Pepe Diokno’s “Engkwentro” goes to Hollywood
After the victory in the 66th Venice Film Festival, the Film Engkwentro is set to invade Hollywood through Shoreline Entertainment as their partner as far as marketing their film outside the Philippines.
According to Pepe Diokno in Ricardo Lo’s Funfare (Phils. Star) Article he quoted: “and it really humbles me to know that our little film has a shot at finding an audience worldwide. Just four months ago, we were shooting in the slums of Metro Manila, struggling to finish the movie. To see something go from our tiny LCD screen to a big screen in Venice to big screens in America is just amazing.”
Further, according to Sam Eigen, the Director of Distribution of Shoreline Entertainment on the same article, “We are proud to represent Pepe Diokno’s Engkwentro. It is refreshing to see a first-time filmmaker create something so unique, human and personal while still creating an awesomely-crafted, gritty and eye-opening experience. While this is obviously a film from the Philippines and about the Philippines, this is a work that deserves to be shown around the world and is a shining example of the kind of powerful film we would like to see coming from the world over.”
Independent Films: Where will it take the Philippine Cinema?
This aims to tackle the different factors and issues affecting the promotion and marketing of Philippine independent films. It intends to discuss the current situation of mareting independent films and enumerate the issues surrounding it. Many persons involved in the filmmaking industry believe that such kinds of motion pictures are the future of the cinema industry, but if they say so, why is it only a few is accessible to the Filipino people and some were not even aware of the existence of such kinds of films. A brief history will first be presented as to how independent films began. Major parts of this paper will then contain the factors affecting the promotion of independent films, from the existing and potential market up to the problems currently facing the filmmakers. Lastly, the author will give a conclusion and recommendations regarding the different issues and aspects of the chosen topic.
