Art and fashion always mix, and so when my cousin asked me if she can be considered an artist, I easily said yes! She is a fashionista (a colloquial term meaning someone who is so into fashion) to begin with. But being into fashion doesn’t guarantee one to being an artist! There is a long trail of hard work, positive craziness and certain gift that one will become an artist.

Like all other crafts, fashion should be honed and practice. One should expose herself into different teachings, facts, literature – all to widen his or her sensibility. This of cannot be done with reading a single book, or watching an art film, nor attending a fashion crash course! One has to study it!

And then she asked me where she would study. Without a doubt I told her that she should choose from any New York fashion schools! New York is great city, it is simply the center of the world! She can easily find a fashion school in New York that will teach her what she needs and what she does not. So I told her to go online to check the schools and universities where fashion is treated like a real art. There are a number of fashion schools New York where she can choose. This is simply her best step towards artistry!

True to form to their themes of love and its different vagaries, filmmakers Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos follow up their highly-acclaimed debut film ILUSYON (Rated A 2005, Cinemanila IFF 2006, Pusan IFF 2006) with the tragic tale of Rommel in Selda.

SELDA tells the story of the friendship that develops between two prison inmates, Rommel (Sid Lucero) and Esteban (Emilio Garcia), who acts as his friend and protector. After their jail term, however, their attempt to define and explore the boundaries of their relationship leads to tragedy.

Selda is a return to classicist forms and delivers a stylish, deliberately- paced treatise on love. At moments strange, Selda is a sublime and disquieting portrait of a young man whose search for
happiness, innocence and true love is laden with guilt and doubt.

Starring Ara Mina, Emilio Garcia and Sid Lucero with Michael De Mesa, Allan Paule, Soliman Cruz, Ping Medina, Raul Morit and Hector Macaso.

SOME REVIEWS:

"A gem of a daring work"

-Clodualdo Del Mundo, screenwriter, Batch '81, Kisapmata

"Sid Lucero gives one of the best performances of the year and Emilio Garcia gives the best performance of his career. Sid, Emilio and Ara Mina complete the story of this powerful movie on how it is to be imprisoned by social dictates"
–Butch Francisco, The Philippine Star

"Powerful and disturbing. An outstanding performance from Sid Lucero"
–Raymond Red, Cannes Short Film Winner

"(An) outstanding film…Sid Lucero, Emilio Garcia, Ara Mina and Michael De Mesa deliver powerful performances. A riveting, must-see drama."
-Rito Asilo, Philippine Daily Inquirer

"Selda is a beautifully filmed masterpiece. Sid Lucero, Emilio Garcia and Ara Mina are brilliant"
–Christine Dayrit, CEB Chair

"One of the more compelling movies released of late…Villaluna and Ramos know how to frame a shot to catch the viewer's attention…the cast are at the peak of their acting prowess…a subdued potential love triangle brews with deadly sexual tension… the last line (in Selda) still echoes in our head months after the disc faded out."
-Juaniyo Arcellana, The Philippine Star

"Engrossing! Wonderful performances"
–Mario Hernando, Urian Manunuri

"An intelligent and thought-provoking film. Sid and Emilio are superb. Cinematography is great. Michael De Mesa is excellent…"
–Dr.Jaime Ang, Gawad Tanglaw

"A disquieting examination of connected tragedies…quite versed in the nuances of cinematic language…somber and substantial…a solid and darkly potent work…expertly photographed… Sid Lucero is simply electrifying, Emilio Garcia is a revelation."
–Oliver Pulumbarit, Philippine Daily Inquirer

"An engrossing story. Villaluna and Ramos manifest their keen visual sense as they have done in Ilusyon. Another noteworthy achievement is in the performances. Very impressive."
–Cinema Evaluation Board

"Sid is the best young actor of this generation. His wonderful performance in Selda shows his range… and it has been sometime since we got to see Michael de Mesa in a good movie. His role (in Selda) might just win him his next acting trophy."
–Prof. Ed Pangilinan, Manila Times

"Sid is definitely one of the most competent young actors we have today and his sensitivity and intensity shines in Selda…and Emilio projects the right sensibility in portraying a quiet enigmatic man who's palpably smouldering inside. If only for their fine performances, Selda is already worthseeing. "
–Mario Bautista, Film Critic

Jasper Chavez Zarzuela's documentary "Tunay na Buhay?" will be screened at the 2nd Cinevita film festival on March 6, 4 P.M., at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.

The Cinevita festival, which focuses on positive, life-affirming features, short films, and documentaries, is organized by The Varsitarian, official student publication of UST, and Institute of Religion, with the UST Journalism Society, UST Literary Society, and Concilium Philosophiae.

"Tunay na Buhay?" is a documentary which focuses on a child (Jessa) that belongs to a typical Filipino family. The father, an ice cream vendor, earns for the family, and the mother takes care of it.

The film portrays the family's everyday life and struggles through the point of view of a child. It shows the depth of understanding and the psychological profile that developed on a particular subject due to the environment, circumstances and realities that surround her.

"Tunay na Buhay?" was nominated for a Gawad Urian, with Ditsi Carolino's "Bunso" edging it for the award, and won second place for documentary in the UP Film and Video Awards.

The documentary was one of the entries selected to screen at ABC 5's "Dokyu: Ang Bagong Mata ng Pinoy Documentaries" during its very first season. It later made the rounds of universities and colleges in Metro Manila as part of the Dokyu campus tour.

