PH team needs help to attend A-list film fest

PIOLO Pascual (left) and John Lloyd Cruz in Lav Diaz’s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis”

The cast and crew of Lav Diaz’s Berlinale-bound film “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” need financial assistance in order to compete in the main section of the A-list festival, to be held in Germany from Feb. 11 to 21.

The Philippine team needs at least an additional P1.2 million for the fest—one of the top three in the world, along with Cannes and Venice.

Executive producer Paul Soriano told the Inquirer that “Berlinale organizers will only shoulder some of the expenses for the accommodation, but not the airfare.”

Actress Hazel Orencio told the Inquirer that they were able to contact some Berlin-based Filipinos, who were willing to host some members of the contingent.

Producer Bianca Balbuena said they hope to bring at least 12 Filipinos to Germany next month.

“Hopefully, we can bring 20 people. Maybe we can take a submarine to Europe,” Diaz quipped in jest.

Soriano related: “We have sent letters to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).”

Diaz acknowledged that although the government, through the FDCP, has extended assistance to filmmakers, “we need more support.”

“FDCP and NCCA have replied to confirm that they got my e-mail and they will deliberate on the matter soon,” Balbuena related.

Balbuena explained that the required amount will cover “airfare, accommodation, German translation and subtitling, DCP with hardcoded German subtitles and promotional materials.”

They also plan to hold a “small Philippine reception for programmers and industry people” at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.

Diaz told the Inquirer that “Hele,” which runs for 482 minutes (eight hours and two minutes), will be screened in two four-hour installments at the Berlinale.

“It’s important for Filipino creatives to attend the Berlinale,” Balbuena asserted. “Our film is the only entry from the Philippines this year and we are in the main competition no less.”

“Hele” will be up for major awards with “Hollywood giants, with films top-billed by Emma Thompson, Scarlett Johansson, Kirsten Dunst, Jude Law,” Balbuena said. “The jury president is Meryl Streep.”

Attending the fest will allow our local artists to “engage in meaningful discourse on Philippine cinema and history as well,” said Diaz.

“It will also open doors for international collaborations and coproductions,” Balbuena clarified. “We can also encourage foreign filmmakers to shoot in our country or cast Filipino actors in their films. All this will help improve local cinema and elevate it to be globally competitive.”