QUEZON City, Philippines (October 4) – Film is considered as one of the youngest art form here in the Philippines. It can also claim to be the most popular of them all. From its introduction in 1897, films in the Philippines have evolved. From silent to talkies, from black and white to colored. Films reflect the culture and beliefs of the people it caters to and sometimes helps shape their consciousness.
Aside from being a source of entertainment, films can be used as powerful tools for teaching. Films are like blank canvasses where one’s ideology may be imparted to the viewers.
The Philippines is said to have a variety of good film makers. Classic directors like Manuel Conde for the internationally acclaimed “Genghis Khan”, Lino Brocka for “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” and Ishmael Bernal for the iconic Nora Aunor movie “Walang Himala” to Cathy Garcia-Molina and her “kilig-to-the-bones” films such as “One More Chance”, “She’s Dating the Gangster” and “Just the Three of Us”. There is also Olivia M. Lamasan and her heartfelt life and love stories from like “Starting Over Again”, “Madrasta” and “Milan”.
The year 1977 marked a new beginning for the film industry in the Philippines. An unknown filmmaker going by the name Kidlat Tahimik, pioneered what we know now as the independent cinema through his film “Mababangong Bangungot”, which won the International Critic’s Prize in the Berlin Film Festival that year. He is now considered as the “Father of the Philippine Independent Cinema”.
Nowadays, the most popular independent film festival that we have is Cinemalaya. Founded in 2004, it is both a competition and festival that aims to persuade the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers. It also aims to rejuvenate the Philippine filmmaking industry by supporting aspiring filmmakers. Every year, ten fresh and aspiring directors are given a financial grant in order to create the film of their dreams. These films in the New Breed Full Length Category are then featured in festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines every July or August. They also provide awards for the Short Feature Category and Directors Showcase.
Aside from Cinemalaya, we also have Sinag Maynila, Cinema One Originals, and Q Cinema – all of whom share the same objective; to promote and support the local film industry. We can say that the birth of these film organizations and festivals are proof that the Philippine Independent Film Industry is still alive and actually growing. In fact, renowned indie filmmaker Lav Diaz won the Golden Lion Award – the highest award a film may bag in the recently concluded 73rd Venice Film Festival for the four hour black and white film “Ang Babaeng Humayo.” Not to mention that he also received the Silver Bear Award in the Berlin Film Festival this year.
Films may not be the answer to everyday problems that we face, however we cannot deny the fact that films do take us to places we’ve never been, meet people that we wish to meet in real life and makes us feel the emotions that we can only read in books. What’s even more astonishing is that we, Filipinos can actually create world-class films, those that you will always be proud of. Our independent film scene just needs all the support that we can provide in order for our Filipino filmmakers to continue giving us a “worth-my-time-and-money” kind of films.
Resources:
http://www.aenet.org/family/filmhistory.htm
(written by Aronica Azores, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)
