QC film fest kicks off with Daboy documentary
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Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
THERE ARE inevitable comparisons between the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, whose 11th iteration was held last August, and the relatively new QCinema International Film Festival, which is now on its third year. The newer film festival is ongoing until Oct. 31.
Some may argue that the Quezon City (QC) festival is larger in terms of number of theaters involved -- Cinemalaya shows its films in the Cultural Center of the Philippines venues and in Greenbelt theaters in Makati while the QC fest has enlisted the cinemas of three major malls in its area, all of which are easily accessible to the public through the MRT.
But the bigger difference may be in terms of funding.
Cinemalaya featured only short films and no full-length movies when it opened in August this year, part of a retooling which will see full-length films return next year having had more time devoted to development. There had been talk of the possibility of Quezon City taking over the slack for Cinemalaya after its long-time backer, businessman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, stopped funding the festival last year.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said he did not want to merge QCinema with Cinemalaya because “’pag minerge mo (when you merge) it will only be Cinemalaya.” He said he wants different branding for his festival.
The QC Film Development Commission was created seven years ago by Mr. Bautista, a former actor, when he was still the vice-mayor. “And now we are here,” he said. The commission was created with budding artists, writers, and directors in mind. He said the goal was to give them creative platforms.
Unlike Cinemalaya, whose financial situation always leaves it in a precarious state, the QC festival is funded through the city’s amusement tax. According to Mr. Bautista, QC collects P110 million per year from the 10% amusement tax levied on foreign and local films shown in cinemas within the city, which is dedicated to tourism and the amusement development fund. Half of the fund can be used for the year, while half is set aside. “Pataba na siya nang pataba, perpetual na siyang may pondo. (It will grow bigger and bigger, [the festival] has funds in perpetuity.) It will be managed by QC Film Development Commission and the Tourism department, among others,” he said.
BIGGER, BETTER
Festival director Ed Lejano said the thrust on QCinema is diversity. “The grants we give [are big]... When they produce, [the filmmakers] own the rights. We have nothing to do with it. It is investor-friendly kaya maraming pumasok na producers (which is why many producers enter the festival). We have an exciting [lineup from] foreign to Pinoy. It is well curated and diverse,” he told BusinessWorld during the opening night on Oct. 22.
“Bigger and bolder in terms of scale and the number of films. Sana tuloy tuloy na ito (We hope this will be continuous). Quezon City needs a genuine film festival,” said Mr. Lejano.
For the Circle Competition New Filmmakers category, the festival gives a grant of P1 million each to eight aspiring directors. In this year’s Circle Competition lineup are Water Lemon by Lemuel Lorca; Kapatiran by Pepe Diokno; Iisa by Chuck Gutierrez; Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo by Mihk Vergara; Gayuma by Cesar Hernando; Matangtubig by Jet Leyco; Apocalypse Child by Monster Jimenez and Mario Cornejo; and Sleepless by Prime Cruz.
The festival provides a P200,000 grant for the creation of full-length documentary films in the International Documentary category. The selected finalists are: Of Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, and Sashimi by Perry Dizon; The Crescent Rising by Sheron Dayoc; Audio Perpetuaby Universe Baldoza; Traslacion: Ang Paglakad sa Altar ng Alanganin by Will Fredo; andBingat by Choy Pangilinan, Qubry Quesada, Joolia Demigillo, and Abet Umil.
The awards night for the films in competition is on Oct. 28.
Aside from the competition films, the festival is showing more than 15 local and international films, along with digitally re-mastered iconic movies including Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada 70; Oro, Plata, Mata by Peque Gallaga; Bagong Buwan by Marilou Diaz-Abaya; and Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? by Eddie Romero, all thanks to the partnership with ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project.
DABOY DOCUMENTARY
The festival opened in Oct. 22 with the screening of The Last Pinoy Action King, a portrait film about the life and death of action star Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez. It was co-directed by Australian filmmakers Andrew Leavold and Daniel Palisa of the documentary The Search for Weng Weng.
Mr. Leavold teaches Filipino film history, while Mr. Palisa has worked on films by Filipino directors Lav Diaz and Khavn de la Cruz. They said that when the action star’s son, Rap Fernandez, proposed the documentary, they said yes right away, “because he (Mr. Fernandez) was a legend.”
“His movies reflect realities and they have a social relevance. Karamihan namamatay siya(he dies in most of them), it’s always a struggle. Unlike the formula of Fernando Poe, Jr., he (Mr. Fernandez) dies fighting for what he believes. Bida- contrabida siya. (He is an anti-hero),” said Mr. Bautista, who worked with Mr. Fernandez when they ran in the local elections of 2001.
Mr. Fernandez, who was running for mayor, did not win.
The documentary weaves together rare photos and TV guestings, movie clips, and interviews with families, friends, costars, and colleagues.
It has screenings on Oct. 28, 6 p.m., at TriNoma Cinema 1, and Oct. 30, 1 p.m., at Galleria Cinema 7,
The film festival runs until Oct. 31 at TriNoma, Gateway Mall, and Robinson’s Galleria cinemas. Students have a 20% discount.
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