Two Filipinos indie films win int’l grants

HUNKS of “Kalayaan” (from left) Zanjoe Marudo, Ananda Everingham and Luis Alandy.

Two Filipinos films have won grants abroad. Raya Martin’s “Nueva España” won the best film project at the Riviera Maya Co-Production Lab held in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, last March 25. The award comes with a cash prize of US$15,000, according to producer Arleen Cuevas. “Nueva España, which intertwines the themes of revolution and teleportation, will be shot in Mexico.

Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Kalayaan (Wildlife)” is one of 10 recipients of the grants given by the Global Film Initiative, an international arts organization. The chosen filmmakers come from different countries and will each receive $10,000.

“Kalayaan” centers on a Filipino soldier stationed on the disputed Spratly Islands. Bayani San Diego Jr.