Quezon City as Southeast Asia film hub?

Quezon City, the home of major film and broadcast corporations in the country, is being groomed as a film capital in Southeast Asia. In line with this, the city government launched the QCinema International Film Festival, which will showcase critically acclaimed movies from across the globe in special screenings starting Nov. 5 to 11.

The films include “52 Tuesday” (Australia), “Ida” (Poland), “Jauja” (Argentina), “Leviathan” (Russia), “Mommy” (Canada), “The Don Juans” (Czech Republic) and “Two Days, One Night” (Belgium) and “Lilet Never Happened” (The Netherlands).

Another section is a tribute to South Korean master filmmaker Park Chan-wook, where the popular “The Vengeance Trilogy” (consists of “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,” “Oldboy” and “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”) will be shown locally for the first time.

“Kaya international film fest is because we want to partner with other countries. Sa mga darating na panahon, we want them to go to Quezon City and make (it) known as a film hub of Southeast Asia, at least for the region. Not just Bangkok na kilalang-kilala na for that. We want to be known regionally and globally as a film hub of culture and arts,” said Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Meanwhile, Leo Martinez, director general of Film Academy of the Philippines, believes that the city can already be considered the country’s film hub, noting that “halos lahat ng production companies and television stations, nandito. Wala namang city na merong ganyan karaming producers.”

He supports the city’s effort in boosting the film industry that, in turn, creates job.

Along with the international films, the festival highlights 11 indie films that received grants from the QC government.

Leading the batch is the Tessie Tomas-starrer “Alienasyon,” which received a P2 million production grant.

According to a press release, “Alienasyon” is “a story of retired university professor who refuses to leave home in the campus despite an administrative order for eviction.” The story highlights the old professor’s reminisce of the history of his homeland.

“Pinupukaw (ng ‘Alienasyon’) ’yung sense of history natin. He (director Arnel Mardoquio) digs deeper in the film. Mabibigat ang mga pelikulang ginagawa niya, laging ipinapasok ang sense of history natin kung gaano kaganda; kung gaano kagiting ang mga Pinoy mula nu’ng Japanese occupation hanggang ngayon,” Tomas said.

Funding aside, the government also gives the production companies full ownership of the films, giving them the ability to independently market their own film after the festival.

Tomas lauds this setup, noting, “Itinuturing ko ang sarili kong isa sa pinaka-unang supporters ng indie film kasi marami-rami na akong nagawa (na indie films), mga 12 na. Natutuwa ako na talagang yumabong siya,” Tomas said.

Happy for the effort to give our films a global reach, she added, “‘Yung mga filmmakers , they should really see the potential behind the artistry of film, na gamitin ito bilang tool upang iparating sa mundo ang mga pinagdadananang paghihirap ng mga tao.”

Along with “Alienasyon,” other films that received production grants from Quezon City were “1st ko si 3rd,” “Nick and Chai,” “Tigbao,” “Cemetery Life,” “Tres,” “Tila,” “Ang Nanay ni Justin Barber,” “Senior,” “Bonifacio” and “Sa Ngalan ni Ultimate Warrior.”

Quezon City as Southeast Asia film hub?

Source: Mb.com.ph (October 31, 2014 at 05:00PM)

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