Alternative film screenings for the discerning cineaste

Cineastes, filmmakers and hard core film buffs thirst for films that are not your regular Hollywood movie flicks, 3D feature films, or mainstream Filipino films. They crave for movies such as Philippine Cinema classics, independent feature films, experimental films and documentaries which are often left out of commercial theaters because of their marketability, or lack of it. Fortunately, there are a number of monthly film screenings happening this year that will help feed a cineaste's appetite for alternative films. Best of all, they're mostly free. Among them are: the Over-Under series at Tanghalang Manuel Conde in CCP, Metropolis at Tomato Bomb in Katipunan, The Tioseco-Bohinc Film Series at Fully Booked High Street, the UFO Sightings at Asian Pacific Film Institute, and the screenings at the Film Center of the UP Film Institute (UPFI). According to Teddy Co, known as the "walking encyclopedia of Philippine Cinema," screening series and regular film showings like these constitute a kind of informal Metro Manila art house circuit. He says this seems most suitable for a developing country like the Philippines since we can't afford to put up "art house theaters". Such venues as the CCP theater, the UPFI Film Center, small cafes, restaurants, bars, and viewing rooms become microcinemas where audiences can view the films on a pull down screen. Aside from the film screenings, some places also offer food and an open forum with the filmmaker after the screening. So just what are the films showings in these kinds of film series, where are the venues and what are the stories behind these events? Below are three film series/events and their details Read on and mark your calendars from October to January of the coming year. Be prepared not just to sit and relax, but to view and review the films beyond their stars and special digital features. What you will view are alternative, indie, and experimental films - all slices of Philippine film culture and history. Overlooked Films, Underrated Filmmakers 2010

Organized by the Society of Film Archivists (SOFIA), the Overlooked Films, Underrated Filmmakers series aims to retrieve old films and to recognize the talent of forgotten filmmakers. According to SOFIA, "This film series aims to re-assess certain films and filmmakers, by taking a second look at their unjustly neglected bodies of work, and even restore a few reputations in the process. This will help to expand the repertoire of Philippine cinema, by going beyond the programming of the usual auteurs and masterpiece titles. There will be much to discover, and rediscover, by rounding up not the usual suspects." Previous screenings included ‘Krimen’ (1974) by Jun Raquiza, ‘Masquerade’ (1967) by Danny Zialcita, and ‘Kasal o Sakal’ (1964) by Efren Reyes and Johnny Reyes. Upcoming film screenings will feature ‘Ito ang Pilipino’ by Cesar Gallardo on November 13, ‘Gaano Kita Kamahal’ by Butch Perez on December 13, and ‘Waray-Waray’ by F.H. Constantino on January 15, 2011. Tioseco- Bohinc Film Series The Tioseco-Bohinc Film Series is both a continuation and a tribute to the free screenings the late Alexis Tioseco used to hold at Fully Booked U–View. According to curators Oggs Cruz, Dodo Dayao and Richard Bolisay, the series "picks up where Alexis Tioseco & Nika Bohinc left off. An extension of the tireless passion and unconditional love both he and Nika Bohinc put into giving permanence and viability to truly independent cinema." The series is free and it is held every third Sunday of the month with occasional special screenings and premieres. The series will focus on notable and underseen local independent films. Forthcoming will be a retrospective of new short films, possibly an early work by Brillante Mendoza and Kerwin Go’s Eskrimadors, a documentary on arnis. Metropolis Film Screening Series A project of Anahata Linao Films, the Metropolis Independent Film Program (MIFP) aims to promote the experience of eclectic contemporary filmmaking; to support local producers; to establish a network for cultural exchanges; and to provide expression for communal ingenuity. Held monthly. the screenings feature guest performers and live world music accoutrements that make this an enticing mid-week sanctum. Entry is free although donor contributions of P150 are welcome which includes a free drink. This program also supports the Millennium Development Goals. The venue is Tomato Bomb HQ, an artist bar and gallery that features art exhibits, live band performances, poetry readings, theatrical performances, film screenings and all things artistic. Among the films lined up are ‘Colorum’ (2009) by Jon Steffan Ballesteros on November 3, and ‘A Journey Home’ by Paul Soriano on December 1. As part of the Save the HQ! Fundraiser Film Screening Series, Tomato Bomb HQ! will also feature the works of legendary and pioneering independent filmmaker Raymond Red (Sakay, Bayani, Anino). The first offering of the series is Kamada tentatively scheduled on October 30. - GMANews.TV