Q.C. goes indie

Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista has started the ball rolling on the city’s first Quezon City Independent Film Festival. He gathered commissioners of the QC Film Development Commission — Councilor Ariel Inton, lawyer Victoria Loanzon, Dr. Mary Ruby Palma, director Tony Reyes (Directors’ Guild of the Philippines president) and Celario Santiago.

Everything, of course, has the blessings of QC Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, who heads the Film Development Commission, under which his daughter, Joy Belmonte-Alimuring chairs the QC Performing Arts component.

The festival is a showcase of creativity, a search for film excellence.

Awards are in store for the best short films. In the running are student films from Quezon City schools like UP Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, St. Paul University of Quezon City, Trinity University of Asia and Angelicum College.

Entries will revolve around the theme “Quezon City: Filmmaking and Photography Through the Eyes of the Youth.”

Short films will be divided into four categories: Animation, documentary, experimental and narrative. Entries shown in commercial cinemas will not be allowed.

Student lensmen may also join a photo exhibit contest featuring pictures which show how Quezon City stands out among other cities in the country.

The winning film per category will get P20,000, the best photo, P10,000 — good enough for students who need all the money they can get.

“The festival aims to make students aware of the importance of art and culture,” explains Herbert.

Director Tony Reyes has more good news  for winners: He plans to blow up the films and turn them into mainstream movies that can be shown on the big screen. To do this, the well-meaning director plans to help students get producers for the films. This way, they will earn more and get all support and recognition they deserve.

The films will be shown from Sept. 10 to 17 at Cinema 4, Cineplex 10, Gateway Mall in Araneta Center. Entrance fee is at an affordable P80 each.

The Quezon City government’s plans for the filmfest don’t end there. Herbert and company plan to expand the festival to include students living in Quezon City but not studying in the area.

Thus, La Salle students living in Quezon City may try their luck in the filmfest someday. In fact, this early, Herbert is planning part two of the festival sometime March, in time for the submission of student thesis projects for film subjects before the school year ends.

“Our target is three film festivals a year in Quezon City and expansion to cover the entire country someday,” Herbert reveals.

He knows it means hard work. But Herbert and his staff are ready. They plan to get film grants from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other sources. This will hopefully sustain the project over the years.

Everything is but part of a bigger picture, though. And that greater end will see more tourists flocking to Quezon City as a must-see destination.