Cinemalaya protestors: We’ve only just begun

“Our goal is simply to help filmmakers create their dream movies,” said film producer Robbie Tan, in the hot seat because of the controversial disqualification of one finalist in the annual Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Cinemalaya has barred Emerson Reyes’ “MNL 143” from competing due to casting disagreements with its director and producer.

Tan, head of the festival monitoring committee, said he felt Reyes and his supporters’ actions (turning to social networks) were “misguided.” He explained: “They shouldn’t be disrespectful. This should be done in a professional manner. People behind Cinemalaya are sincere about helping filmmakers. We’ve sacrificed so much…”

For the last seven years, the Cinemalaya Foundation has been giving P500,000 in film grants to 10 first-time filmmakers. This year, Reyes would have been included in the New Breed category.

This year’s Cinemalaya will run from July 20 to 29 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.

Mark Meily, whose film “Donor” competed in the Directors’ Showcase (started three years ago) in 2010, said Reyes’ experience should not stop the young filmmaker from pursuing his passion. “This does not make him less of a filmmaker or ‘MNL 143’ less of a film. It’s normal to feel bad, but there’s no use sour-graping,” Meily said.

Meily cited the case of Arnel Mardoquio’s “Sheika,” pulled out of the 2010 Cinemalaya main competition (also due to casting disagreements with organizers) but ended up triumphant. It won the Netpac Prize that year (in a side tilt within Cinemalaya) and then best screenplay, actress and editing awards at the 34th Gawad Urian in 2011.

Meily admitted he also had “discussions about casting” with Tan while working on “Donor.” He said: “I convinced them I was right in choosing Meryll Soriano and Baron Geisler as lead stars. The two won the acting awards that year.”

Francis Pasion, who directed two Cinemalaya films, “Jay” (2008) and “Sampaguita” (2010), told of a similar experience. He recounted how he got Geisler to play the lead role in “Jay,” though the committee had wanted a different actor. “I conducted a screen test and then showed Baron’s audition piece to the committee … You see, there are many ways to prove your point.” Geisler also won best actor for “Jay.”

Meily suggested that Cinemalaya impose ground rules to avoid future snags: “We should understand that this is an artistic endeavor. We cannot ask somebody to join a painting contest, then tell him to avoid politics and religion as subjects, for example.”

Meanwhile, “MNL 143” producer Nestor Abrogena has posted this comment on his Facebook account: “We would like to put an emphasis (sic) that going back to compete as a finalist for Cinemalaya 2012 is not in our options, as we intend to move on and make our film outside.”

Abrogena added: “What’s happening now is beyond our personal search for justice to the plight of ‘MNL 143.’ It’s already a fight for free cinema. Reforms within a festival that presents itself as steward of independent filmmaking will hopefully be realized soon … We’ve just started. We won’t stop.”

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