Cinemalaya after four years

I am a bona fide Cinemalaya baby. The first feature I ever made was in 2005 with Cinemalaya, and ever since I have been part of this absolutely fresh and fun festival every July. And I have made a few more movies since, which is why I would like to share this constructive, albeit unsolicited feedback. It is only because I care too much about this festival. It is the most important festival we have.

Maybe someone who can make a difference will read this and hear me out:

1. the timetable. I think that filmmakers don’t have enough time to make their movies. all productions can only start after december and must submit their work by the last week of june. six months might sound like ample time but we really have to consider the time that filmmakers need to raise their funds. suggestion: announce your semi-finalist on awards night and announce the finalists by end of september.
2. support first or second time filmmakers only. i know that the aim has always been to discover fresh blood. i actually wouldn’t have minded so much if it were just first-timers but i know that many times, the second movie is just as hard to make…but after that; i think you should already be counted as experienced filmmakers.
3. proponent must have creative control. this has always been a sore point with Cinemalaya. the committee must stop dictating the conditions of the movie. grant-giving bodies such as NCCA, Asian Cinema Fund, Hubert Bals, ITVS will never never tell you that you are not qualified and therefore would need the assistance of a co-director. you give the 500k or you don’t. these funders will give you constant feedback but will not tell you HOW you should make your movie. if you don’t trust the filmmaker to run the show, then don’t give that person a grant. i think it is unfair to dangle the 500 grand with conditions that are outside of the rules and regulations.
4. keep the vision simple. i know very few people with argue with me on this but the most successful and popular cinemalaya to this day is “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, 2005). and yet, it did not follow the “condition” that the committe would ask of its grantees: a big star. cinemalaya must stop controlling the path of a movie. they can only show the way, and not impose.

After that , I would also like to point out why Cinemalaya works and why I will continue to support it:

1. film community. cinemalaya brings together the community like no other local festival can. i love it!
2. it builds fresh filmmakers’ profiles. every year, cinemalaya’s invited programmers just keep getting bigger. filmmakers now have bigger opportunities to be exposed to international fronts. and as with what happened to us, it became the springboard to more movie projects.
3. constant improvement. i think that the festival just keeps getting better. the organizers are not as frantic as they have been a couple of years back. there’s also less bickering in the projection booth.
4. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT…the filmmakers get to own their movies. I think, to those of you who are planning to join festivals…read the fine print. Even if Cinemalaya is only giving 500k, the rest of the money you put in can be considered as an investment. Other organizations may offer much bigger amounts but they are not grants…it’s just money to make THEIR movie. for what?

I say that’s about even…four for four.

to those of you who might want to join next year’s cinemalaya. (note: the official site is always down, if you really really want to join, just email me  so i can send you the file!)