LOCARNO, SWITZERLAND: To be a Spotlight Country in one of the oldest and most prestigious international film festivals like Locarno in Switzerland is an opportune privilege. The Philippines is blessed to have been among the focus countries of this festival's Open Doors program since 2019.

Open Doors, which assists independent filmmaking and showcase films and filmmakers from the South and East, chose to focus on Mongolia and Southeast Asia from 2019 to 2021. This comes with Open Doors Hub for projects seeking international co-productions; Open Doors Lab for creative producers wanting to access the overseas market, and Open Doors Screenings.

The Philippines, through the initiative of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), made its presence felt in Locarno by hosting events and activities that would highlight the country's participation in this very important festival dedicated to auteur cinema.

Thanks to the efforts of our partners from the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland, Filipino filmmakers supported by the festival and FDCP are always given a chance to shine.

PH Cinema in Locarno through the years

FDCP FilmPhilippines-supported projects were featured in Locarno 2019. Petersen Vargas' "Some Nights I Feel Like Walking" made it to Open Doors Hub, and Vietnamese film "Cu Li Never Cries," produced by Bradley Liew of Philippine company Epicmedia Productions, won the Open Doors ArteKino International Prize and Sørfond Award. In Open Doors Lab, Epicmedia CEO Bianca Balbuena-Liew was one of the mentors.

In 2020, we were supposed to officially close the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema celebration in Locarno. Plans have been set since 2018 but the pandemic got in the way.

Nevertheless, Locarno pushed through with the partnership as Philippine Cinema had its biggest online participation with 10 films, three projects, and one featured producer.

Six titles were in the Open Doors Screenings led by "Masahista" by Brillante Mendoza and "Engkwentro" by Pepe Diokno. "Here, Here" by Joanne Cesario was in the Pardi Di Domani section where Kiri Dalena was a jury member.

The Films After Tomorrow featured "Nowhere Near" by Miko Revereza and "Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon" by Lav Diaz while A Journey in the Festival's History featured "Mababangong Bangungot" by National Artist Kidlat Tahimik.

Isabel Sandoval's "Tropical Gothic" and Avid Liongoren's "Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah vs the Amazonistas of Planet X" were selected for Open Doors Hub, where Liongoren's animated project bagged the Development Support Grant worth 14,000 Swiss francs. Producer Kyle Nieva was in Open Doors Lab for "Filipiñana."

This year, we are ending our Spotlight showcase with another formidable delegation, both on-site and online.

"Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (Whether the Wather is Fine)," the first feature film of award-winning filmmaker Carlo Francisco Manatad who has been working on this project for 10 years, has been given the stamp of approval by the most prestigious international film labs and markets such as FDCP's International Co-production Fund. It will have its world premiere in the Filmmakers of the Present Competition. To be a personal witness to how the film has been developed and finally as it premieres, has been truly amazing.

Headlined by Daniel Padilla and Ms. Charo Santos-Concio, the typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) drama filmed in Waray is about Miguel (Padilla) who roams the ruins in search of his mother Norma (Santos-Concio) and friend Andrea. Miguel wants to flee to the big city before another storm approaches.

PH Cinema's diversity and amazing work

In Open Doors Screenings, the non-competition titles are Alyx Ayn Arumpac's "Aswang," Sonny Calvento's "Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss," and Cris Bringas' "Next Picture." "Sam" directed by E Del Mundo and produced by Pamela Reyes is in Open Doors Hub while producer Stelle Laguda is in Open Doors Lab.

Balbuena-Liew continues to be an Open Doors mentor since 2019, and director Rafael Manuel, who won the 2020 Berlinale Shorts Silver Bear Jury Prize for "Filipiñana," is in the Locarno Filmmakers Academy.

FDCP, as a Locarno Match Me! Partner, selected producers Sarah Brakensiek and her project "Letter to Nancy," Patti Lapus with "Goliath," and Micah Tadena with "Inherit" for the program. It is a networking platform for young producers to introduce their companies and projects to potential co-producers.

Up-and-coming creative producers were also selected to participate in Locarno Pro Online. Marvin Lyndon Carmelo Matias, Gale Osorio, Ma. Anna Asuncion-Dagñalan, Anne Prado-Magadia, Real Randolph Joseph Florido, and Alex Poblete complete the slate as virtual participants in the hybrid Locarno 2021.

We have 15 filmmakers on-site in Locarno for the festival that runs until August 14. It's my first time in Locarno, and together with my lean FDCP team, we're showing support for the Philippine delegation while connecting with the movers and shakers of the world's auteur cinema. A luncheon for Filipino filmmakers, in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Bern, plus a Philippine Cinema Night will be held.

With our participation in the 74th Locarno, Open Doors Head Sophie Bourdon remarked during FDCP's send-off press conference for Locarno delegates, "If the Philippines is so strongly represented in the context of our festival this year, this is not just by chance. It does reflect the amazing work and the diversity of cinema that you have been developing for years now."

Importance of PH representation in global cinema

We hold send-offs for delegations to A-list film festivals to support filmmakers as film ambassadors of the country. FDCP provides travel grants and stipends as well as opportunities for meetings and networking.

Previously, some filmmakers would attend film festivals without much attention, quietly competing by themselves overseas where they receive applause and recognition.

FDCP wanted to change this by boosting the Philippine delegation. Industry movers such as Miss Bourdon and other Locarno officials have bolstered this desire because of their tireless passion in embracing Southeast Asian filmmaking.

I have always been inspired by Locarno and Open Doors' support for Southeast Asian Cinema. Providing additional platforms to present our projects allows us to see the value of what we can do and pushes filmmakers to keep on sharing their voices and stories to the world.

Philippine Cinema has benefited from our Locarno participation through the years because local filmmaking is able to meet international standards and resonate with global audiences.

With the collective effort from Filipinos in this year's Locarno, I am confident that our stories can represent the many facets of the Philippines to audiences online and in-person.

The reopening of Piazza Grande, one of the world's largest open-air venues and the very symbol of Locarno, is a triumph in itself, as it signals the impending recovery of global cinema.

Our delegation's collaborative approach is another huge accomplishment already as it boosts the country's reputation in global cinema - an industry brimming with creativity, resilience, and solidarity.

As Philippine Cinema continues to expand overseas, here's to more Filipinos clinching international co-productions and reaching global audiences through Locarno!

Notes from the Chair
The Sunday Times Magazine  - The Manila Times

Notes from the Chair is part of the Arts Awake section of The Sunday Times Magazine published by The Manila Times. Click HERE to view the article on The Manila Times website.