Pinoy filmmakers face issue of censorship back home

By LOUI GALICIA, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/03/2009 1:23 PM

After the warm reception received by Filipino filmmakers at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), the filmmakers returned home but only to face the issue of censorship.

“We are so happy to, already three years ago, have started to get some filmmakers to come to Rotterdam to select their films because we felt that there was something special going on with the Philippines, with independent filmmakers who really have their own way of making films, of showing them,” IFFR media relations head Bert-Jan Zoet told Balitang Europe.

Zoet said that the IFFR specializes in supporting upcoming young filmmaking talents. Through the Hubert Bals Fund, Zoet said it helps filmmakers make their films or start the financing of their films, as well as the co-production of cinemas that focus on independent-film making talents.

In fact, Lav Diaz, Raya Martin and Khvan dela Cruz were among those who have already received grants from the Hubert Bals Fund.“For us it is very good to continue this attention to Philippine filmmakers because we think they are great filmmakers and they really discover new ways of addressing themes, addressing and discovering new styles of filmmaking,” Zoet added.

Once again, the Pinoys have showcased their talents and brilliance in making independent films.

If only it is the same case back home, they said.

Censorship in RP
The IFFR’s lax censorship, or even lack of it, is a stark contrast to the strict rules in the Philippines implemented through the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB.

The showing of Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Aurora” is still on hold pending an appeal by the filmmaker after it was given a “double X” rating by the Philippine ratings board.
Filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr.

“The problem is hindi ko po alam talaga kung anong isyu. Sabi nila ‘yong rape scene ni Rosanna Roces at Kristoffer King pero we decided to have it screened. We had a special screening sa U.P. and people who saw it were saying na parang hindi naman. Wala namang malaswa or something. Ako naman it’s sad that they see the film in parts not in a whole so ‘yon ‘yong isyu ko doon,” Alix Jr. said.

Alix Jr., who is firm and solid on his stance to fight the MTRCB decision, said “Aurora” was never meant for a young audience.

“In Aurora, we applied for an R-18 na class, which means it’s for adult’s only so wala namang bata. Hindi naman namin intention na papasukin ‘yong mga bata sa pelikula so ‘yon lang ang isyu talaga. Now we’re appealing the decision because it’s the first time ‘ata in recent years that a film has gotten a double X [rating] so we’ll have the decision appealed possibly at Malacañang,” Alix Jr. said.The young filmmakers said they do not approve of the MTRCB.

Good business?
Filipino filmmaker Khvan dela CruzDela Cruz thinks that the ratings board, however, is a very good business.“Yong MTRCB kasi isa yang mahusay na business kasi para mapalabas ‘yong pelikula mo sa madla, kailangan magbayad ka ng P8,000 tapos kung sandali mo lang ipapalabas kahit dalawang linggo, magbabayad ka pa rin ng P4,000. Tapos nangyayari, kunyari nabigyan ka ng X, pwede kang mag-apply ulit, magbabayad ka ulit. So parang negosyo siya, mahusay na negosyo,” dela Cruz said.

“Dapat magtayo din ako ng sarili kong MTRCB. Naghahanap lang ako ng magfi-finance na councilor. Isa ‘yan sa maraming bagay sa Pilipinas na absurdo at hindi kinakailangan,” dela Cruz added.

Dying industry?
The filmmakers said they find that the MTRCB complicates the system of an already weakened film industry in the Philippines.

They said that the MTRCB’s decisions are very arbitrary, no basis and very subjective.

The filmmakers want the MTRCB abolished and replaced by a classification agency.

They complain that the film industry will never progress if the most affected are the innovative but small filmmakers like them.

“Maraming films ang na-e-X so you have to pay P10,000, P8,000 so nag-a-accumulate po ‘yon para sa pelikulang ang isang budget eh hindi naman po ganoon kalaki. So sa halip na makatulong ang gobyerno mas lalo kaming nahihirapan because of what’s happening,” Alix Jr. complained.

“Ngayon puros indie films na. So ayon kasi di ba parang ngayon mangilan-ngilan na lang [commercial films]. Gumagawa sila ng pelikula para sa Metro Manila Film Festival.

Unfortunately, ‘yon lang ang napapalabas sa mga Filipino sa dalawang linggo na ‘yon. Hindi kagandahan ano. Sobrang labo ng kalidad,” dela Cruz said.

New generation
The filmmakers ask that the government take action in order to help lift the languishing Filipino film industry.

For them, it is worth a lot more to feel the support from your own countrymen on top of the trust and accolades accorded to them by people from other countries.

This decade has seen vibrant and energetic young Pinoys churning more and more digital and independent films that are receiving worldwide recognition and the same tome bringing honor to the Philippines.

They are the new breed of filmmakers considered abroad as part of a new generation who will revolutionize the world of cinema.

But it is unfortunate, they said, that the goodness of their films cannot be enjoyed by their countrymen to whom they have created and dedicated their works for in the first place.

“Yong mga pinapalabas dito [IFFR] imposibleng mapalabas sa Metro Manila Film Festival. Kasi ‘yong pinapalabas sa MMFF, you don’t see it shown outside in respectable film festivals,” dela Cruz said.

as of 02/03/2009 7:26 PM

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/03/09/pinoy-filmmakers-face-issue-censorship-back-home