Zarzuela, a graduate of the UP Film Institute, is now a freelance photographer and also works on several film-related projects.

Ateneo BlueREP presents

BAT BOY The Musical

A dark and funny critically-acclaime d rock musical about love and
mutilation.

Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe
Story and Book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming

Direction by Robbie Guevara

Friday, March 7, 8:00pm and Saturday, March 8, 2:00 & 8:00pm

Fine Arts Exhibit Hall, Gonzaga Hall, Ateneo de Manila University

This production is brought to you by Havaianas and Orange Segment,
the official print media partner of BAT BOY, together with KC De
Venecia Foundation, Mary Grace, and Tree's Company

The Joy Of Painting – every painter feels it but not probably the same way as Bob Ross did, the quintessential “happy” landscape painter who use to do painting demos on US TV PBS and broadcasted on local channel RPN 9. For everything he accomplishes in 30 minutes flat, it’s been all the same – the same snow-capped mountains, the same calm waves that are more velvet-like, the stick-thin trees rendered with a sharp edge of the palette knife, the flusterry clouds, the mossy foliage produced by a quick whip of a fan brush – configurable in pigments Bob Ross himself also manufactures, in sap green, van dyke brown, Prussian blue and midnight black. The landscapes are obviously from the Northern hemisphere, but the solitariness and ultra placid calm that would’ve been utopian are more eerie, unworldly, unsafe if only for the conspicuous absence of other creatures like people or even animals. Seeing all of them in succession would’ve made you think that Bob Ross as a hippie visionary who disdains human contact.

It is from this premise that Jayson Oliveria focuses on his latest series of paintings featured in his exhibit at Mag:net Katipunan entitled Truth Adjustment. Six of which are direct copies from Bob Ross instructional book The Joy of Painting, but with some adjustments – a naked boy pissing at the foaming waves in the dark night while a black dog perched on a rocky cliff does the same thing; a huge anaconda blocks the road to a humble cottage set in a peach melba sunset; a plastic-torch- bearing retard Olympian runs over a frozen lake in a snowy mauve haze. These elements, again downloaded from the internet, are Photoshopped in the scenes to emphasize the perilous nature of these landscapes if they ever existed, but made more ridiculous by their placement in such. This becomes another tactic for Oliveria to orchestrate yet another absurdist theatrics of The Sublime which is usually associated with Landscape painting, (and as the progenitor of abstract painting in its sweeping universality.)

Oliveria’s plaster casts of miniature tombstones, 50 in all, with various concepts and seemingly “big” words painted on each (e.g. black holes, exploration, hopes and dreams, history) somewhat pins down the curse on such sublimity, a sublimity too burdened by a lot of concepts, history, and “artistic license” (whatever the hell that means). Art has thus become an omen for nature and through which we can only see grotesqueness in its representation of its demise or destruction or even its perfection. But as to quote another artist, “grotesque only applies to humans, there is no such thing in the natural world” (Robert Langenegger, Jan 25, 2008 Youngstar) and to which Oliveria exultantly rejoins to such supposition : “In that case, painters are naturally grotesque”. And that’s probably the source of the joy of painting, to be ceaselessly confronted by such.

Truth Adjustment will be on view from March 8 to 27, 2008

Brillante Mendoza's fourth full-length feature "Foster Child," which has won three international awards so far, will be the opening film in the 2nd Cinevita film festival on March 5, 9 A.M., at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex, University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila.

The Cinevita festival, which focuses on positive, life-affirming features, short films, and documentaries, is organized by The Varsitarian, official student publication of UST, and Institute of Religion, with the UST Journalism Society, UST Literary Society, and Concilium Philosophiae. Mendoza's "Tirador" (Slingshot) will also be screened on March 7, 3 P.M.

"Foster Child," produced by Robbie Tan's Seiko Films, won the Prix de la Fiction (Prize for Fiction) at the Festival International du Film d'Environnement (International Environmental Film Festival) in Paris, France, Best Actress award for Cherry Pie Picache in the 9th Osian's Cinefan International Film Festival in India, and the Special Jury award in Eurasia (Kazakhstan) .

Picache, which has caught the attention of international film critics once again for her portrayal of a foster mother, is expected to attend the open forum after the screening. The film also stars Eugene Domingo, Jiro Manio, Alwyn Uytingco, Dan Alvaro, Kristofer
King, and Kier Segundo.

Mendoza, who also directed "Masahista" (The Masseur), "Kaleldo" (Summer Heat), and "Manoro" (The Aeta Teacher), will be attending the Las Palmas International Film Festival in Spain where "Foster Child" will vie for the Golden Lady Harimaguada award. He will also receive the "Someone to Watch" award from the Cleveland International Film Festival in the US. He will be back in the country on March 19 to shoot his next full-length feature project.

Ralston Jover, who wrote the script of Centerstage Productions' "Foster Child," "Manoro," "Tirador," and MLR Films' award-winning film "Kubrador," all under the supervision of script
consultant Armando "Bing" Lao, will be at the Fribourg International Film Festival until March 10. He is set to direct his own digital feature "Bakal Boys."

"Foster Child," which was shown in last year's Cannes Film Festival Director's Fortnight, will also compete at the Durban International Film Festival in South Africa, where Picache previously won another Best Actress award for "Kaleldo," in July. It has also been invited to screen at this year's New Directors, New Films in New York. It previously competed at the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival and opened the 3rd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

One of Gawad Tanglaw's Best Films for 2007, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Screenplay and the Young Critics Circle Film Desk 2007 Best Picture and Best Screenplay awardee, "Foster Child" is a narrative of the day when a Filipino family in the slums has to say goodbye to their three-year old foster child John-John because an American couple has come to adopt him.

