Lav Diaz discusses latest opus, Cannes, ‘aesthetics’
By Totel V. de Jesus
Humanity is still barbaric and aim of cinema is to help in its perfection.
Humanity is still barbaric and aim of cinema is to help in its perfection.
Caught strolling incognito on the streets of this resort city in the south of France are two Filipino filmmakers with the lead actors in their respective movies competing in the Un Certain Regard Section. During daytime, Lav Diaz and “Norte” actor Archie Alemania took in the sights of the boutique-lined streets near the Palais. In the evening, Adolfo Alix Jr. and “Death March” actor Sam Milby went out dining and bar-hopping with other members of the Filipino contingent. Inevitably, a few Filipinos would ask for souvenir shots here and there, but the actors largely went around undisturbed. Interestingly, it was Alemania’s turn to act like a fan. He asked for a snapshot with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, but her publicist politely turned him down. Turned out Ziyi is a juror in Un Certain Regard, where Alemania’s film is in contention. Contact between jurors and participants are not encouraged, said Alix who also couldn’t ask for a photo with Ziyi. Bayani San Diego Jr.
Once a year, this sleepy resort town south of France transforms into a “mecca for cineastes,” in the words of internationally acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz.
Erik Matti’s “On the Job” was selected to be part of the Directors’ Fortnight—making it the third Filipino film that will premiere in Cannes next month.
Filipino filmmakers Lav Diaz and Adolfo Alix Jr. describe the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival as the “serious, experimental” part of the world’s biggest cinema event.
It was a scene straight from, well, a Lav Diaz film. When filmmaker-producer Joey Gosiengfiao passed away five years ago, his maid Luz gave Diaz four boxes of Betamax, Betacam and VHS tapes. Diaz turned over half of the collection to the late critic Alexis Tioseco, “for safekeeping and archiving.” A few [...]
The Cinemanila International Film Festival 2012, which opens on Thursday till Dec. 11 at the Market! Market! in Taguig City, will pay tribute to great Filipino filmmakers who passed away this year.
The last couple of years have been nothing short of exciting for Philippine cinema. We see all this energy—mad, contagious, unfettered—and there’s a sense that we’re on the verge of something wondrous, profound even.
Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz will be part of a three-man jury in the 66th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which runs in Scotland from June 20 to July 1. Chair of the jury (in the international competition section) is Hollywood actor Elliot Gould, with indie producer and former Karlovy Vary fest program director Julietta Sichel and Diaz as members. Diaz’s latest film, “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE,” is included in Edinburgh’s Philippine New Wave section, too.
Apart from Lav Diaz’s “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE,” another Filipino film won at the 13th Jeonju International Film Festival in Korea early this month. Jet B. Leyco’s “Ex Press” brought home the Special Jury Prize.
In an e-mail to Inquirer Entertainment, the Filipino filmmaker joked that he was busy taking care of a grandchild in New York when he learned that he had won the Netpac-Eastar Jet prize last May 4 at the Jeonju film fest in Korea.
After winning the On Screen prize in Toronto’s Images Festival last month, Lav Diaz’s “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE” received the Netpac-Eastar Jet award during the 13th Jeonju International Film Festival awards rites held in Korea on Friday. Lav’s latest six-hour epic was declared the best Asian film screened in the World Cinema, Stranger Than Cinema and Cinefest sections. The honor comes with a cash prize of US$15,000.
