DEKADA CINEMANILA : AS THE BULOL STOPS WISHING: THE
FIRST TEN YEARS OF CINEMANILA
It has been a decade since the Bulol was first
associated with excellence in filmmaking, ten years since the deity
whose presence ensures good harvest became the icon for the dream of
presenting the best of Filipino films to world cinema audiences and
of world cinema to the Filipino audience. This October, as the
Cinemanila International Film Festival marks its tenth anniversary,
the time has come for that decade-old dream to give way to another.
Since its inception in 1999, Cinemanila has become
the launching pad for the new breed of Filipino filmmakers. Past
winners went on to create waves in both the local and international
arenas. Gawad Urian awardee Mes de Guzman and Cannes scholar Raya
Martin are but only two of the prestigious alumni of the festival's
Young Cinema Competition. The competition was also one of the first
to recognize John Torres, now a Gawad Urian Awardee and recipient of
the Fipresci-Netpac Award from Singapore.
Cinemanila has also been at the forefront in
recent developments in local cinema. The festival, in cooperation
with 8arts.com in Singapore, launched the very first digital film
festival in Manila and
Southeast Asia in 2000. Four years later, Cinemanila paved the way
for
the 1st Boracay Co-Production Meeting together with the Hubert Bals
fund of Rotterdam IFF and the Goteborg Film Festival. Since then,
the Boracay Co-prod has provided grants to the likes of acclaimed
Filipino
filmmaker Lav Diaz (Heremias) and Raya Martin (Glint of an Alley in
a Rush).
Many prominent figures have also graced the
festival's annual celebration, infusing Cinemanila with a dose of
prominence and credibility. Christopher Doyle, famed cinematographer
of Hero and In the Mood for Love, gave a workshop during the
festival's initial run. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, recipient of India's
highest national honor for lifetime achievement in cinema and the
French Top Honor for culture, was given a grand Filipino welcome the
same year.
In 2003, Cinemanila welcomed Fil-Am Hollywood
celebrities Tia Carrere and Lou Diamond Phillips. A year before
that, Jeremy Segay of Cannes' Director's Fortnight graced the
festival as Rob Nilsson (Caméra d'Or winner for Northern Lights) and
Pierre-William Glenn (Un fil a la patte, Cette femme-la) conducted
direct cinema and cinematography workshops respectively. The year
2004 saw internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi
gracing the 5th edition of the festival.
Founder of the Pusan International Film Festival
Kim Dong-Ho was present in 2005 to receive a Lifetime Achievement
Award. The same award was bestowed to Aruna Vasudev,
founder-president of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC),
and Philip Cheah, founding
festival director of the Singapore International Film Festival, the
following year. And just last year, Cinemanila received American
cult icon Quentin Tarantino and HSH Chatrichalerm Yukol, film
director and member of the Thai Royal Family. Esteemed
representatives from foreign film festivals were likewise present
which include Olivier Pere, artistic director, Director's Fortnight,
Cannes Film Festival; Ansgar Vogt, selection member, Berlin
International Film Festival Forum Program; and Wieland Speck,
director, Panorama Program, Berlin< International Film Festival.
Truly, the road to the tenth edition is marked by
outstanding contributions and undeniable accomplishments. And the
fact that Cinemanila has reached a decade is another achievement by
itself. The past ten years encompasses a relentless cause fueled by
enthusiasm, dedication, hard work, optimism and yes, even luck. Just
as it proclaimed during its humble beginning, Cinemanila still
remains steadfast in its advocacy of promoting world cinema to the
Philippines and vice versa – of promoting Philippine cinema to the
world.
Today, Cinemanila can firmly stake claim to being
the country's premiere international film festival. No more wishing
for Cinemanila to bridge the gap between the Philippines and what
world cinema has to offer. This dream may have taken almost a decade
to be realized but it was a journey well worth it. Now as another
edition approaches, Cinemanila welcomes another set of challenges.
It has also set its sight on another dream, to put the Philippines
back on the world cinema map. And just like it has done for the past
ten years, the Bulol looks on, expectant of another decade filled
bountifully with excellent Filipino films.
Dekada Cinemanila, the 10th edition of the
Cinemanila International Film Festival will run from October 16-29
at Gateway Cineplex 10, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City,
Philippines. -LNP
