Indie film directors inspire Ilonggo film enthusiasts

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Two award-winning Independent (indie) film directors Raymond Red and Jim Libiran the other day conducted a workshop-lecture on film making among Ilonggo film enthusiasts in the city.

The workshop, held at the University of the Philippine in the Visayas, was in line with the 3-day Sineng Pambansa, starting on January 19, which featured 12 films by Filipino filmmakers and shown for free at a mall here.

The film festival, under the aegis of the city government and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, was part of the city's celebration of the 2011 Dinagyang Festival.

Libiran, after the workshop, said he had some Ilonggo friends who are good at directing film and he believed there are still more Ilonggos who are good in filmmaking but are yet to be discovered.

Iloilo is very rich in culture and, after a series of workshops here, Libiran expects an Ilonggo film to come out successful, such as "Yanggaw," an Ilonggo film about an "aswang" in one of the towns in the province.

Red and Libiran admitted though that making an indie film entails considerable budget, but the recognition they earned internationally, and the people being touched and changed by their films were already enough to continue their passion in making this kind of genre. (FREEMAN)