Instituto Cervantes launches '44 Filipino Filmmakers'

MANILA, Philippines - Instituto Cervantes de Manila launches the trilingual coffee table book aptly titled Cineastas Filipinos, Filipino Filmmakers, Mga Sineastang Pilipino on Tuesday July 5, 5 p.m. at Instituto Cervantes.

This publication is a compilation of the portraits taken by Spanish photographer Oscar Orengo when he first came to the Philippines in 2008. Orengo, who was in the country upon the invitation of Instituto Cervantes to exhibit his series of photographs of Spanish film directors, decided to embark on a new project: to photograph his favorite Filipino filmmakers in their own environment. He wanted them to collaborate on this project by picking out the background and the location in Manila where they would have their photograph taken.

An unconditional cinephile, moved by his passion for photography and for the extraordinary zeal for life that marks his character, Orengo went around the mega-city from point to point. Only a Manileño would know the tremendous investment in time, effort, and knowledge in the medium that venture would entail. But the mythical proportions of the task did not deter the enthusiastic photographer. He fell in love with Manila and came back for a second trip to photograph more filmmakers. He was able to complete a series of 43 photographs, which was exhibited in the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2009, under the Spanish film festival, Pelîcula. 

Now, two years later, thanks to the collaboration of the Committee for the Celebration of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day headed by Senator Edgardo Angara, the Spanish Embassy of the Philippines , the AECID, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Instituto Cervantes de Manila presents Cineastas Filipinos. This volume is accompanied by the biographical sketches and filmographies of the filmmakers written by Filipino writer Shirley O. Lua. The result represents a suggestive combination which, on one hand, recreates the beauty and acute insight of the photographs of Orengo, and, on the other, provides a snapshot of one of the most dynamic and interesting cinematographies of the present.

The featured Filipino cinematographers span four generations, from the most veteran like Eddie Romero, Jose Javier Reyes and Celso Ad. Castillo to the up and coming directors who are making a name for themselves in the international scene: Byron Bryant, Raya Martin, Brillante Mendoza, Ellen Ramos and Paolo Villaluna, to name a few.

Entrance to this book launch and exhibit  is free. For information, call 526-1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es. Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T.M. Kalaw St. , Ermita, Manila.