Filipino Indie Films: A Huge Draw At The Tills
By Excel V. Dyquiangco
No one saw it coming. With the high costs of making a movie, producers opt to churn out movies that have low costs, minimal working hours and days for both staff and crew and yet, still star big-budgeted actors and actress, with tight storylines and top caliber and quality directors at the helm. And so: the Filipino independent films, or better known as Pinoy indie films, have begun.
Indie films are generally similar to big-budgeted movie productions except that their cost is limited and that they don’t have huge productions companies to back them up. And these films also have limited distribution in theatres nationwide.
With such indie films as Lav Diaz’s “Batang West Side”, Maryo J. Delos Reyes’ “Magnifico”, and Ramona Diaz’s controversial “Imelda”, it is not quite far that these indie films will not only be recognized here, but also abroad.
Among the successful independent films that were generally applauded here and abroad are:
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros by Auereus Solitos, about a young boy who discovers his yearning for the same sex. It reaped the Best Film Award at the Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore, and the Golden Zenith Award for Best Fiction Film at the 2005 Montreal World Film Festival, before taking the trophy for Best Feature Film Award at the Berlin Film International Festival.
Ang Kubrador by Jeffrey Jeturian, about the story of a female bet collector whose nobility remained intact despite the many hardships in her life. It won all the major awards at the 8th Osian’s Cine Fan Film Festival in New Delhi, India, including Best Film and Best Actor for Ms. Gina Pareno.
Rigodon by Sari Dalena and Keith Sicat, a story of three immigrant Filipino workers following the 9/11 incident. The film won the Best Feature Film Award during the 8th International Panorama in Athens, Greece. The film was also recently shown at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC and was also invited to be screened at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.
Donsol by Adolf Alix, a story of two people who fell in love despite failed relationships. It received the Special Jury Prize in the Asian Marine Film Festival in Makuhari, Japan and was also part of the Dominican Republic International Film Festival.
Rugby Boyz by Khavn Dela Cruz, a story on Filipino boys playing a game of rugby or soccer. The film received a Special Mention from the Jury of the Minister President of North-Rhine Westphalia of the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival in Germany. The film was also shown at the Shoot Me Film Festival, The Hague, Netherland and at the 13th Barcelona Independent Film Festival.
With prestigious awards such as these being handed out to Filipino independent films and filmmakers in international awards, more award-winning films are sure to come.
And definitely, more producers and directors would dabble more into the unknown – experimenting and discovering new stuff that would make their films not just up for international awards but films that are worth seeing and worth every cent.
So expect the Filipino independent film industry to only flourish giving us Filipno moviegoers some quality movies for once.
Tags: Filipino Independent Films, Philippine Movies, Philippine Movie Industry, Pinoy Movies
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About Excel Dyquiangco: Excel V. Dyquiangco works as a writer for an advocacy and consultancy firm in Makati City. During his spare time, he writes stories for children, writes for various magazines catering to different topics, writes textbooks for elementary and highschool students and formulates scripts for television and movies. He also teaches English to Korean, Burmese and Indonesian students. He was recently featured in Reader's Digest Asia, with the headline CASH NOW: SECRETS OF SUCCESS, which discusses his work as a writer..
09 Mar 2007 Excel Dyquiangco