Sineng Pambansa rolls into Marawi City for its fifth leg

MANILA, Philippines - In a cinema packed with people, emotions are running high as a gruesome murder scene is being played from the movie Kinatay by 2009 Cannes Best Film Director Filipino filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza.

People twitch, scream and cry while viewing a scene where the main character, a police-academy student, plays nonchalant while a prostitute is being murdered and dismembered.

The typical reaction could very well come from a Filipino audience but it’s not. Instead, the cineastes are Colombians and the movie is being previewed in a movie house somewhere in Bogota.

Believe it or not, Filipino alternative movies are very popular in South American countries like Brazil and Colombia and Pinoy filmmakers are the “rock stars” there.

In South America, Europe and elsewhere, Pinoy films stand out and are loved, as proven by the countless citations and awards in various international filmfests.

In the Philippines, there is no love lost either.

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairman Briccio Santos said that contrary to perceptions, there is actually a hankering for Filipino movies, whether mainstream or alternative.

The problem is Filipinos are almost clueless as to where to watch the movies.

Halaw centers on an illiterate Badjao and his daughter as they illegally cross the border of the Philippines and Malaysia through the southern backdoor.

“The problem is always the venue, where to see our beloved Pinoy films in the country since most commercial theaters are featuring Hollywood films but we have observed that when we held our Sineng Pambansa in Iloilo and other provinces, we saw that many crowds are lining up to see our homegrown movies. There is a hunger of Filipino movies in their hearts,” he said.

“Whether alternative or mainstream, we are losing out to Hollywood films. The movie is on the decline. Now, with the advent of 3-D films, we face another competition,” Santos added.

The FDCP, the government agency tasked to revitalize and promote Filipino movies, is pulling all stops to make sure that Filipino films will continue to flourish in the country.

“Our mandate is to revitalize Filipino films and we will see to it that we do that,” said Santos.

Since the start of the year, the FDCP has already been in four towns namely Iloilo, Zamboanga, Baguio and San Fernando.

For its fifth leg, the FDCP brings the Sineng Pambansa program to Marawi City, Lanao del Sur until tomorrow, July 1.

The first Lanao del Sur film festival is a joint project of the FDCP and Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong. A special feature of the Lanao del Sur filmfest is the short film competition which Santos said is a first in the Sineng Pambansa series.

Among the films that will be screened are Halaw and Limbunan, which both tackle the way of life of Muslims.

Halaw, directed by Sheron Dayoc from Zamboanga City, recently won the special mention at the 61st Berlin film festival. Teng Mangansaka’s Limbunan, likewise, earned a special citation abroad.

The venues of the film showings are the Mindanao State University, UVS Building and the Mamitua Saber Building in Marawi City. According to Santos, “The festival is a historic event for all of us. It is an expression of cultural solidarity, peace and unity.”

Meanwhile, the fourth leg of the Sineng Pambansa film festival was held in San Fernando City and was warmly supported by its mayor, Oscar Rodriguez and Kapampangans.

Pampanga has a rich film culture and made significant contributions to Philippine cinema. It is the home of many prominent Filipino filmmakers like Manuel Conde and Gregorio Fernandez and movie stars like Rogelio de la Rosa and Carmen Rosales.

In the current scene, Brillante Mendoza hails from Pampanga, as well as promising director Francis Xavier Pasion.

Santos said it was but fitting to bring the Sineng Pambansa film festival to Pampanga given its rich Filipino film background.

FDCP’s Briccio Santos (left) and Brillante Mendoza at the fourth leg of Sineng Pambasa in San Fernando City, Pampanga

Mayor Rodriguez said: “The Sineng Pambansa Pampanga film festival gave us opportunity to look back in time and relive history as portrayed in the silver screen by famous Kapampangan artists and filmmakers. It was also a chance to acknowledge film giants from our province who gained recognition not only in our country but also around the world,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez vowed to do his part to revitalize the ailing Filipino film industry.

“Let’s face it, the film industry has a problem it’s a dying industry, it’s time we regulate theater owners on what they feature. We have to revive the appreciation for Filipino films,” Rodriguez said.

The films screened at the Pampanga film festival in Robinsons Starmill cinemas were Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Lino Brocka) Rosario (Albert Martinez), The Red Shoes (Raul Jorolan), Noy (Dondon Santos), Here Comes The Bride (Chris Martinez), Sabungero (Miguel Kaimo and Rozie Delgado), Sampaguita (Francis Xavier Pasion), Tirador (Brilliante Mendoza), Kahit Konting Pagtingin (Pablo Santiago), Zamboanga (Eduardo de Castro), Mano Po III (Joel Lamangan) Bayaning Third World (Mike de Leon), Till We Meet Again (Elwood Perez), Forever (Rowell Santiago), Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo (Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara), Signos, Aliwan Paradise (Mike de Leon) and Higit sa Lahat (Gregorio Fernandez).