herbert Bautista when he was QC vice mayor in 2006 and he held one festival featuring student films. Since I took over as vice mayor in 2010, I’ve always dreamed of doing a film festival, so we did scriptwriting training in partnership with Mowelfund and MTRCB.

We started the QCIFF in 2013. This year, we received 200 movie script entries and selected eight aspiring directors to be given P1 million each. These eight movies are part of the QCIFF competition with awards night to be held at the new QC Interactive Museum on Oct. 28. QCIFF also provided a P200,000 grant for each of the five full-length documentary films.

What is the latest Filipino movie you watched?

I saw Heneral Luna twice. It’s so timely. In the past, we always used to think that this kind of period film doesn’t earn, but they were surprised that a lot of people watched it. This film is timely because it’s inspiring and it shows that this kind of film can be viable, that you don’t need to compromise the story to be a box-office hit. The success of  Heneral Luna shows to me that the Filipino audience is maturing.

Why are you passionate about culture, history and museums?

I’m an archaeologist. I think Filipinos in general do not have deep understanding of our history. Many of us don’t know we once had a sophisticated political system and culture before the Western colonizers came, we even had good trade ties with China since ancient times. Our history and culture need to be promoted for us to have a deeper sense of identity and more self-pride as a people.

Who is your favorite Filipino actress?

Sarah Geronimo. I’ve watched all her movies. I love Sarah Geronimo because when I first ran for vice mayor, she was my endorser and they said then that magkahawig daw kami (we kind of looked similar). Sarah is very humble and talented.

I heard top TV host and actress Kris Aquino is your former Ateneo classmate. Which of her movies have you watched?

Yes, she’s my forner classmate at the Ateneo, also in grade school at Poveda. Kris is very talented and a competent actress. I watched her latest movie Etiquette for Mistresses.

Is Kris still dating Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista?

I don’t know (laughs). I don’t want to comment. By the way, I also saw Kris’ horror movies like Sukob, Feng Shui 1 and 2. I also saw Magic to Win when we were still college classmates. Kris is a very intelligent and a very good person. I’m very grateful to Kris for the 2010 election, she told me she helped only two local candidates, me and Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. I’m grateful Kris spent the whole day with me going house to house to campaign, and at night she attended our rally. I will never forget that.

You mentioned that Kris campaigned for Junjun Binay. Are you close to him or his father, VP Binay?

No, we’re not close.

Is it true that you were also Ateneo classmates of ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s daughter Luli Macapagal Arroyo-Bernas? Your impressions of her?

Yes, Luli and Kris, we were all classmates under the late professor Dr. Doreen G. Fernandez. Luli is very intellectual, she’s very principled, I think one of the most principled persons I have ever met. She was one of the best writers too in our class.

Any other actress you look up to aside from Sarah and Kris?

During my growing-up years, I always watched the movies of Sharon Cuneta and Gabby! (laughs)

Who are your favorite Filipino actors?

Of course, our Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, also Joel Torre. I think Mayor Herbert is a good actor, even at work we can see his acting talent. He’s very charismatic. I also admire Piolo Pascual because he’s so guwapo (handsome)! I can also be mababaw (shallow) and he’s a good actor too.

What about ex-president and now Manila Mayor Erap Estrada as an actor?

I never watched his movies because we’re not of the same generation at hindi ako mahilig sa mga action films (and I’m not into action films).

What about the late movie king Fernando Poe Jr.’s films?

I think I’ve seen one of his Panday movies.

Did you meet the late FPJ?

No, I never met him but I’m friends with Grace Poe.

Any favorite Filipino film?

I think one of the best Filipino films ever made is On the Job. It’s very good, I think it’s really world-class. I watched it in Rockwell and the cinema was full.

If your life would someday be made into a movie, who would you want to portray Joy Belmonte?

QC Councilor Gian Sotto: Mikee Cojuangco!

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte: Mikee’s beautiful, matalino, malalim na tao at maka-masa (intelligent, a deep person and close to the masses), she’s my friend, but I think I look more like the actress Jolina Magdangal who’s also very wholesome.

What about your ideal leading man for a movie project?

Councilor Gian Sotto: Alden Richards!

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte: (laughs) Para namang anak ko na ‘yan (He’s almost like a son in his age)!

Why do you think this AlDub couple is so popular?

People can relate to them. I love Yaya Dub! I always watch her with my husband and we find her so talented.

It’s election season now, any advice to all the 2016 candidates?

Have strength of character and stand by your principles. I’d say the most important is you’re there for the people and the people you serve should be the center of your life.

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