FilAm Creatives Film Festival launched; Pinoy filmmakers gather at Venice International Film Festival

The FilAm Creative (FAC) recently launched their FilAm Creative Festival in cooperation with Birns & Sawyer with Filipino-American talents and filmmakers in attendance. The special guest of the night was award-winning Brillante Mendoza.

Held at the sprawling Glendale home of Birns & Sawyer CEO/Owner Mari Acevedo, the launch also kick-started its campaign and announcement of the Birns & Sawyer/FilAm Creative Film Festival Camera Package Grant.

One filmmaker or team will be provided with digital camera packages, lenses, and accessories toward the production of their next short film project.

Acevedo's initiative is to enrich the Hollywood landscape and contribute to a more equitable and vibrant film industry.

Photo courtesy of Janet Susan Nepales

FilAm Creative, founded in 2010 and headed by Mark Labella, has had a long-term goal of adding a film festival to their slate of diverse and high-quality programming to elevate their commitment to the advancement and empowerment of Filipino-Americans and AAPI in media and entertainment.

"By providing educational and community-oriented programming and resources, FilAm Creative aims to encourage and create leaders who share their vision," said Ed Mallilin, FilAm Creative Board of Directors Representative.

Jennielyn Abrot, Owner/Producer of JAR Entertainment, has been appointed as the new Director of FilAm Creative Film Festival.

The FilAm Creative Film Festival will be held on November 3 to 5, sponsored by and held at Occidental College in Eagle Rock, California.

The grant winner will be announced at the FilAm Creative Film Festival awards gala on Sunday, November 5, with the other category festival winners.

Photo courtesy of Janet Susan Nepales

On the other side of the world, here at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, Sam Manacsa's "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die," short film will compete in the Orrizonti Short Films Competition. It has also the honor of not only being the only Philippine entry but also the only Southeast Asian entry in the festival.

Filmmaker Avid Liongoren is also participating in the Venice Gap Financing Market.

To honor these filmmakers, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) representatives Rica Leticia Arevalo and Liza Ofianga hosted a dinner at the Bagno Marconi restaurant in Lido.

Also in attendance at the gathering were Venice International Film Festival's Paolo Bertolin, Selection Committee, Asia Ruperto Cinecitta of the Italian Pavilion and Project Manager-Cultural, "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" producer Chad Cabigon, actress Jorrybell Agoto, co-producer Rod Marmol, Maison ZBZ Evelyn Vargas-Knaebel Founder, Bianca Zialcita Co-Founder and CEO, Geraldine Solon, Fil-Am novelist, Joshua Fontelo, Production Manager, Golden Globe Associates Ruben V. Nepales and this writer.

Photo courtesy of Janet Susan Nepales

—MGP, GMA Integrated News