"Foster Child" was recently released theatrically in France by its distributor Ad Vitam under its French title "John John." It will also be shown theatrically in the United Kingdom under another
distributor Peccadillo Pictures, according to Ferdie Lapuz of Ignatius Films, Canada.

In a welcome twist to celebrate the International Women’s Day, The UP Film Institute holds this Saturday, 8 March 2008, at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. the premiere of Seksing Pinay—a full-length collection of sizzling clips from the sexy flicks produced by Leo Films.

Narrated by Roy Alvarez, the unique big-screen engagement weaves together deleted footage from films topbilled by bold stars spanning three decades to examine the phenomenon of sex in the movies and the depiction of women in sex-oriented roles. Project director is Armando Reyes with consultant Cesar Aquino and editing supervisor Jeff de Vera. Screening is strictly for mature audiences.

How can uncut, adult-oriented films be socially relevant especially at a time of political crisis? Please go to Cine Adarna starting March 5 to find out.

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) hosts a film festival titled “Director’s Cut: Mga Eksenang Dapat Mong Nakita Pero…” from March 5 to 7 at the Cine Adarna in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Opening cocktails are scheduled at 4 p.m. on March 5 (Wednesday) at the UP Cine Adarna lobby.

Nine controversial films will be shown for three days. These are the uncut versions of Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (directed by Joel Lamangan), Laman (Maryo J. de los Reyes), Ang Lalake sa Parola (Jay Altarejos), Duda/Doubt (Cris Pablo), Rome and Juliet (Connie Macatuno), Twilight Dancers (Mel Chionglo), La Vida Rosa (Chito Roño), Tuhog (Jeffrey Jeturian) and Live Show (Jose Javier Reyes). De los Reyes, Pablo, Macatuno, Roño and Jeturian are graduates of UP CMC.

Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (March 5, 5 p.m.) is about a woman, traumatized by the massacre of her family in the 1970s, who plans revenge on the responsible military officer. Laman (March 5, 7 p.m.) focuses on a young couple’s problems mainly caused by a rich businesswoman who lusts for the husband and a gigolo who seduces the wife. Ang Lalake sa Parola (March 5, 9 p.m.) tells the story of a lighthouse caretaker in a conservative rural community who falls in love with another man.

Duda/Doubt (March 6, 5 p.m.) is a tale of infidelity in a relationship between two men while Rome and Juliet (March 6, 7 p.m.) is a romantic journey of two women caught in a web of forbidden love. Twilight Dancers (March 6, 9 p.m.) is about a macho dancer who is pressured to “dance” to the tune of the new global economy.

La Vida Rosa (March 7, 5 p.m.) revolves around a couple’s dangerous life as con artists. Tuhog (March 7, 7 p.m.) is a disturbing yet entertaining movie within a movie where a mother and daughter are abused twice – first by a rapist who happens to be a family member and then by incompetent filmmakers. Live Show (March 7, 9 p.m.) is a story of poor Filipinos forced to perform sexual acts in front of paying customers.

An open forum with the director and other guests follows every screening of the film.

Tickets are priced at P200 for each film, but students with valid IDs can pay only P100. A festival pass which allows one to view all nine films costs P1,000.

The sponsors of the Director’s Cut film festival are Microdata Systems and Management, Globe Telecom, Philippine Airlines, Cravings, Strategic Organizational Services Philippines (Stratos) and the UP Centennial Commission.

The film festival is part of UP’s centennial celebration. For ticket inquiries and other details, please contact Dr. Arminda V. Santiago or Prof. Ma. Rosel San Pascual at (632) 920-6864 or (632) 920-6867.

When Timawa Meets Delgado @ Robinsons Galleria on March 12-18, 2008

Directed by Ray Defante Gibraltar
Photography by Oscar Nava
Poetry by J.I.E. Teodoro
Produced by ON Creative Production

This unconventional story revolves around the unconventional lives of JUN DELGADO and RUBEN TIMAWA and their American dream.

Jun Delgado, on one hand is a self-proclaimed filmmaker whose parents and siblings are already in America, decides to enroll in nursing after breaking up with his girlfriend who is pestering him
to do something with his life, to earn money, and live a normal life. Delgado also dabbles into video coverage of weddings, baptisms, and funerals, and pornography to earn his living.

Ruben Timawa, on the other hand is a gay literature teacher and a Palanca award-winning writer, decides to enroll in nursing when the object of his desire, a supposed to be rabid leftist leaning street activist, went to America. The only way for Timawa to go to America is to become a nurse first.

The two meet at the College of Nursing dean's office. And this meeting opens worlds of possibilities for these two losers.

Uncertainty. Not the kind that makes you toss in your bed and lose sleep, but the sort that challenges the very core of your being, the sort that transforms your life from being routine to unpredictable and inspiring. These four individuals dare to defy the sacred covenants of conventional art by utilizing mundane and unlikely objects in their works as well as refusing to do what the rest of the world tells them to do: plan ahead.

