The latest edition of the Philippines' independent film festival got going on July 26. From experimental, ultra-cheap films shown only to a handful of film fans when it began nine years ago, Cinemalaya - which concludes today - has gained a reputation for showcasing world-class movies focused on gritty social issues, and now attracts distributors worldwide while its best offerings win rave reviews on the global indie festival circuit.
"We remain a small festival in Asia, but we have become a springboard for brave movies to be shown abroad," says director-actress Laurice Guillen, Cinemalaya's competition director.
We show films that are based on real stories that break new ground and are done with a human heart
Cinemalaya was launched to discover new, passionate filmmakers who are willing to push boundaries and create alternatives to the usual feel-good Filipino and Hollywood films that dominate the Philippines' box office. "We show films that are based on real stories that break new ground and are done with a human heart," Guillen says. Still, it hasn't always been easy.
The first batch of festival entries were films shot and recorded on mini-DV (digital video) whose audio quality was far below that of big-budget productions and criticised as crude, Guillen says. But with seed money from a Filipino businessman and mentoring from veteran directors, the quality has improved.
"Many [people] recognised later that there was something brave and innovative going on," the competition director says. "People came and watched because they wanted to see what the filmmakers were saying. They saw the heart and soul in the movies that were shown."
Cinemalaya accepts as many as 200 applications for film grants from aspiring filmmakers across the archipelago. A selection committee whittles the number down to the best proposals from 15 directors, who are then called in for interviews.