Kabilang ang ilang Hollywood stars sa imbitado sa unang Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (LAPIFF) na gaganapin sa October 7 to 9, 2016 sa Cinemark Theater, South Bay Pavillion Mall, Carson CA, USA.
“We invited Fil-Am celebrities like Apl.de.Ap, Lou Diamond Philipps, Anjanette Abayari, producer Dean Devlin, director Pedring Lopez of ‘Nilalang’ might come back. I believe Carlo Mendoza is attending, he’s one of the producers of ‘Ari’, so as Dante Basco and Dion Basco, the leading cast in ‘The Head Thieves’, the director of ‘End of Fall’, Joselito Soldera, director of Vampariah, ‘Matt Abaya’. We also invited some Hollywood celebrities,” saad ng Fil-Am Hollywood actor na si Abe Pagtama na siyang founder ng LAPIFF.
Kabilang din ang Cannes Best Actress na si Jaclyn Jose sa imbitado rito.
“It would be an honor If she can grace with her appearance in our festival,” wika pa ni Abe.
Fifteen years bago nagkaroon ng katuparan ang pangarap ni Abe na magkaroon ng ganitong filmfest.
“I started thinking about having a Filipino film festival in LA, about 15 years ago. The idea come to me when I found out that every Asian country has their own film festival in LA.
“LAPIFF is an organization devoted to the advancement, development, and showcase of Filipino filmmakers/artists around the world through film, providing the global community of entertainment professionals and film goers with consistent annual screening events and workshops. LAPIFF provides charitable scholarships and a forum where Filipino filmmakers/artists can be recognized for their gifts, have open discussions about their movies and connect with industry professionals for understanding on production, distribution, representation, and acquirement.”
Dagdag pa niya, “Sabi ko nga sa mga kasama ko, we’re so talented na what would happen to the world without Filipinos? Kasi globally, we’re nurses, we’re maritimes, what would happen to the world kung wala nang mga marino, what would happen to the world kung walang nurses, walang accountant… Walang mangyayari sa mundo kung wala ang mga Filipino.
“So with that, alam kong maraming istorya sa atin na puwede nating gawin. Kung ma-introduce ko iyan sa Amerika, who we are, baka magkaroon ng interest na ‘Oh, we have to talk more about Filipinos, we have to talk more about who they are.’ Kasi ang nangyayari sa America ngayon, ‘yung tinatawag nilang white washing. Wala silang istorya na iba, na kaming mga Filipino-American na actor, we don’t get that much role. Pero kung makikita nila na marami palang istorya, puwedeng mag-open ng doors itong LAFIPP. And walang gagawang iba nito kundi Filipino rin, e. You can’t wait for the white people na gagawin ito, kailangan tayo talaga ang gumawa.”
Kabilang sa mga pelikulang kalahok dito ang “Honor Thy Father” na tinampukan ni John Lloyd Cruz, “Iadya Mo Kami” na pinagbibidahan ni Allen Dizon, “Nilalang” ni Cesar Montano, at “Dukot” ni Enrique Gil.
Ang ilan pa sa entry ay ang “Star Na Si Van Damme Stallone”, “End of Fall”, “The Head Thieves”, “Ari”, “My Life With A King”, at “Tandem”.
Kabilang naman sa entry sa short film category ang “Got It Maid”, “Manang”, “Sukat”, “Julie”, “Sejour”, “Wawa”, “They Call Us Maids”, “I Wont Miss You”, “Spouse Switch”, at “Mitatang”.
Opening film dito ang “The Road” ni Alden Richards. Samantalang may special screening naman ang “Jose Rizal”, “We Call Her Yolanda”, at “Vampariah”.
Bukod kay Abe, ang LAPIFF founders ay sina Gabe Pagtama, Jush Andowitt, Fe Koons, at Adrian Licaros. Ang Selection Committee ay binubuo nina Winston Emano, David Maquiling, Janice Villarosa, Walter Boholtz, Oliver Carney, Marie Jamora. Bahagi naman ng Special Committee sina Atty. Jamella Neetles, Sweeney Mae Montinella, Adrian Lecaros, at Rey Cuerdo.
Kabilang sa sponsors ng LAPIFF ang GMA PinoyTV, GMA LifeTV, GMA NewsTV, Cinemark, at iba pa.
Nonie’s Niche
by Nonie V. Nicasio