Lirio Salvador is a Fine Arts graduate in the Technological University of the Philippines. He
founded a band called Elemento, a multi-dimensional art group which specializes in sound art. Sound art involves no scales, but focuses on sound textures and uses noise to its advantage. Salvador creates his own instruments using everyday materials such as bicycle gears, drain cleaning springs and stainless steel tubes. His works look like objects fresh from a science fiction movie, but with more symmetry and a beauty that is quite unexpected of gears, springs and
tubes.

Eugene Jarque has certain similarities with Salvador---he also graduated from TUP with a Fine Arts degree and he also uses metal (in the form of aluminum sheets) in his art. The similarities, however, end there. Jarque also incorporates receipts, magazine clippings, soil, enamel, gesso, sandpaper and ferric chloride in his creations. The dominant color in his works is gray; witnessing his paintings, one is delightfully surprised that there are so many shades of a color usually considered drab and uninteresting.No wonder Jarque was presented with the Cultural Center of the Philippines' prestigious Thirteen Artists Award, which is given only to progressive young artists with integrity, coherence of ideas, consistence and sensitivity to today's social realities every three years.

Another recipient of the Thirteen Artists Award is Mac Valdezco, an Advertising graduate also from TUP. Using strips of paper, cotton strings, cotton tape, shoelaces and cotton rags, she creates biomorphicfigures that are sometimes whimsical and sometimes loud, but one thing is for sure: they are never the same from first glance. Her art metamorphoses before our very eyes and the beauty of it is that we can never catch how and just what it has become.

Another TUP Fine Arts graduate is Jonathan Castro. As a painter, he explores the interweaving of texture, color and tonal patterns through non-traditional painting techniques and materials. He usually presents a series of works that expresses the ambiance of free play and interaction of shapes and lines to convey a range of emotions.

There you have it---we have four artists telling us that uncertainty is not a bad thing. The beauty of their art proves this to be true.

Uncertainity will open on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 6pm. Blanc is located at 2E Crown Tower 107 H.V. dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati City. For more information please visit www.blanc.ph or www.blancartspace. multiply. com call or sms 752-0032/0920- 9276436

UP Film Institute in cooperation with Microdata, BusinessWorld, Globe and GMA pay homage to varied wandering, wondering, wonderful women as the institute celebrates the 18th International Women's Film Festival at the Cine Adarna at the University of the Philippines- Diliman from the 10th – 13th of March 2008.

UP Film Institute recognizes and sympathizes with the pains, sacrifices, negotiations and the victories that the diasporic woman encounters as the growing trend of feminization of the labor force all over the world, with the Philippines as the widest exporter of human labor, continue to exploit and oppress womanity.

The film festival will showcase the best feature and short films by/for women from different parts of the globe. A festival highlight is Malaysian full-length film, handpicked by the 18th IWFF committee, Tan Chui Mui's Love Conquers All, which bagged first prizes from Pusan, Rotterdam and Hong Kong film festivals.

Fora on women and migration, with lectures by women and gender-sensitive directors such as Joyce Bernal, Khryss Adalia and Cathy Garcia-Molina as a highlight, explore discourses on film as a diasporic experience, filming the diasporic experience and the diasporic nomadic woman.

For the festival launch night, in recognition of her legacy as THE CONTRAVIDA of Philippine movies, the sole Diwata awardee is the irreplaceable Ms. Bella Flores. Ms. Flores ahs appeared in more than 100 movies since her career began as a 16-year-old lass in the early
1950s. Even today, no one parallels her iconic looks and acting wit.

Crafting the Diwata trophy is well-known sculptor, Ms. Lia Torralba, who blends together the images of leaf, woman, moon and vessel into her work.

Also for the launch night, to celebrate the role of young women artists and activists in promoting equity and equality for women, UP Diliman University Student Council Chair (incoming Student Regent) Ms. Shahana Abdulwahid will give more significance to the festival with inspirational remarks. UP Open University Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso and Film Institute Director Anne Marie de Guzman provide the festival overview. Mr. German Moreno, a Philippine cinema stalwart will receive the Diwata Award in behalf of Ms. Bella Flores.

To complete the line up of events for the festival, the women faculty of the UP Film Institute, together with other women artists, mount a multi-media exhibit on Sense and Wandering at the Ishmael Bernal Gallery for the whole month of March, to be curated by woman artist,
Ms. Vivian N. Limpin.

The Festival is also presented by the University Student Council (UP Diliman), Quezon City Gender and Development Office, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, Center for Community Journalism and Development, Rep. Liza Masa (Gabriela Women's Party), F177 Women in Cinema class of the UPFI, University Center for Women's Studies, Embassy of Spain, Embassy of Israel, and the Environmental Broadcast Circle.

The festival is headed by Festival Director Prof. Carol Bello.

For inquiries and complete list of film screenings, fora, seminar, festival music concert, please call the UP Film Institute at:
926.36.40, 926.27.22 (telefax), 981.85.00 loc. 4286.
Or email: upfi.adarna@ gmail.com.

The 18th International Women Film Festival: Wandering, Wondering, Wonderful Women opens on the 10th of March 2008, 6:00pm, Cine Adarna, UP Film Institute, UP Diliman. Free admission.

All filmmakers, movie enthusiasts and those who know how to handle a camera, maybe this email is for you!

Dear Filmmakers,

Greetings from Busan Asian Short Film Festival 2008.

This is Moon Kyung Kang Kang (or simply call me Jenn), in charge of Overseas Programming for Busan Asian Short Film Festival (BASFF).

We are very happy to announce that Busan Asian Short Film Festival 2008 will be held at the end of May, 2008.

