How Mowelfund sparks young Filipino filmmakers’ journey

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MANILA, Philippines – There’s no questioning how the Mowelfund Film Institute (MFI) has helped shape Philippine cinema for the past decades, with many talents coming from the organization that has been supporting and educating individuals who aspire to make it in the industry.

Led by veteran actor and president Res Cortez, Mowelfund makes sure that its legacy continues, and the Intensive Filmmaking Workshop held every other year is one of its project highlights.

Helping Cortez with the curriculum and training are Paolo Villaluna, director general of the Film Academy of the Philippines; Jim Baltazar, managing director and owner of CMB Films, Mel Bacani, director and MFI alumnus; and Ricky Orellana, one of MFI’s current directors.

“As a graduate of Mowelfund myself, I see to it that we’re able to impart to the students what the institute taught us,” said Bacani.

“The technology nowadays are changing and they are more updated with it, so we’re not just mentors to them. We also learn from them. We give them ideas, and in return, they give us valuable inputs also.”

Villaluna said technology today can make it easier for this generation to produce films.

“The idea of people huddling to watch a story will never die. Cinema will never die,” he said. “Filmmaking is democratized. Everyone who wants to make a film can make a film. They have a bigger responsibility, though, as they need to carefully oversee the message of the film as it will affect the film itself.”

Although technology makes filmmaking more accessible, Orellana noted how it’s still important to study the craft.

“The future of the industry is in the hands of the youth and the young filmmakers. That is why MFI is throwing our full support to them not only because we believe in them, but because we know that quality movies in the offing will be produced by these fresh and creative minds of theirs,” said Orellana.

Baltazar also understands the struggles of young filmmakers, noting why CMB Film Services continues to support Mowelfund by providing and lending up-to-date film equipment.

This year, five film industry hopefuls were picked among the many applicants for the Intensive Filmmaking Workshop — Mio Dagsaan, Jay Angeles, Angela Jed Silvestre, Patrick Pangan, and Raymart Avellaneda.

They will undergo a six-month workshop that will culminate later this year with their own masterpieces.

“Their enthusiasm is one of a kind. It’s overwhelming to see them with such energy and with so much to give. They’re all very talented,” Bacani shared.

“They will still encounter a lot of obstacles, but one feet is already in Mowelfund. We won’t let them leave the Institute and spread their wings with a glass half full. It has to be 100%. We’re actually surprised with their ideas.”

Meet the 5 aspiring directors

Mio Dagsaan, a visual communication graduate of UP Diliman has always been interested with anything visual, but has gravitated toward filmmaking. He’s also into graphic design, and helped in the digital restoration of classic films prior to him being a part of this workshop.

“I have learned so much from the mentors in the past few months, people from the industry who shared their experiences, not to boast but to inspire and encourage us that we too can be a part of their world,” said Dagsaan.

“When I joined the MFI workshop, I was really motivated because they’ve produced a lot of notable names in the industry. There is a bit of pressure on our part to deliver as we will be identified as MFI products in the long run, but overall, it’s good pressure because it motivates us.”

Jay Angeles is coming from a completely different industry, having worked in the corporate world. Being the oldest in the group, Angeles noted that he grew up renting VHS tapes. With no one to spend summers with, movies on VHS format is what entertained him.

“Even as a child, I was very fond of watching movies already. A part of me was curious about what happens behind the scenes. But then, corporate life happened,” he shared.

“It wasn’t until I learned about MFI and this workshop that I knew I had to scratch that itch and try to express my ideas through filmmaking.”

Angela Jed Silvestre, the only female in this year’s batch, is a former editor, creative producer, and director for both print and digital media.

“I’ve always been a storyteller. I’ve worked for lifestyle titles, I loved reading and consuming media films, podcasts, and magazines,” she shared.

“I came across a quote from Maya Angelou that goes, ‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.’ When I read that, I completely understood what she meant. And that is why when I discovered Mowelfund, the ideas just kept pouring. It was easy to realize that this could be my next dream to pursue. I’m hoping it could make a difference not just in my life but also to others.”

Patrick Pangan, the multi-talented director, editor, and writer hailing from Pampanga, already had some of his works screened internationally, reaching festivals like BAFICI in Buenos Aires and Queer East Film Festival in London.

“Back in high school, I was more into photography. I grew up curious on how they make films and what goes on behind the scenes. That is what fueled me to pursue this career path,” he said.

Among his works include Shapesshifters (2020), We Were Never Really Strangers (2021), Bakit, Papa (2023), and Don’t You Forget (2023).

Communications graduate Raymart Avellaneda had working experience under Studio Viva, a division of Viva Films. His most recent work was as a junior creative producer of Lumuhod ka sa Lupa, which was shown over TV5 last year.

“I started writing as early as seven years old. I can safely say I have a knack for daydreaming,” he said. “When I was in college, it somehow paved the way for the characters to come out, and for me to be able to express them.”

Avellaneda admits that all five of them still have a lot to learn.

“Being with a group of people who are really talented and full of ideas, there are times I still feel insecure, but at the same time, through good communication, we’re able to relate and put together ideas that result to positive outcomes,” he said.

Final project

All five young directors will submit short films as culmination of their workshop before the year ends.

Silvestre will direct and produce Pinagkaisahan, a short film that will tackle the stories of three women struggling against an oppressive system, each of them fighting for care, dignity, and the right to be seen.

Pangan plans to work on The Cat is a Wide-Eyed Night, a film about two estranged brothers who drift through a night where the boundaries of reality dissolve — guided by a mother who is everywhere and nowhere, and a bond that both wounds and heals.

Marahan, directed by Avellaneda, will feature a young lad who returns home to the province after 10 years in Manila. In the film, he will rediscover spaces, kin, and friends he thought he knew, and finding that to truly soar toward his dreams, he must first reclaim the heart he left behind.

Dagsaan’s output is entitled Visual Record, a story about a photographer going on a bicycle ride to take pictures of a petroglyphs site but ends up finding himself spending time with a curious student.

Angeles will feature Baybayin, a story about a grieving man whose memory suddenly pulls through back in time. He drifts through love and regret, as he struggles to pack love once shared and sorrows that refuse to recede.

“I believe in cinema’s ability to help and heal people especially after this workshop,” said Silvestre. “Artificial Intelligence cannot replicate human experience and that is where we get inspiration from.” – Rappler.com

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