The 4th annual Chicago Filipino American Film Festival has provided an opportunity to witness the growth of Filipino American filmmakers and performers, and experience the rich and colorful cinema of the Philippines.

Friday, November 9th

8P COLMA: THE MUSICAL features the writing, acting, and musical talent of H.P. Mendoza, and tells the story of three recent high school grads, played by Mendoza, Jake Moreno, and L.A. Renigen, facing the challenges of adult life in the dead-end San Francisco suburb that gives the film its name. COLMA: THE MUSICAL has gained critical and festival acclaim, and will enjoy continued success on DVD later in November. With thirteen musical numbers, a sharp, insightful script, and an ultra-low budget, COLMA infuses a smart, honest coming of age indie film with the energy of the movie musical. "An itty-bitty movie with a great big heart, COLMA is about three young people on the brink of that terrifying adventure called life, but it’s also about how we learn to give voice — joyfully, honestly, loudly — to the truest parts of ourselves, parts not everyone else hears. "—The New York Times.

10p SQUATTERPUNK - Khavn De La Cruz, an underground legend in the Philippine cinema, delivers a unique glimpse at the bleak landscape of the slums of Isla Puting Bato. SQUATTERPUNK captures a day in the life of a group of squatter children with stunning black and white clarity and the unflinching eye of a documentary, accompanied by a nonstop, driving punk rock soundtrack by De La Cruz's own band, The Brockas. The mix is urgent, defiant, and often moving. Although SQUATTERPUNK contains no dialogue, this "silent" film's edgy soundtrack brings to life the spirit and courage of the children as they find moments of joy in the midst of devastating poverty and constant dangers. Challenging and experimental, SQUATTERPUNK earned a Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Cinemanila International Film Festival and has received acclaim at international festivals from Brisbane, to Singapore, to Rotterdam, and serves as an important contribution to world cinema.

Saturday, November 10th

9a Screenwriting Workshop: A Basic Introduction for Beginners with a Story or a Dream Your favorite movies all started with a story idea put into a screenplay. Do you have ideas you think could become the next critically acclaimed classic or big blockbuster? The first step in such a dream is to transform those ideas into a screenplay that works. Producers and agents receive thousands of screenplays each month. They don’t have time to read all of them. Even if they did, they still wouldn’t. Their readers—usually a recent college English Lit grad trying to break into the industry—value their sanity too much to bother going past the first page if you don’t have a movie-friendly story or don’t know the rules for proper screenplay formatting. This three-hour workshop for beginning and novice screenwriters introduces you to the strange and adventurous world of American screenwriting. Paul Peditto, an accomplished playwright, film director and screenwriting coach will take you through an intensive review of screenwriting forms, structure, style and, most importantly, stand-above-the-masses stories. He then concludes with an overview of the business end of screenwriting, from query letters and treatments to screenwriting contests and producing your own films.

1230p BATAD - this colorful and scenic digital feature follows the story of a tribal Ilfugao youth (Alcris Galura) living among the famed, and now endangered rice terraces of Batad. While the members of the boy's traditional community rarely wear shoes, his encounters with Western tourists leaves him envious of their modern hiking boots, and his big city dreams place him in conflict with the his family and his cultural values. Directed by Benji Garcia, the film was awarded Special Jury Prize, Best Actor (Alcris Galuran), and Best Screenplay (Vic Acedillo).

230p LETTERS FROM NOR - revolves around the importance of the written letter in a time without e-mail, mobile phones, or text messaging. Set in the 1970s, LETTERS FROM NOR is inspired by a real life incident in which the mail stopped coming and going in a remote village in Negros. When Nor (John Michael Lee), a simple errand boy, forges love letters to Karen (Karylle), he opens his heart to the girl of his dreams, while his manipulative cousin Mando (John Arceo) fails to warn him of the consequences. Jay Abello and Manny Montelibano directed this bittersweet tale in a vividly photographed rural landscape.

