The 7th edition of the Inding Indie Film Festival has already gone full swing in selected theaters in the Metro and nearby provinces.
Its executive producer and director, Ryan Manuel Favis, shared his excitement for this year’s festival and he also underscored holding the event every year.
“Mahalaga ang pag-gawa ng maiigsing pelikula, kasi nga stepping stone ang inding indie. Kami ‘yung stepping stone, dapat magsisimula kami sa maliit. Ito ‘yung pinaka-workshop nila. Dito namin mas nabibigyan namin ng malayang pagsulat, pagdirek, at pag-arte ‘yung gusto naming ipalabas.
“(Short film-making is important because it is a stepping stone. We are a stepping stone,m that’s why we are starting at the smallest. This serves at their workshop. Here, we can provide a liberating space for aspiring writers, directors, and actors),” he said in an interview.
Inding Indie started way back in 2014 through its founder, Ron Sapinoso. Favis has been its executive producer. The late star-builder, German Moreno served as its advocacy speaker.
Favis explained the importance of short film-making, in the context of reaching the audience and serving them genuine stories.
“Why short film? Kasi mas madali siyang gawin. Madali naming namamanage ‘yung message na gusto naming iparating sa public, na hindi masyadong naririnig sa iba, especially mainstream.
“(Why short film? Because it is easy to make. We can easily relay the message that we want to give to the moviegoing public, which does not always happen, especially in mainstream cinema),” he noted.
He also underscored the ease of creating real and unique stories with newbie actors.
“Kapag hindi ka kilala, mga aspiring, madaling mag-create ng mga unique stories. Tapos independent siya, so kami ang nasusunod. At ‘yun na rin ‘yung pinaka-workshop nila sa min. Everytime na nagsasign sila ng contract sa amin, sa management namin, ‘’yun na ang pinaka-output ng kanilang produkto.
“(It is really easy to create unique stories when working with new talents, especially since we are an independent firm. We are free to do whatever we want. It also serves as their workshop. Every time a talent signs with us, the short films become the output of their workshop),” Favis explained.
Favis shared that the talents they have been able to get are those who have already tried auditioning for various projects and those who come from social media.
“Dalawa ‘yan: yung iba nag-auaudition na. Lumalabas sa mga commercial, lumamabas sa mga teleserye, nag-eextra.Sila ‘yung unang bahagi. Hindi sila kontento eh.Wala silang makapitan na puwedeng makilala sila kaagad. So sila lumapit sila sa amin, sa inding Indie. Gusto nila ng malalim na aktingan, ‘yung mailalabas nila lahat.
“(It’s two things: they are those who have been auditioning a lot. Some have already appeared in commercials, in TV shows, and some played minor roles. They are the first part. They did not have anyone to help them get bigger exposure. That’s why they reached out to us. They wanted the next level kind of acting, the one that would help them showcase their full potential,” he shared.
“Pangalawa, sila ‘yung mga nabasa lang sa social media, puwede ka nang mag-artista. ‘Yung mga estudyante na may pangarap, ‘yun ganon, simpleng tao na gusto lang talagang sumabak sa film industry.
“Secondly, they are those who we see on social media, students who have dreams, and simple people who just wish to enter show business,” he added, noting those are the two faces that they usually cross paths with.
Asked if the bigger production studios and talent agencies intimidate him, Favis said it does not concern him.
“Hindi ko siya itinuturing na competition. Sila ‘yung goal namin para sila gumawa ng maganda. ‘Okay gusto mong marating ‘yun. Gusto mong pumasok sa ABS, sa GMA-7? Gusto mong makilala sa Cinemalaya, dito ka magsimula. Dito ka magpursigi, pagsikapan natin.
“(I don’t consider them as a competition. They are our goal, in the first place. You want to join ABS-CBN, GMA-7? You dream of starring in a Cinemalaya film? Then begin with us. Start persevering with us. Let’s work on your dreams),” Favis shared, noting that Inding Indie is his way of preparing the newbie talents for the bigger stage they aspire to conquer.
Falvis also pointed that throughout Inding Indie’s more than seven years, they have already paved the way for various talents and artists into penetrating mainstream showbiz.
He made mention of ABS-CBN’s CJ Salonga, whom he co-manages alongside Rise Artists Studio.
The 2022 Inding Indie Short Film Festival had its red carpet premiere at the Gateway Cineplex Cinema. It will also have screenings at the Metropolitan Theater on August 30, and at SM Bacoor, on September 26.
