Level-Up in Pinoy Digital Film-making

While our leaders muck up the political scene, we Indios (as DJB would describe us), are looking for ways to perk us up. I know our greyish landscape seems to attract more gloom than usual, but, hey, we still have our Charise Pempengcos to be proud of. 

And of course, there's our heady bunch of digital film makers. They are the new painters of Pinoy life.

Not everybody knows about the rising influence of digital filmmakers in the global scene. If you still don't know, our digital film mavericks are creating huge waves in the international arena. They are showing the beautiful amongst us and the dark and murky slice of Pinoy life before audiences around the world. Thousands stood up when a Pinoy indie film was shown in Cannes and it brought so much accolade that the reverberations of it are still being heard throughout the world.

Here, everything is silent, because most of us are concerned about rising prices of food and fluctuations on oil prices. We are busy working to get more money. 

Come September 30, let's digress a little bit and show some support for our digital film-makers. 

.MOV (dot-mov) - the first digital film festival in the country – is a week long festival that will showcase innovative films from independent filmmakers both from the local and international arena starting September 30 to October 4, 2008 at Robinsons Movieworld, Robinsons Galleria.

Digital Dekalogo 10x10
.Mov will have an exhibition of ten of the very best local and international independently produced digital features explained through ten local filmmakers with aims of mentoring the Filipino audience to appreciate world cinema with an expert's eye and Filipino sensibilities.

Tribute.Mov
Cineastes would look forward to is .MOV's tribute to local filmmaking mavericks – Lav Diaz, Roxlee and Kidlat Tahimik - with a book, CD and DVD launch plus premiers of Melancholia, Green Rocking Chair, and Maikli at Tahimik.

Retrospective.Mov
A retrospective on the wild, wired, digital world of prominent movers in digital film making with this year’s theme of Extreme Cinema Wasakero that highlights films and filmmakers that challenge the norm with the themes of their movies.

Shorts.Mov
The inaugural event will also have a program called Shorts.MOV, a showcase of the best digital short films in the world from two of the most prestigious international short film festivals, Clemont-Ferrand (France) and Oberhausen (Germany)

Silvershorts
A short film competition for students and professionals that range from narrative, experimental, documentary, animation and music video. Finalists for the student category include: 123, Anomi, June 9, Kamatis, Kumot, Papelove, Pisi, Stop, Play and Pause, Ultra and Publico Makata. Finalists for the open category include: # Café, Ambulancia, Ampo, Andong, Libingan, Nekro, Saling Pusa, The Prayer, Tiangge and VTR.

Film Concert.Mov
A special programming of rare, out-of-print Filipino classic films scored live by the country's most recognized independent bands like Radioactive Sago Project, Pedicab, and Queso, will be featured with a digital twist that underscores the festival's aim to showcase film's ever changing language.

Cinemo: Young Artists Initiative
To develop a new breed of filmmakers to follow these legends' footsteps, .MOV will have workshops led by world-renowned industry experts as well as a young critics' initiative that focuses on teaching how to write about films by tackling a new wave of criticism, retrospection, and commentary on films to help artists to interface with the international community.

So, my friends from all over, please support them. Just be there when they launch this festival and maybe, just maybe, you'll be part of something new, something beautiful the next time around.

To you guys, the best of luck!
.MOV is the first digital film festival in the Philippines. Dedicated to the exhibition and promotion of digital filmmaking, the festival spotlights the future of filmmaking with a dynamic line-up of film screenings, in-depth panel discussions and hands-on technology presentations. Sponsored by Filmless Films, Robinsons Movieworld, Swiftsure Group and Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. For more information visit http://www.movfest.com or email dotmov@gmail.com

Level-Up in Philippine politics

Over at newphilippines.newsvine.com, there's an interesting insight on Philippine politics. Almost all institutions of government are being attacked. Over at the Senate, things are starting to get interesting, as seven senators signed a resolution asking for an investigation against Senate President Manny Villar. Villar got involved allegedly in inserting 200 million pesos for a similar road improvement project which has been previously allocated in the 2007 budget. Another anomaly, this time involving the sale of right-of-way of one of Villar's real estate company, Brittany, has got the goat of Villar. Today, he called for a press conference austensibly to clear his name. But, the People want blood. And blood they would surely get should the senate continue its probe on his alleged deals with government while occupying the Chamber's high post.

Another guy whose in hot water now is Speaker Prospero Nograles. There's an apparent coup plan against the 7-month old Speaker, reportedly hatched by Malacanang's hatchet man, DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno. Nograles' handlers tried to downplay this but today, Nograles announced that he'll be doing the rounds. He'll be "consulting" with Lakas-Kampi members on their possible choice for presidential candidate come 2010. Surely, these consultations are being done to determine whether there's cracks in the Lakas-Kampi party.

As if this is not enough, Malacanang is also being attacked. UP Professor Harry Roque has accused Trade Secretary Peter Favila of again selling out Philippine patrimony. Roque said Favila should be investigated for granting a mining deal with TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRM ZTE. What's so anomalous about this is this--what's the expertise of ZTE in this mining thing? They're suppliers of telecommunications equipment. Do they have a record in mining? Obviously, they don't have anything to prove they're competent.

Plus of course, we must not forget the bribery scandal involving the Court of Appeals justices. CA Justice Vicente Roxas has just been axed and he's crying "politics". Roxas told ABS-CBN that he's been singled out when it was Justice Jose Sabio who admitted having received a call from his brother, PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio and also admitted having received a bribe offer from businessman De Borja. The DOJ has called for a deeper probe and in the next few days, we'll see the prosecution of the Lopezes who owns Meralco.

What's happening? It seems that there's some "cleansing" going on. Malacanang is trying to neutralize possible opposition come 2010 while reconsolidating its forces. Why? What's the reason? To weaken political forces? For what?