By NOEL D. FERRER
The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) is currently taking place in Los Angeles until February 2, in the first international version of the local Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). MIFF also marks the first US festival dedicated exclusively to the celebration of Philippine cinema.
The 10 MMFF films will be shown during MIFF at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood until February 1. On February 2, the closing night awards gala will take place at the Directors Guild of America.
The 10 films are Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette”; Lemuel C. Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip”; Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story)”; Zig Dulay’s “Firefly”; Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa”; King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon”; Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari”; Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko”; Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind”; and Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo.”
The actors set to participate at the MIFF for the screenings, Q&As, and other events include John Arcilla, Piolo Pascual, Eugene Domingo, Dingdong Dantes, Alden Richards, Enchong Dee, Cedrick Juan, Beauty Gonzalez, Janella Salvador, Ysabel Ortega, Christian Bables and Christopher de Leon.
People from out of town, including friends, have travelled to Los Angeles to experience the highlights of this very 1st Manila International Film Festival, including:
A talk-back session after the showing of the movies. Aside from watching the beautifully curated films in the festival, there will be an attempt at audience education through a dialog and a Q&A with the filmmakers and the viewers;
A talk about “Breaking into the Hollywood Industry: A Filipino Actors’ Perspective in a Conversation” sponsored by FilAm Arts with SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) panel;
Eye-to-eye with award-winning cinematographers, a forum beyond great technicals;
A how-to campaign for the awards season for organizers who are in Golden Globes and Oscars campaigns;
“Shoot Your Next Film/TV Series In The Philippines with the MMDA and the Metro Manila Mayors,” a roundtable discussion of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP);
The Awards Gala, the Red Carpet, the after-party at the Directors Guild of America which will attempt to approximate and even top the Golden Globes and even Oscars experience;
Manila Inasal of outstanding Pinoy composer Dodjie Simon will serve the best of Filipino food during the events;
Filipino films being featured in “Inside Edition” and a lot of international media programs and platforms which is key in promoting Filipino stories in different territories;
The Lifetime Achievement Award to be bestowed to one of our favorite Filipino actresses of all time – Hilda Koronel – and the possibility of convincing her to do more timeless pieces on the screen again;
And the greatest fulfillment in this is the concerted effort of everyone – artists, filmmakers, film workers, private institutions, even school and the religious with an active community of film supporters and audiences plus government – working hand-in-hand in making the Filipino film industry alive, dynamic and vibrant once again.
These are the things we look forward to the 1st Manila International Film Festival on the road to the 50th anniversary of the Metro Manila Film Festival, the biggest, most popular, most anticipated and most successful local festival in our country. May we be able to continue the momentum here in L.A.
