Sandejas. Greater opportunities.
MANILA, Philippines – We asked several directors what their wishes are for the coming year:
Joey Reyes: Greater courage to innovate, and utilize the various media to encourage creativity. I pray for a much larger audience for independent filmmakers—lamenting the fact that the likes of Brillante Mendoza are more appreciated abroad than on their home turf. I hope we can develop a more discriminating audience.
Joel Lamangan: I can sense the gap between indies and mainstream films narrowing. I hope that the new officers of the Directors Guild of the Philippines will be able to facilitate a healthier interaction between independent and mainstream filmmakers.
Sustainable profession
Mike Sandejas: Some endeavors this year opened new doors for film practitioners. I expect greater opportunities for filmmakers to elevate their craft and make the profession sustainable.
Gino Santos: No more films and TV concepts that deal with mistresses or “the other man/woman.” I wish for more Filipino movies to be recognized at international festivals. Hopefully, the government will allot more funding for local independent films. And, it would be ideal to have more film markets that actually produce films after pitching!
Mark Meily: There’s greater demand for fresh content. My wish is for media companies to have bigger budgets so that those demands and expectations are met!