Independent Filmmakers-the hope of Philippine cinema

Films were introduced to the Philippines as early as 1897 but it was only in 1919 that the first Filipino film was produced, Jose Nepomuceno's Dalagang Bukid. Philippine cinema has an interesting history but is currently in crisis. Although there are numerous distinguished filmmakers and notable films, Filipino movies have generally been commercial endeavors targeting the masses. Rising production costs, including exorbitant taxation, competition from big-budgeted foreign movies, piracy, have cut into the profits which led to the decline in the number of movies produced by mainstream studios in the last decade. The hope for the revival of the industry is now being pinned on independent filmmakers.

In 1977, an unknown director named Kidlat Tahimik won the International Critic's Prize at the Berlin Film Festival for his work Mababangong Bangungot (Perfumed Nightmare). This heralded the arrival of alternative cinema. Out of short film festivals sponsored by the University of the Philippines Film Center and by the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, other young filmmakers made movies that defined mainstream cinema's commercial approach to filmmaking and focused on works that "probe deeper into the human being and into society". Nick Deocampo's Oliver (1983) and Raymond Red's Ang Magpakailanman (The Eternal, 1983) received attention in international festivals.

Independent Fil-am filmmakers were likewise starting to catch people's attention. Stephanie Castillo, a former newspaper journalist, has been developing television documentaries full-time since 1989. In 1992, her company completed its first documentary as a co-production with Hawaii Public Television. Simple Courage, which dealt with Hawaii's leprosy epidemic and Fr. Damien's heroic intervention, won a Regional Emmy in 1993 as well as many national awards. Among her past work as lead writer and co-producer is An Untold Triumph: The Story of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments, U.S. Army. Narrated by Fil-am actor Lou Diamond Phillips, this award winning documentary premiered in 2003. It revealed the previously untold story of how these regiments, composed of 7000 immigrants and sons of immigrants, played a crucial role in Gen. McArthur's plan to retake the Philippines.

David Maquiling's debut feature Too Much Sleep(1997) became a part of the prestigious Shooting Gallery Loews Cineplex Entertainment Film Series and in 2000. It joined other acclaimed independent films that were shown at Loews Multiplex theaters in 16 U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles. As such, he became the first fil-am to receive national distribution in the U.S.

Imelda, a documentary on former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos by US-based Ramona Diaz received an Excellence in Cinematography award and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Slow Jam King, the debut feature of filmmaker and musician Steven Mallorca won the Asian Cinevision' Emerging Director Award (2004), and was picked up for distribution by United Pictures International.

Independent filmmakers are hampered by limited funding not only during production but also in distribution. It was only through sheer determination that The Debut, which was initially conceived as Gene Cagayon's thesis project at Loyola Marymount University, finally became a full-feature film, premiering 8 years later. After it's success in the festival circuit, the production team took it on a theatrical tour, driving their own cars to 15 cities in the U.S. and using grassroots promotional techniques to entice the Asian-american audience to view the film. Grossing $1.8 million in the box office, it became one of the most successful self-distributed movie in independent film history. It has since then been shown in movie theaters in the Philippines and is now available for purchase on DVD. An interesting footnote to the saga, is that the line-producer for the film, Pia Clemente, is the first Fil-am woman to be nominated for the Academy Awards (Our Time is Up: Best Live Action Short Film, 78th Academy Awards).

Still, it would be hard to catch any of these fil-am movies in your neighborhood theater. Unless they are available on DVD, your best bet would be at one of the film festivals around the country.

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 13 – 23, 2008), which featured 113 works honored one Fil-Am, Ron Morales, with the Special Jury Award for his narrative Santa Mesa, in a tie with John Kwon's Always Be Boyz.

The Asian American International Film Festival just held in New York City (July, 2008) featured several works by Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. One, Director Mark Reyes' 17 minute film God Only Knows was nominated for the Excellence in Short Filmmaking Award.

Other upcoming festivals featuring fil-am movies:
The Asian Film Festival of Dallas, Aug. 14-21, 2008.
Hawaii International Film Festival, Aug. 22-24, 2008.
DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, Sept. 25-Oct. 4, 2008.
San Diego Asian Film Festival, Oct. 9-16, 2008.