Cannes Directors Fortnight project ‘Directors Factory Philippines’ has wrapped the filming of four short films in the Dakak Resort in the city of Dapitan in the Philippines.
The four films will be premiered at Cannes Directors Fortnight on May 15, 2024, at the Theatre Croisette.
The programme was mentored by Lav Diaz and supported by several local companies, who joined with Dominique Welinski, the programme’s creator and producer, to bring the four shorts to fruition (full details of the shorts are below).
Jim Baltazar’s CMB Film Services provided camera, lights and equipment for free. Veteran cinematographers including Pao Orendain, Mackie Galvez, Tey Clamor and Pong Ignacio shot the short films and guided the directors in their vision.
Anima Studios, a division of Kroma Entertainment, and its general manager, Bianca Balbuena, also supported the project, together with Paul Soriano of Ten17P, across a range of activities including creative collaboration, financing and overseeing post-production.
Post-production services are provided by Terminal Six Post, while colour-grading is being done by Barebones Inc. The project’s two editors, Lawrence Ang and Jordan Dela Cruz, stayed in Dakak Resort in Dapitan for a month to edit the four short films right after they were shot.
The project has also received support from Quezon City Film Commission and the local government of Dapitan.
Dominique Welinski and Epicmedia’s Bradley Liew, who are lead producers on Directors Factory Philippines, said: “We are happy to be supported by the local government since the previous editions like North Portugal, Taiwan, Lebanon, Chile were supported by their film commissions.
“We are still raising financing to fly the eight directors to Cannes as they will not only present their short films in Quinzaine, but they will also pitch their features in development at the Cannes Directors Fortnight Beach.”
Directors Factory Philippines:
Walay Balay
Dirs: Eve Baswel (Philippines), Gogularaajan Rajendran (Malaysia)
Cast: Shaina Magdayao (Essential Truths Of The Lake), Ruby Ruiz (Expats)
Synopsis: A portrait of a mother and daughter, who are evacuated during wartime to a safe neighbourhood they will call home, until they receive an official letter approving their relocation.
Nightbirds
Dirs: Maria Estela Paiso (Philippines), Ashok Vish (India)
Cast: Pokwang (Oda Sa Wala)
Synopsis: The mystical Tigmamanukan bird is sent by the bird council to help Ivy break free from her husband who dilapidates the couple’s money at cockfighting.
Silig
Dirs: Arvin Belarmino (Philippines), Lomorpich Rithy, aka YoKi (Cambodia)
Cast: Sylvia Sanchez, Angel Aquino
Synopsis: Stubborn and feisty Mamang, dying from cancer, is back to her hometown to organize her cremation.
Cold Cut
Dirs: Don Eblahan (Philippines), Tan Siyou (Singapore)
Cast: Local talents from Dapitan City
Synopsis: Joy, a 19 year old student from a sleepy beach town, signs up as a contestant at the local talent show. As she enters the audition building, a chance encounter with a mysterious butcher leads her farther away from the audition site into an increasingly strange world.
Directors Factory has been running since 2013 and has worked with 57 directors of 70 different nationalities, shot in 12 different countries and made 30 multi-awarded short films. It is only the programme’s second time in Asia and first time in Southeast Asia.
Known as the shrine city of the Philippines, Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte is also the place where Filipino national hero Jose Rizal was exiled by the Spanish colonial authorities for his threat to start revolutionary activities.