On joining this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival: “I hope to inspire other indie filmmakers and productions na pwede ring tumawid sa mainstream—pwedeng makapasok ang pelikula kahit hindi all-out commercial, fantasy or comedy.” –Allan Policarpio
She could’ve been trapped in those awkward years between precocity and young adulthood. Former child star Ella Guevara, however, saw that the indie scene offered a variety of roles for “tweens” like herself. Ella, 14, explained: “Since indie films are more realistic, actors of any age can be tapped for roles. There’s bound [...]
Films by Filipino director Raya Martin will be featured at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York from October 19 to 27. Among Martin’s works that will be screened are “Independencia,” “The Island at the End of the World,” “A Short Film about the Indio Nacional,” “Autohystoria,” “The Great Cinema Party,” “Now Showing” and “Next Attraction.” The museum’s website called Martin a “daring, restless filmmaker.” Martin and Gym Lumbera will also set up a video installation, which will debut at the museum lobby on October 19.—Bayani San Diego Jr.
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, [...]
Indie director Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Isda,” also known as “Fable of the Fish,” has been “swimming” to various festivals all over the world, making it one of the best-traveled films of last year.
She dices and dances, stews and stomps, to conquer. Unknown to many, actress Liza Diño is a professional flamenco dancer and now works as line cook for famous chef Wolfgang Puck’s resto, Spago, in Beverly Hills. She’s assigned to the Garde Manger line, whipping up “the first course: from cold and hot appetizers, to soups and salads.”
Against all odds, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos’ pet project, “Pintakasi,” an indie film that combines live action and animation, hits the big screen this month.
Indie filmmaker Khavn de la Cruz’s “Desaparadiso” is one of four grant recipients in the digital production section of the Hubert Bals Fund of the Rotterdam International Film Festival. De la Cruz is the only Filipino among this year’s grant recipients. The other filmmakers in De la Cruz’s section are from Argentina and Malaysia. De [...]
Two veteran directors’ indie films have been invited to an Asian fest in Rome, Italy. Laurice Guillen’s “Maskara” and Joel Lamangan’s “Patikul” will be shown at the 12th Asiaticafilmmediale Film Festival, running from October 12 to 22. Also included in the lineup is Auraeus Solito’s “Busong.” Guillen said that she’s part of the international jury [...]
Filmmaker Lawrence Fajardo, who describes himself as a probinsyano, says his action-drama movie “Amok” is based on his perception of city life. “Sa city, parang ang hirap makahinga at gumalaw. Paranoid ako lagi na baka kung ano’ng mangyari,” Lawrence—Law to friends—said during an open forum after the film’s screening at the Inquirer offices in Makati [...]
Cinemalaya 2011 Best Actor Edgar Allan Guzman feels he’s ready for mainstream cinema. The lead star in the romantic-comedy indie film “Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me” said he hopes to work with his idols Coco Martin, Christopher de Leon and John Lloyd Cruz, and perhaps join the annual Metro Manila Film Festival. “I want [...]
