QC launches 1st indie filmfest

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City has been called the City of Stars and rightfully so, since it is the home of the two biggest and largest TV networks in the country.

Over the years, the city has cemented a long and lasting partnership with major broadcast and film corporations, assisting producers, artists and filmmakers in showing slices of the Filipino way of life through their works.

In yet another lofty vision, Quezon City now not only wants to be recognized as the Hollywood of the Philippines, it is also aiming to be the center of culture and arts in the country and possibly, a film mecca in Asia, much like Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Thus, the city government recently launched its very first independent film festival dubbed Q Cinema: 2012 Quezon City Festival.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and co-chairperson of the Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC), the organization tasked to oversee the screening of the film entries, said their aim is also to enrich and support the local film industry, at a time when Filipino filmmakers are shining in the international film circuit.

“Our aim is to be known as the art and cultural center in the Philippines and we are pursuing that vision. The independent film festival is our flagship program. We strive to promote and develop the art and craft of filmmaking among aspiring filmmakers. This film festival will give emerging and young filmmakers the chance to show their talent and creativity,” Belmonte told reporters during the press conference for the QCinema: 2012 Quezon City  Film Festival.

“This is to continue the vision of the QCFDC to encourage Filipino artists to create well-crafted movies based on nationalism, positive Filipino values, gender-sensitivity, freedom and excellence,” she said.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, QCFDC chairperson, said they are very excited to hold the filmfest in December but they haven’t chosen a venue yet.

“We want Quezon City to become the film capital of Asia, just like Bangkok and Hong Kong. We know that we can do it and we’re starting with our very first independent film festival,” Bautista said.

QCFDC commissioner Soxie Topacio said they will grant a seed money of P800,000 each to three chosen filmmakers.

To join, there should be at least one bonafide resident of Quezon City among the project’s major proponents. Submission of entries is open until July 31.

Fully accomplished forms together with the film script must be sent in both soft and hard copies to [email protected] and to the office of the Vice Mayor, second floor Legislative Wing Building, Quezon City Hall, respectively.

Interested parties may obtain the contest mechanics, application form and other pertinent documents for the QCFDC Facebook page or call 444-7272 loc. 8208 and look for Giana Barata for details.

Aside from Belmonte, Bautista and Topacio, those who graced the launching were executive director Ed Lejano Jr., councilors Jesus Manuel Suntay, Eufemio Lagumbay, Rosario Yara, Milo Sogueco, Ma. Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda, Orly Ilacad and Eduardo Sazon.

At the presscon, Lejano, who also heads the UP Film Institute, was asked what distinguishes the Quezon City indie film festival from other film festivals, particularly the Cinemalaya.

 “Actually, it’s like Cinemalaya with a bigger budget and less interference,” Lejano said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Cinemalaya has recently been wracked by controversies, particularly when a member of the selection committee resigned because a finalist, a movie titled MNL 143, was disqualified in the New Breed category because of casting disagreements.

Lejano stressed filmmakers joining the Quezon City filmfest would be given a free hand in directing their obras.

Topacio added they would not impose restrictions on the storyline, the location, the non-professional or professional actors they will use for their films.

He said they can experiment and these could be movies that are highly personal, free-form narratives that they can concoct with groups of like-minded friends.

It can also be documentaries that are poetic or journalistic, coming-of-age stories or road-trip buddy picture.

“It could be anything. We will certainly give them all the artistic freedom they need. Well, we are only requesting one thing from them, to shoot at least one sequence in Quezon City,” Topacio said.

He said a higher goal, really, is to showcase the chosen entreis into the international arena.

“If we can see something we can sell abroad, then we will extend an all-out support. We can help with the subtitling and the marketing etc. One of our missions is also to see if the films can be featured in international film festivals abroad, given that a lot of Filipino filmmakers have already carved a name for themselves in foreign filmfests. The QCFDC will be all-out in their support,” he said.