How our films will go to foreign fests

EUGENE Domingo and Carlos Dala in “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank”

Or should that be a question? Makers of outstanding Filipino films competing in festivals abroad may not all get to make the trip, as the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is set to review its policy, created in 2007, on subsidizing their travel expenses.

“A lot has happened since this policy was created,” FDCP executive director Jose Miguel dela Rosa told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview. “There are new and bigger festivals now that need to be included on our list for subsidies and grants.”

In 2007, the council created the Festival Committee (FC) to assist it in this aspect. The FC ranked foreign festivals to determine grant allotments.

Festivals currently in the first tier are (those held in): Cannes (France); Berlin (Germany); Venice (Italy); Toronto (Canada); Utah in Sundance and New York (New Directors/New Films, USA). Local films competing in these festivals could get a grant of up to P800,000; for those in exhibition, up to P600,000.

In the second tier are the festivals in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Locarno (Switzerland), Los Angeles IFP and New York including Tribeca, Telluride in Colorado (USA), Montreal (Canada), Busan, Tokyo and London. A film invited to compete in any of these could get up to P600,000; or up to P400,000, for exhibition.

In the third tier are the San Sebastian and Valladolid (Spain), Seattle, Palm Springs, South by Southwest in Texas (USA), Melbourne and Sydney (Australia), Bangkok, Deauville (France), Flanders (Belgium), Edinburgh (Scotland) and Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) festivals. Films competing or exhibiting in festivals in this tier are entitled to grants of up to P400,000.

“This is still part of our program,” Dela Rosa said. “We’re just being selective because our funds are limited and we have our own programs to finance.”

Ten films have been invited to the Busan International Film Festival in October. Loy Arcena’s “Niño” will compete in the New Currents Section. Films for exhibition are Lawrence Fajardo’s “Amok,” Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Isda,” Marlon Rivera’s “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” Laurice Guillen’s “Maskara” and Milo Tolentino’s “Nono.” “San Bernardo” and “Baril sa Aking Kamay,” written and directed by National Artist Fernando Poe Jr., will be shown in the Asian Western Cinema program; Pepe Diokno’s “Above the Clouds” and Sheron Dayoc’s “Satra” in Asian Cinema Fund.

Of these films, Dela Rosa said, only one sought subsidy. “I guess the others don’t need it. Most festival organizers, including Busan, are very generous. They have budgets for airfare and accommodation for two persons.”

He said the council will have a “new and final” list soon. “Competing films are our priority. We are checking the arrangements between the filmmakers and festival organizers. Some of [our filmmakers] also seek assistance from other government agencies, like the National Center for Culture and the Arts.”