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Despite predictions of doom,
Philippine Cinema is not dead. It has simply changed. There are now
more independently-made, low-budget films than before, because
technological advancements have made it easier and cheaper to shoot
using digital cameras. One example would be 2005's “Ang Pagdadalaga
ni Maximo Oliveros” by Auraeus Solito, a digital film which nabbed
numerous international awards
and loads of critical acclaim.
Some movies labeled “independent” are not exactly “indie” in
the purest sense of the world, because they were financed by major
studios. “Indie” has therefore developed a broader definition,
including those who received major studio backing but were not made
by studio-contracted employees and had smaller budgets than
mainstream films.Filipino indie movies, whether purely “independent” or otherwise, are going strong, and three have captured the fancies of film buffs worldwide.
Ambulancia by Richard Legaspi
“Ambulancia” was originally part of a collection of seven short films by the Katorse Writers' Group called Katorse Shorts shown at the Indie Sine in Robinson's Galleria June of last year. Members of the group include filmmakers who took part in Ricky Lee's 14th Scriptwriting Workshop.
The 15-minute, 22-second long film was written and directed by Richard Legaspi. It centers around a strange ambulance drivers' superstition that running over small animals will save dying patients.
“Ambulancia” has been part of several local and international film festivals. It was shown during CineVita at the University of Sto. Tomas, the Cinemanila 2007 Young Cinema Night program and the 2008 Cinemalaya Best of Indie Sine Shorts '08. It was also screened during the 32nd Open-Air Film Festival Weiterstadt in Germany and the 2008 AFA Fellows' Night in South Korea. It competed in the Greek film festivals 2008 Naoussa International Short Film and Video Festival in Greece and the 2008 International Panorama of Film and Video in Greece.
It won the Best Short Narrative award at the 2008 Quisumbing Escandor Film Festival and was awarded the 2008 Viva-PBO Digitales Grand Prize.
The film has recently been selected for showing in the Bite the Mango Film Festival in the United Kingdom. It will run from September 19-25, 2008 at the National Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Torotot by Maryo J. delos Reyes and Jun Lana
“Torotot” is not exactly an independent movie, as it was bankrolled by Viva Films and Production 56. It was, however, directed by the award-winning Maryo J. delos Reyes and approved by Brussels International Independent Film Festival (BIIFF) General Director Robert Malengreau, so off to Brussels it goes. The festival, whose philosophy is to “allow all film-makers that don't fit the classical canvas of visual medias to find a place of expression” will take place from November 4-9, 2008.
The film was reportedly inspired by a newspaper column written by Julius Babao eight years ago. Delos Reyes brought the column to Jun Lana and asked him to write a script based on it.
The movie stars Maui Taylor, Precious Adona, Baron Geisler, and Yul Servo. It premiered in the UP Film Center on August 9 and started its Philippine cinema run on August 20. A second version of the movie was made for movie houses that don't show R-18 films (e.g. SM Cinemas).
Foster Child by Brilliante “Dante” Mendoza and Ralston Jover
The Seiko Films-supported “Foster Child” premiered in the Philippines on September 12, 2007. It has been nominated for and received numerous local and international awards.
It won multiple awards at the 6th Gawad Tanglaw this year, including Best Actress for Cherry Pie Picache, Best Supporting Actress for Eugene Domingo and Best Story. It was also named one of the Three Best Films of the Year alongside Tribu and Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo, and Dante Mendoza was named one of the three Best Directors alongside Jim Libiran and Jose Javier Reyes.
Other citations received by “Foster Child” include a Brisbane International Film Festival Netpac Award, a Las Palmas Film Festival SIGNIS award, Durban International Film Festival Best Actress and Best Director awards, a Golden Screen Best Actress award and Young Critics Circle awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay.
It was screened at the Seattle International Film Festival in May 2008, and reviewed at the Cannes International Film Festival Director's Fortnight on May 25, 2007.
Photo: “Ambulancia” by eliazar, c/o Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons license number BY-2.0-DEED.EN.
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