Indie night at PDI: 2nd time still a game-changer

INDIES ARE IN. Honoree Nick Deocampo, one of the genre’s pioneers, presents a copy of his book “Film: American Influences on Philippine Cinema” to Inquirer chair Marixi Prieto on Thursday during the 2nd Inquirer Indie Tribute at the paper’s main office in Makati City, recognizing leaders and performers of the independent film industry.

Just like the first time, the sequel was a certified game-changer.

The 2nd Inquirer Indie Tribute gathered industry leaders, acclaimed actors and independent filmmakers to celebrate the achievements of both the pioneers and the youngbloods, as well as chart the future of the promising genre—proof that last year’s inaugural success was no fluke.

Held Thursday night at the paper’s main office in Makati City and covered by major TV networks, the event went beyond giving out awards by again providing a congenial venue for dialogue on matters that impact the entire filmmaking community.

After last year’s program promoted discussions that eventually led to new government policies for the benefit of the industry, the stakeholders returned this year to give updates on those initiatives and renew their commitment.

Present were the chairs of the three state agencies overseeing the movie industry—Briccio Santos of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP); Ronnie Ricketts of the Optical Media Board (OMB); and Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

They touched base with acclaimed indie actors like Anita Linda, Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, John Arcilla, Irma Adlawan, Orlando Sol, Angelina Kanapi, Suzette Ranillo and Maria Isabel Lopez; producers Lilit Reyes, Babyruth Villarama and Krisma Fajardo; director Topel Lee; editors Chuck Gutierrez and Lawrence Ang; cinematographers Larry Manda and Arvin Viola, among others.

Vowing to remain an “indies partner,” Llamanzares followed up on the promises she made last year concerning the reforms to be instituted by the MTRCB under her watch. For starters, she said, Milo Sogueco, one of the tribute honorees last year, was appointed board member to represent the indie community.

‘Personal crusade’

One of Sogueco’s first projects was the institutionalization of a 70-percent discount in the review application fees of deserving indie films, according to Llamanzares.

“Instead of P8,000, indie filmmakers only have to shell out P2,400,” she said. “That’s a big boost for an indie film with only P3 million or less as budget. We at the MTRCB are really serious about helping indie filmmakers.”

Llamanzares said championing indies had become a “personal” crusade for her because her father, the late action king Fernando Poe Jr., was among the first independent producers to emerge in the 1960s and 70s, following the decline of the big studios of that period.

On the part of the OMB, Ricketts said his agency was partnering with Harrison Plaza in Manila to put up an “indie DVD center,” a one-stop shopping destination for cinephiles looking for original DVDs of independent films and other masterpieces.

“We were able to eradicate the stalls that offered pirated discs at Harrison Plaza. The mall owners now plan to provide space where indie filmmakers and other producers can put up kiosks to sell DVDs. Other malls would soon follow suit,” said Ricketts.

Hailing the indie scene as “the mainstream of the future,” FDCP chair Santos said the council would continue pushing projects like the Sineng Pambansa, the National Archives and the setup of regional cinematheques to spur the development of the local film industry.

But Santos gave the gathering a sort of reality check. Citing a report by the Cinema Evaluation Board (a body under the FDCP), he noted that out of the 47 indie films made in the country from January to October 2011, only six got a full run in commercial movie houses.

“That’s bad news,” he said. “But the good news is that the Philippine cinematheque has become a reality” to provide a screening venue for indie players. “The first cinematheque inaugurated in Baguio boasts of a 75-seat capacity.”

Other cinematheques will open soon, he said. A 160-seater is in the works in Davao, two theaters are opening in Iloilo, plus two more in Zamboanga and Marawi. “By next year, we hope to open eight cinematheques. The plan is to have one in all 16 regions of the country,” Santos said.

The FDCP is also sponsoring an audiovisual development program that will hold workshops all over the archipelago, and also a national film competition aimed at discovering “bright new talents in filmmaking,” according to Santos.

Beholden to new breed

“We are beholden to this new breed of filmmakers, both the pioneers and the new heroes, for without them, the decline of the Philippine movie industry would have been headlong and unstoppable,” he said.

Last year’s Inquirer honorees—filmmakers Raymond Red, Ato Bautista, Chris Martinez, Alvin Yapan, Rico Maria Ilarde and Paolo Villaluna—were on hand on Thursday to welcome the new batch of awardees.

This year’s awardees are Loy Arcenas, Alemberg Ang, Monster Jimenez and Mario Cornejo, Eduardo Roy Jr., Ferdinand John Balanag, Remton Siega Zuasola, Marlon Rivera and Jade Castro.

The 2nd Inquirer Indie Tribute also gathered representatives from the three bodies that have held digital film festivals in the country for the last six years: Tess Rances and Chris Millado of Cinemalaya, Tikoy Aguiluz of Cinemanila, and Ronald Arguelles of Cinema One.

The tribute also went “international” this year with the attendance of French film critic Max Tessier and German film festival programmer Axel Estein, along with French embassy representatives Christian Merer (counselor for cooperation and cultural affairs) and Martin Macalintal (audiovisual attaché), and Vincent Nebrida of the Hell’s Kitchen Film Festival in New York.

Musician Noel Cabangon provided the night’s entertainment with two songs from landmark movies—“Sangandaan,” which was the theme of Mike de Leon’s “Sister Stella L”; and “Ang Buhay Nga Naman,” from Soxie Topacio’s “Ded na si Lolo.”

De Leon was among the six pioneers (along with Kidlat Tahimik, Roxlee, Butch Nolasco, Nick Deocampo and Ditsi Carolino) who had been feted by the Inquirer for their trailblazing work.

Asensio, an opera diva, did an a cappella rendition of “Ay Kalisud,” an Ilonggo song that she also performed in Arcenas’ “Niño,” one of the honored films in the new breed division.

For the finale, Arcilla interpreted “Bathala ng Karagatan,” theme song of Dayoc’s “Halaw: Ways of the Sea,” another honored film under new breed.

No shortage of brilliance

In a message during the program, Connie Kalagayan, Inquirer vice president for corporate affairs, said: “We have decided to make this an annual tribute since we will never run out of brilliant indie filmmakers who win awards and accolades here and abroad.”

“We will continue to support your aspirations. We will be your loyal partner in pursuing your advocacies,” Kalagayan stressed. “Some people may think your films are insane … but all of us who believe in excellence and creativity think it’s genius.”

Emmie G. Velarde, Inquirer Entertainment editor, added: “The Inquirer’s battle cry as a media organization is ‘first, fair, fearless,’ something we share with indie filmmakers who are fearless, and often first, in the subjects they tackle. It is only fair for the Inquirer to again salute this community that tells the Filipino story as it really is.”

Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot said: “The Inquirer has always had an internal culture of excellence. It is in furtherance of this advocacy that we have been supporting, giving recognition and acknowledging the excellent work that the indies have been doing.”

“We in the Inquirer pledge to continue giving support to endeavors to achieve excellence in filmmaking as an art,” he said.