‘Tumbang Preso’ bags MFFF’s top plum

Film producers and TV network executives came in full force to listen to the pitches of the 17 finalists in the recently concluded 2013 Manila Film Financing Forum (MFFF) at the CCP Silangan Hall.

Winners include Kip Oebanda’s “Tumbang Preso” (which, as Best IFC Pitch, is guaranteed a theater run at SM cineplexes) and Ivan Andrew Payawal’s “Throwback Lola,” which bagged the Unitel Prize.

True story

“Tumbang Preso” is based on a true story about a boy’s attempt to escape the exploitative labor conditions in a sardine factory, while “Throwback Lola” is a family road trip about a budding filmmaker who helps her grandmother find her lost love in Vigan. We asked producers what they thought about this year’s MFFF entries:

Jude Turcuato, Fox Channels: “We want to learn more about the industry because we’re planning to produce original content. It was refreshing to see so much passion from the people we met.”

Enrico Santos, Skylight Films: “The forum is impressive, because it updates us on how Filipino filmmaking creativity has expanded.”

Ronald Arguelles, Cinema One: “MFFF was a pleasant surprise, especially the documentary projects that were pitched.”

Perci Intalan, TV5: “It’s always inspiring to feel the passion of filmmakers!”

Tony Gloria and Ting Nebrida, Unitel: “Our company has been a part of MFFF and, for us, it’s a lot of fun to meet new filmmakers and listen to their pitches. The diversity of stories always surprises.

“Perhaps, the pitching session should happen more than once a year?”