It will be great pleasure for us to receive your works and meet new abilities from all around the Asia.

Please visit our web site at www.basff.org and submit your films a under suitable category no later than February, 15. 2008.

In any case, we ask you to carefully read the Festival's General Regulations for film entries.

For further questions the Programme Department will be at your disposal:

Programme Organisation

phone +82 ¡¤ 51 ¡¤ 742 ¡¤ 9600

fax +82 ¡¤ 51 ¡¤ 744 ¡¤ 2195

E-mail: programming@basff.org

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,

Moon Kyung KANG

Overseas Programming Coordinator, BASFF

Busan Asian Short Film Festival

#508, Centum Venture Town,

Centum City, Woo-2dong, Haeundae-gu,

Busan, Korea, 612-022

Tel.+82-51-742-9600,

Website www.basff.org

"Ambulancia," a short film which tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets, won best short narrative in the first Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health held at the Philamlife Center for the Arts, United Nations Avenue, Manila last February 21, Thursday night.

Director/writer/producer Richard Legaspi and production manager Seymour Barros Sanchez were on hand to receive the trophy designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva and a plaque of recognition from Mu Sigma Phi, the first medical fraternity in the Philippines and in Asia.

"Santigwar," an entry of director Gerald Ian Mendez, producer Charlene Obumani, and writer Johner Cañeba of the University of Saint Anthony from Iriga, Camarines Sur, won the grand prize, the Honorato Quisumbing and Johnny Escandor award for best film. "Kasangkapan," directed by Carmelo Soberano of the Marinduque State College, and "Rx: Agap," helmed by King Mark Baco of the University of the Philippines Film Institute, were adjudged best documentary and best experimental film, respectively. Aside from a similar trophy and plaque, the "Santigwar" team will also receive P100,000 in cash while the directors and producers of "Ambulancia," "Rx: Agap," and "Kasangkapan" will each get P50,000. The winners and other film festival finalists were screened from February 18 to 20 at the Cine Adarna in UP Diliman.

"Ambulancia," which stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo, was previously exhibited in the Young Cinema Night of the 2007 Cinemanila International Film Festival and the Asian Film Academy (AFA) Fellows' Night in Busan, South Korea. Legaspi also had the able support of director of photography Albert Banzon, assistant director Jules Katanyag, AD/producer/editor Anna Isabelle Matutina, co-producer Eloisa Espino-Sanchez, production manager/musical scorer Pam Miras, and production designers Grace Orbon, Sonja Completo, and Benay Reyes.

Legaspi, a faculty of the University of the East – Caloocan College of Fine Arts (UE CFA), was selected last year along with "Ligaw Liham" director of photography Carlo Mendoza as the only Filipinos among the 24 successful candidates from all over Asia who were offered fellowships by the AFA, an educational program that trains aspiring Asian filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts through workshops, one-on-one mentoring and a short film production project, to raise the bar on film production to further the future of Asian cinema. It was held in collaboration with Pusan International Film Festival, Dongseo University, and Korean Film Academy.

Legaspi, UE CFA alumnus and recipient of the UE Award for Exemplary Performance in Visual Arts, teaches Advertising and Painting. He is also a director, assistant director, and production designer for Red Room Productions, Pixel Art Media Production Co., and Digital Cheese. He underwent workshops under award-winning scriptwriter Ricky Lee and directed films such as "Kahon" (official entry to the 2006 Viewpoints of the World Festival, finalist in the End Frame Video Art Project, in competition at the 2006 One Minute International Short Film Festival (OMISFF), Netherlands, and finalist in the Smart Cuts of 2005 .MOV International Short Film Festival), "Pintuan" (in competition at the 2006 OMISFF), and "Makatang Luneta," (third place at the 2006 Cinemadali Film Festival).

The 18th Negros Summer Workshops 2008 will showcase short films. commercial videos, and theatre productions created by students. A panel of notables including film, theatre and print media personalities facilitate the workshops and recognized leaders judge and present special awards.

A special program honoring the best films and videos will highlight the closing ceremonies. Additionally, the program will feature a Media Lab of cutting edge film making technology; Children and Teen Theatres; and a panel series that will bring together leading filmmakers, directors, actors, and writers in the industry.

2008 Negros Summer Workshop will be on April 21 – May 17, 2008
Registration and Enrollment

March 03 - April 19, 2008

The 11th Crystal Piaya Awards
This Php. 25,000.00 video competition is open to all amateur and professional video and filmmakers.

8-35 minute video shorts are judged according to technical quality as well as relevance of its message.

Deadline for entries in the 11th Crystal Piaya Video Competition:

May 12, 2008 – 12:00 nn

Office of the Artist in Residence, USLS

http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/aboutus.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/courses.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/accomodation.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/awards.html
http://www.usls.edu.ph/NSW/contactus.html

From the same theatre company that staged the critically acclaimed ALAMAT last year at the Music Museum, AGHAM Theatre Company is again set to take the center stage with Patrick Almaden's "SAKDAL," an original Filipino pop-rock musical on the life of Jesus Christ.

The musical has been staged at the Makati Parks and Garden Amphitheatre last 2006 to a resounding success. It has attracted the attention of the University president, Prof. Tomas B. Lopez and City Mayor Jejomar Binay which prompted them to produce it this year.

"SAKDAL," meaning perfect, is an interpretation of the life of Jesus Christ in parallel to our issues today and how his teachings being so needed to be heard now in time of political and economic crisis. Jesus as the center of Christianity is not only a symbol of faith and hope but also a proactive example of reform and movement.

