World Cinema Fund (WCF) Spotlight at Cinemanila

In line with its efforts of fostering international cinematic excellence, the Cinemanila International Film Festival focuses the spotlight on the World Cinema Fund (WCF). An off-shoot of the Berlin International Film Festival, the WCF has been instrumental in launching critically acclaimed and competitively viable films since its inception in 2004.

The WCF provides support in the fields of production and distribution to filmmakers from developing countries. Thru its funding, feature films and creative feature-length documentaries with a strong cultural identity have been given the chance to be realized.

To date, all of the WCF produced films have been included in the programmes of renowned international film festivals. One of its very first projects, Paradise Now (Palestine, 2005) was the winner of the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film and was nominated for the same category at the Academy Awards. Another film supported by the WCF, Silent Light (Mexico, 2007), bagged the Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival and was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 2008, the WCF backed three Southeast Asian projects including Independencia by the Philippines' very own, Raya Martin. Independencia eventually screened in this year's Official Programme of the Cannes International Film Festival.

WCF manager Sonja Heinen will personally conduct an info session on how to apply for WCF funding. Aside from that, Cinemanila will also showcase 5 WCF funded films including Martin's Independencia.

Call for entries is currently ongoing. For more info, contact cinemanila.entries@ gmail.com and cinemanila@gmail. com or go to www.cinemanila.org.ph.

The 11th Cinemanila International Film Festival will be held from October 15 to 25, 2009 in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Around 100 international and local films will be screened in a span of 10 days – from the current toasts of the local indie scene to the award-winners and favourites at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Rotterdam, Sundance, and Pusan. The festival will also feature workshops, seminars and master classes. Call for entries are currently ongoing. For more info, contact cinemanila.entries@gmail.com and cinemanila@gmail.com or go to www.cinemanila.org.ph.

The 2009 Cinemanila is presented by the City of Taguig and the Cinemanila Interrnational Film Festival Foundation, in cooperation with Cinema One, Click the City, Goethe Institut, Pep.ph, Spot.ph, Web Philippines, World Cinema Fund, Easy Rock, NU 107, 99.5RT and Sprout Magazine.