Thumbs up for Pinoy films in Berlinale, world's largest filmfest

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) praised Filipino filmmakers whose films generated a lot of interest during the recently-concluded Berlinale, the world's largest public film festival.  In a news release, the DFA said it was the first time in 29 years that a Filipino film made it to the main competition of the Berlinale, held from February 9 to 19 in Germany.   Philippine Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad, who attended both the opening gala and closing awards at the Berlinale Palast, said: "We are proud of our Filipino filmmakers. Their films made a strong showing in the Berlinale and generated a lot of international interest." "The Berlinale is an international film festival unlike any other - you have a wide but very discerning audience coming from all over the world. It is a great honor for a Filipino film to be fielded in the Main Competition," she said.   Among the Philippine entries were:

• "Captive" by Brillante Mendoza (Main Competition)
• "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank" by Marlon Rivera (Forum Section)
• "Nono" by Rommel Tolentino (Generation Kplus Section)
• "Pusong Wazak!" by Khavn de la Cruz (Short Film Section)

Brillante's film "Captive" is the first film to enter the main competition of the Berlinale since director Ishmael Bernal's "Himala" in 1983. Mendoza, who won at the Cannes as Best Director for his film "Kinatay," is no stranger to the Berlinale. In 2008, his film "Tirador" won the Caligari Award in the 58th Berlinale.   In 2010, his films were also featured in a "Mendoza Retrospective" by the German Movie and Film Academy.   "Film is an important element of our cultural relations with Germany. It's one of the major areas of cooperation in the agreement signed by Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle last December," Natividad said. The agreement creates a framework for greater cooperation in culture and in film - this bodes well for the Philippines. We are wonderful story-tellers and film is a great medium to tell stories," she added. The embassy noted that most of the national film industries competing in the Berlinale received financial and technical support from their respective governments.   It cited tax breaks for companies which reinvest their profits in film production and distribution.   Such tax breaks aim to strengthen the entire cinematographic chain, avoiding direct intervention of the government, while respecting freedom of expression and artistry.   "Philippine films, which continue to generate interest not only in the Berlinale but also in other international film festivals, would benefit from a similar innovative support scheme," the DFA said.   It added that incentives like those given to foreign film industries would address all aspects of film development and distribution. - VVP, GMA News