Set in the last few days of Jesus Christ, Sakdal presents a more humane Jesus who is baffled about his mounting popularity among common people. And this popularity drew diverse reactions and concerns among his disciples especially in the part of Judas Iscariot who wants him to maintain a low profile. Through this depiction of Christ, we will highlight the obvious message of life, truly a rude awakening, a reflection on how we are living the life he sacrificed.

With a true to form realistic set, there is no trailblazing statement or justification for the style. It is not abstract; it is not impressionistic or stylized. What you see is what you get. The set plays its role in its true sense. A background for the actors, setting for the period and a visual foundation for the music. Nothing overwhelming. It is as Israel or as "Is-real" as it can get.

The production aims to strengthen solidarity among artistic groups in the University through active participation in the field of arts engaged in the enrichment of genuine artistry of our folk-cultures. "Sakdal" will also coincide with the commemoration of our Lord's suffering this coming Lenten season.

Directed by Patrick Almaden, Sakdal features student-thespians, employees and alumni from the university. This two-hour musical is also supported by the UMAK Chorale, Art Nouveau, and Amor A Bailar, Musicians for Peace, Kundiman, Film Society and The Makati Collegian.

Assistant Director Christoper E. Navarra, Musical Director Paco Almaden, Dance Director Arvind Mandar, Creative Directors Osler Ladia and Agnes Medina, and Lighting Designer Dennis Cruz complete the artistic and production team.

Sakdal performances are scheduled 1pm and 5pm on March 3, and 10am, 2pm and 6pm on March 4, 2008. Admission is free. For inquiries and reservation, you may call or text 0918-2542354 and look for "Tope" or email us thru crisnavarra@gmail.com.

by Fr. Adonis Narcelles Jr. SVD

There is a gentle revolution happening in the Philippines. It is neither political nor economic. The revolt happens in the very heart of filmmaking. Its proponents and followers are the numerous film "guerillas" who have finally found an avenue to express their creativity and freedom. There is a breeze of fresh air which invigorates the contemporary scenario of Philippine Cinema. The Filipino achievement in this era of indie (short for independent), experimental and digital filmmaking has come. "Tirador," in winning the Caligari Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2008, proves that this Pinoy revolution works- in the world of filmmaking.

This "new epoche" of filmmaking in the Philippines brings out a new breed of young and dynamic filmmakers. This is the advent of the independent digital filmmaking. The emergence of affordable and user-friendly digital cameras and editing softwares make this rapid evolution possible resulting to a new film consciousness in the Philippines with a profound interest in festivals abroad, like the 58th Berlin Film Festival. The Berlinale this year was an avenue where the metamorphosis of filmmaking was acknowledge and admired. It was an historical event for the Philippines. This prestigious, glamorous and one of the biggest film festivals in the world recognized the international quality of digital Filipino films. For the first time in the long history of Philippine Cinema that six Filipino films were shown at the Berlinale from February 7 to 17, 2008. Indeed, this Berlinale documents the greatness of this creative spirit present in various characteristics of Filipino filmmaking- experimental, documentary, live musical accompaniment and screening with three projections.

"This is one of the hardest films I have shot." Director Brilliante Mendoza admits the challenges he encountered in making "Tirador" (Slingshot). He spoke before the international audience after the first screening, the European Premiere of his film at the Colosseum Cinema in Berlin on February 9, 2008. He worked on three cameras to shot the scenes in the dangerous areas of Manila, particularly in Quiapo in order to capture the life and operation of poor small-time crooks, the "little criminals" who do dirty tricks to earn money. His guerilla film-making has been recognized around the world. "Tirador" has been shown at film festivals in Toronto, Singapore, Granada, Pusan and in Marraketch where it won the International Special Jury Prize.

Director Mendoza also impressed the judges in Berlin that they awarded "Tirador" with the much-coveted Caligari Award 2008. It is the first Filipino Film to win this award which is given to a film in the Berlinale Category of International Forum of Young Films. It is the most important recognition of a film under this category. This award, given for the 23rd time this year, has been awarded to films which are thematically innovative and stylistically creative.

This award includes an endowment of 4,000 € prize from the sponsors: the Bundesverband kommunalen Filmarbeit, the German Federal Association of 150 cultural cinemas and the film journal "Film-Dienst".

The judges gave the Award to "Tirador" with this reason: "Well-thoughtout paradigmatic sequencing shows daily survival between pickpocketing, gambling, part-time-jobs, arbitrary police acts and corrupt politicians. Dramatic highpoints are blended into scenes of everyday life." Indeed this film blends fiction and reality to portray the life of street criminals who are exposed to crimes, drugs, and abuses. What was originally planned as a documentary film turned out to be a feature film with the local election and the Holy Week as its backdrop. "Tirador" refers figuratively to somebody who makes a hit (tira) which refers to hired killer, drug addict, thief and the like. Director Mendoza workled closely with the film's writer Ralston Joel Jover and even interviewed "little criminals", went to their houses and in places where they do their petty crimes in order to show authenticity in his film which was originally planned to be documentary.

The corruption of politicians and abuses of police officials are also portrayed in the film. The drama of Philippine elections with rampant vote-buying and empty promises of policians were also shown. The movie ends with the little criminals joining the people in a prayer rally in Manila, an event which was attended by senatorial candidates who promised a better life and future for the people.