430p PINOY JAZZ - Directed by Collis Davis, Jr., and based on the award-winning book PINOY JAZZ TRADITIONS by Filipino jazz musician and historian, Richie C. Quirino, PINOY JAZZ explores the roots of jazz music in the Philippines, from the earliest introduction by African American soldiers in 1898, to contemporary infusions of tribal sounds and traditional jazz. PINOY JAZZ documents this colorful history with archival photographs, vintage recordings and footage, and interviews with musicians from the classical and contemporary schools of the Filipino jazz scene.

7p THREE TO FIVE AND GLASSY - Hawaiian-born filmmaker Colin Rivera delivers a witty and charming feature film debut. While the film takes its title from the Hawaiian slang for perfect surfing conditions, Annie (Angela Relucio), is having a less than perfect day, locked out of her apartment with just hours before a hula performance. Wandering the streets of New York with her eccentric circle of friends, Annie's search for her keys turns into a quest to reconnect with her family, her culture, and her direction in life, and even half a world away from the beaches of Hawaii, learning to surf the perfect wave might be the answer.

930P BLACKOUT - Second-time feature filmmaker Ato Bautista has created a dark and challenging psychological thriller that explores the depths of guilt through the eyes of an alcoholic father, played vastly against type by Filipino cinema superstar Robin Padilla. While Gil's young son pleads for him to change his ways during an ongoing series of alcohol-induced blackouts, Gil's failure to heed his son's pleadings has dire consequences. BLACKOUT avoids both the supernatural conventions of the Asian horror genre, as well as the clinical detachment of the contemporary crime drama; the result is a haunting exploration of the depths of guilt that follow a harrowing act that is beyond forgiveness.

Sunday, November 11th

12N A MORAL DEBT - a short documentary, directed by Martin Rosetti, recounts the story of the nearly 250,000 Filipino veterans who were inducted into and fought on behalf of the United States Armed Services in World War II. With up to the minute dialogue concerning current legislation A MORAL DEBT includes testimony from veterans, policymakers, and activists involved in the movement to gain recognition and fair compensation for the Filipino veterans.

230P SHORTS PROGRAM Shorts, music videos, and animation from the U.S. and the Philippines. Some short fims contain mild language.
THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM - Directed by Rey Corpuz (Filmmaker in Attendance)
MY FATHER THE ACTOR - Directed by Don De Leon, starring Abe Pagtama
MARCO - Directed by Donnie Sacueza
VTR - Directed by JP Carpio
PIRANG SIRANG PLAKA - Directed by Real Florido
KEEP UP by PIC; MASH IT UP by KXL - Music videos directed by Steven Mallorca
CHAMPION by Native Guns - Music video directed by Patricio Ginelsa

430P THREE TO FIVE AND GLASSY - Hawaiian-born filmmaker Colin Rivera delivers a witty and charming feature film debut. While the film takes its title from the Hawaiian slang for perfect surfing conditions, Annie (Angela Relucio), is having a less than perfect day, locked out of her apartment with just hours before a hula performance. Wandering the streets of New York with her eccentric circle of friends, Annie's search for her keys turns into a quest to reconnect with her family, her culture, and her direction in life, and even half a world away from the beaches of Hawaii, learning to surf the perfect wave might be the answer.

730P COLMA: THE MUSICAL features the writing, acting, and musical talent of H.P. Mendoza, and tells the story of three recent high school grads, played by Mendoza, Jake Moreno, and L.A. Renigen, facing the challenges of adult life in the dead-end San Francisco suburb that gives the film its name. COLMA: THE MUSICAL has gained critical and festival acclaim, and will enjoy continued success on DVD later in November. With thirteen musical numbers, a sharp, insightful script, and an ultra-low budget, COLMA infuses a smart, honest coming of age indie film with the energy of the movie musical. "An itty-bitty movie with a great big heart, COLMA is about three young people on the brink of that terrifying adventure called life, but it’s also about how we learn to give voice — joyfully, honestly, loudly — to the truest parts of ourselves, parts not everyone else hears. "—The New York Times.