Director Mendoza was born 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga and studied Advertising at the University of Santo Tomas. He worked in television and theater before focusing into filmmaking. His fifth major film gathers film legends like Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz and several young actors whose films have been shown and recognized in film festivals abroad: Jiro Manio ("Magnifico", Best Children Film at Berlinale 2004), Nathan Lopez ("Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros", Best Children Feature Film and Teddy Award, Berlinale 2006), Kristofer King ("Ang Babae sa Breakwater", Cannes 2004) and Coco Martin ("Masahista", Locarno 2005). His major films which were shown in major international film festivals which include: "Masahista" (The Masseur, 2005), "Kaleldo" (Summer Heat, 2006), "Manoro" (The Aeta Teacher, 2006) and "Foster Child", 2007. Director Mendoza was joined in Berlin by other "Tirador" staff: Producer Ferdinand Lapuz of Centerstage Productions, Script Supervisor Armando Lao and Actor Coco Martin.

Indeed, "Tirador" and the other Filipino films who made it to this year's festival are products of the blooming independent film genre brought about by the prevailing "digital revolution" in the Philippines. Filmmakers are more free to try new tricks and express themselves using unconventional methods. And their efforts and creative achievements are being recognized, if barely at home, then in many international film festivals, like at the Berlinale.

March 5 to 7, TARC Auditorium, UST

*FREE ADMISSION, but only local films are open to the public
(Organized by The Varsitarian, official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas, and Institute of Religion in with UST Journalism Society, UST Literary Society, and Concilium Philosophiae)

March 5, Wednesday
8 A.M. OPENING CEREMONIES
*Registration
9 - 9:30 A.M. A CHILD FROM CHINA (documentary, Aurora Santiago)
*Registration
9:40 - 11:10 A.M. FOSTER CHILD (full-length feature, Brillante Mendoza)
*Lunch break and registration
1 - 3:40 P.M. FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN (foreign film, Lloyd Kramer)
*Registration
4 - 4:20 P.M. SA KAMBAS NG LIPUNAN (documentary, Joey Velasco)
*Registration
4:30 - 6 P.M. ENDO (full-length feature, Jade Castro)

March 6, Thursday
8 - 8:15 A.M. ESTROPA (documentary, Sheryl Rose Andes and Michael Juancho Galang)
*Registration
8:20 - 9:50 A.M. TRIBU (full-length feature, Jim Libiran)
*Registration
10 A.M. - 12:10 P.M. SHADOWLANDS (foreign film, Richard Attenborough)
*Lunch break and registration
1 - 1:15 P.M. AMBULANCIA (short film, Richard Legaspi)
*Registration
1:20 - 2:50 P.M. TRABAHO (full-length feature, Ned Trespeces)
*Registration
3 - 4:15 P.M. ANINO (full-length feature, John Isiah Reyes, UST College of Nursing)
*Registration
4:20 - 4:40 P.M. TUNAY NA BUHAY (documentary, Jasper Chavez Zarzuela)
*Registration
4:50 - 5:20 P.M. LABABO (short film, Seymour Barros Sanchez)
*Registration
5:30 - 7:10 P.M. CHINA CRY (foreign film, James F. Collier)

March 7, Friday
8 - 10 A.M. PAY IT FORWARD (foreign film, Mimi Leder)
*Registration
10:10 - 10:30 A.M. KARSEL (short film, Rianne Hill Soriano)
*Registration
10:40 - 11:10 A.M. TUTOS (short film, Louise Anne Yamsuan)
*Registration
11:15 - 11:45 A.M. UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE (documentary, Anna Isabelle Matutina and Herbert Villalon Docena)
*Lunch break and registration
1 - 2:50 P.M. BARAKO (full-length feature, Manolito Sulit, UST)
*Registration
3:15 - 4:50 P.M. TIRADOR (full-length feature, Brillante Mendoza)
*Registration
5 - 5:30 P.M. SONDA (documentary, UST College of Nursing)
*Registration
5:40 - 7:20 P.M. STILL LIFE (full-length feature, Katski Flores)
CLOSING CEREMONIES

*Registration: first-come, first-served basis (4 classes per film showing)
*20-30 seats will be reserved for guests and walk-in audiences
*Foreign films are exclusively for UST students, professors, and officials
*Audience for each film are requested to be in the venue 15 minutes before the showing starts (for registration)
*OPEN FORUM for films with attending directors (or cast/crew)

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 11:58am (Mla time) 12/03/2007

FILIPINOS FROM both sides of the network wars won in major categories at the 12th Asian Television Awards, held at the Suntec International Convention Center in Singapore on Thursday.

Current affairs

The GMA 7 documentary show, “Reporter’s Notebook,” topped the Best Current Affairs Program category for its coverage of the war in Lebanon. It bested entries from Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

“Reporter’s Notebook” is hosted by news reporters Maki Pulido and Jiggy Manicad.

Team effort

Manicad, who also produced the winning episode, told the Inquirer via SMS: “It’s a team effort. The feeling [of winning] is great and humbling at the same time. Lebanon was one of the most dangerous coverages our program has [experienced so far]. We never thought we could come up with good material in that situation—especially one that would merit the attention of the Asian TV Awards.”

Co-host Pulido said: “It’s a great high. It doubles the pressure to produce better stories in the interest of our countrymen.”

Program Manager Clyde Mercado agreed. “Serving the people through this show is rewarding enough,” he said, but this [award] is a very special bonus.”

Best news program

The ABS-CBN late-night newscast “Bandila” won Best News Program for its coverage of the Subic Rape Case Promulgation. It bested entries from Malaysia, Taiwan, India, as well as two Philippine news shows (GMA 7’s “24 Oras” and ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol World”).

Said Maria Ressa, senior vice president of ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs: “‘Bandila’ is just a little over a year old, and we are grateful that its work has been recognized by our peers in the region and the world. We wanted to put together our ideas of nationalism with a faster production pace and more succinct and analytical reporting. ‘Bandila’ has already been named one of the Top 4 newscasts in the world by the International Academy of Arts & Sciences, making it the first time ever that a Philippine network has received this recognition at the Emmys.”

Acting trophy

Gina Pareño topped the Best Drama Actress category, besting performers from New Zealand, Thailand, India and Singapore. She won for portraying the troubled mother of three mentally ill children in the “Rehas” episode of ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”

“We were only given 30 seconds in our thank-you speech,” recalled Pareño. “I was happy and nervous at the same time. I dedicated my award to my family and our countrymen.”

Same director

The episode was megged by Jeffrey Jeturian, who also directed Pareño in the internationally acclaimed film “Kubrador.”

According to its web site, the Asian Television Awards aims to “recognize and reward program and production excellence” in the region.

Filmmakers and activists screened two films banned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), "A Day in the Life of Gloria" and "Mendiola", in protest of what they called "repression" by the Arroyo administration.

The "X" rating given by the MTRCB to the two films resulted in their exclusion from a short film festival called "Kontra-Agos" .

The films were shown during a press conference on Friday by filmmakers and activists to express alarm over what they perceive to be an attempt to suppress media coverage of the failed rebellion in Makati led by former Navy officer turned Senator Antonio Trillanes and Army Brigadier General Danny Lim.

Short filmmaker King Catoy said, "Nananawagan kami sa mga kapwa natin artists, i-defy natin ang admnistrasyong ito, this is martial law (We call on our fellow artists to defy this administration. This is martial law)."

During the press conference, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera joined other artists and activists in having their hands tied, recalling images of ABS-CBN reporters and crew who were handcuffed and detained by police in the aftermath of the Makati incident.

Lumbera said recent events, including the so-called "censorship" of an artist's collective in Angolo, Rizal, bear out a clear and present danger to artists and to freedom of expression.

"Mayroon litaw na panganib sa atin. Karapatan natin magkaroon ng layang ipakita ang katotohanan (There is an obvious threat against us. It is our right to have the freedom to tell the truth)," said Lumbera.

MTRCB reviewer Mark Castrodes however dismissed the artists' accusations as baseless conspiracy theories. According to Castrodes, the films were given an X-rating because they put the government in a bad light.

One of the films, "A Day in the Life of Gloria", is in animated format and shows a cartoon caricature of President Arroyo saying "I am sorry" after which her nose begins to grow. It is a scene that recalls the fairy tale character Pinocchio, whose nose elongates whenever he tells a lie.

Castrodes said that contrary to the artists' wild claims, there is no "institutionalized political repression" and that the film reviewers simply did their job.

"We are not in cahoots with anyone else here, for us, it was simply a day's work", he said, adding that the filmmakers could have appealed the rating and asked for a second review but they chose to no longer do so.

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BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 43, December 2-8, 2007

“The MTRCB will never allow the propagation of films which carries dissenting views to the current administration,” said an independent filmmaker whose work is scheduled to be shown at Indie Sine in Robinson’s Galeria December 5-11 but was rated “X” by the board.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) was criticized anew for censoring two short films created by independent film makers.

Southern Tagalog Exposure’s (ST Exposure) A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo and Sine Patriyotiko’s Mendiola have been rated “X” or disapproved from public exhibition by the MTRCB. Said films are part of an eight-film compilation scheduled to be shown at the Kontra Agos Resistance Film Festival on December 5-11, Indie Sine, Robinson’s Galleria.

In an interview, RJ Mabilin, director of A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo, said that the MTRCB justified the rating by saying that the films “undermine the faith of the people in government.”

An animation, which got an honorable mention award from this year’s Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines, A Day in the Life of Gloria ArroVo is a political satire.

Mendiola, on the other hand, is a short documentary critical of the Arroyo government’s calibrated preemptive response (CPR).

Another short film, Holy Bingo, was initially rated “X” but later got a PG-13 classification. The film,
Mabilin said, is critical of the Catholic Church.

Mabilin said, “It goes to show that there exists institutionalized repression. The MTRCB has the final say whether a film should be viewed or not. It will never allow the propagation of films which carries dissenting views to the current administration.”

In September, the MTRCB also rated “X” the compilation of films titled Rights which deals with the human rights situation in the country.

In an email that reached Bulatlat, award-winning director Carlitos Siguion Reyna said, “This is the
latest instance of broad-sided political censorship, so soon after the “X”-ing of similar political short films in the “Rights”… also, so soon after the content alteration done by the National Press Club of the Neo-Angono Arts Collective’s press freedom mural.”

ST Exposure’s Mabilin said that they will continue to resist all forms of censorship. He said they will continue utilizing alternative venues to propagate their films. In fact, A Day in the Life of Gloria Arrovo can be viewed via the Youtube since 2005 (http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=5_x6m_LDryE& feature=related)

Siguion Reyna said that this case is “merely the latest illustration of this government’s view on free expression, truth, and transparency.” Bulatlat