The artistic and tireless crowd of Cebu got a taste of the special screenings for Filipino independent films last November 27, Friday at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center. PLDT MyDSL Watchpad and Bigseed Media gave the us chance to meet and greet [insert generous adjectives of how brilliant they are] the directors and the crew of  “Kinatay” (which won for Brillante the Best Director plum in the recent Cannes Film Festival) and “Engkwentro” (Best Director for the Venice Film Festival).

Spotted at the premiere were Felix Roco, Brilliante Mendoza and Pepe Diokno. At the press conference after the film showing, Pepe Diokno and Felix Roco were seated at the stage in front of everybody who asked them questions about the movie. Whatever they missed to ask Pepe Diokno is going to be showcased here. An afterparty at VUDU concluded after. (photo below taken during their presscon)

Full Name:  Jose Lorenzo Diokno
Age:  22
Occupation:  Filmmaker
Graduate of: (still studying) Senior, University of the Philippines Film Institute
Single/Taken/Occupied: Single

Raymund and Richard - it is just a coincidence that they happen to have the same names with the Guitierrez (sic) brothers when you met the two vigilantes?
You mean the Guitierrez brothers? No, I found the inspiration for Engkwentro while I was doing research for a documentary in 2007. At a detention facility in Davao, I met two brothers. They were 15 and 17, members of opposing gangs, and their names were actually Richard and Raymond. Because rules are tight for talking to minors in detention, I wasn’t able to record their full names, and I did not use their life story for Engkwentro. But I decided to keep their names in the film to honor them just as well.

Have you always been the filmmaker when you were young? Were you so into role playing and joining plays?
I’ve always loved watching films and I had a wild imagination as a kid, so I guess that’s where it started. I did join a few plays in high school, but that was embarrassing. I’m way better behind-the-scenes. I am a terrible, terrible actor.

Who is your favorite local director?

I’m a fan of all Pinoy directors — we and everyone in the industry work so hard to keep our cinema alive. I have nothing but support for our local talent.

Did the Italians treat you any different when you were in Italy for the awarding?

In my experience, Italians are really, really nice people. Our first few days in Venice, we were just part  of the audience — nobody knew we had a film playing and it was just nice to get lost in the crowd because everyone was really accommodating. Our lead actor, Felix Roco, for example, got lost one night. And so he asked for help from the police and they were nice enough to bring him all the way to our hotel!

Being 100,000USD richer, do you plan to embark on a crazy travelling adventure?
No, I’m a backpacker. Last year, I travelled from Malaysia to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam on like, P30,000. The prize money is going to fund my second film.

Did you run into any setbacks while filming Engkwentro?
Yes, doing the film was the most challenging thing everyone in the cast and crew has ever done. The film is presented like one continuous take to make audiences feel like they’re inside the film. Like their inside the world — like a video game! But in order to mount that, we had to go through so much preparation just to get everyone right in one take. Imagine having a long shot, where if someone made a mistake in the last minute, we had to repeat everything from the start!

There were financial problems, artistic problems… There are lots of stunts and lots of “hidden” special effects in the movie. It was a big learning experience for everyone. But that headship really molds you — makes you a better person. And we’re just happy that the film has gone so far. It’s a big cherry on top of the cast and crew’s hard work.

What would you describe the style you got going on?
Hmm… I really let the material determine style. What you see in the film is the direct influence of my experiences meeting with people who are affected by the vigilantes and immersing myself in the environment they live in. The long shot was inspired by my experience getting lost in a maze of shanties. But yeah, yhe way I shoot a movie depends on my relationship with the subject matter, so I can’t say I subscribe to a specific style.

In fact, you might be surprised with my next film.

What do you think are the 5 things that define “looks”?
Eyes, ears, nose, mouth. And a skull. Haha.

Fashion for less or Labels all the way?
Fashion for less!

Does one need to be in film school to be a director even if they are not resourceful (finances-wise)?
No, you do not have to be in film school to learn how to be a director. I really appreciate the environment of film school — meeting fellow students and teachers with the same interest, and holding discussions with them. But, I think a director’s vision is molded by practical experience, not necessarily education. My advice to people who want to direct is to just do it. Go out and direct.

Shopping/Fashion secrets. Do you have any? Favorite apparel, perhaps?
I am the worst shopper in the world, but my shopping mecca would have to be the tiangges of Bangkok.

First time in Cebu? 

No, I’ve been to Cebu many, many times. I love it. I love the people, the beaches, and, of course, the music.

FILL IN THE BLANKS:
You’ll usually see me wearing the same clothes over and over. Seriously.
I never leave home without my cellphone
Best shopping finds are found in the bargain bin
They used to call me fat in high school.
The features I’d most get compliments from are my smile (says my friend who is beside me as I answer. Hi, Ysa!)
The one thing I know now that I wish I knew before is that I get compliments for my smile
My friends say I’m masungit.
I think nude photos are brilliantt.
It’s sexy when a girl bites her lip.
Im most insecure with everything about myself.
Ive been in love once/twice…… Haha, this is a question artistas should be answering, not directors!
If I could trade lives with Ian, my youngest brother, who’s seven. He’s 500% more attractive than I am and he just goes around without a care in the world.
I am working on my second film. It’s a war movie.
My biggest crush is Haha, this is a question artistas should be answering, not directors!
I think the unlimited mobile calls is the best invention in history.
The best part about being a director is that you’re given a voice.
If I’m not making a movie  I’m a complete and total bum.
My favorite local actress/actor is Anita Linda
I think the best directing advice is know what the one thing is you want to say with your film. That one message. Everything, down to the way you move your camera, follows from there.
I want planes, gunfire, explosions, Batman and Optimus Prime to be in my next movie.
If I could be anywhere else in the Phiilppines, I’d be in Cebu. (yay!)
You’d find mostly  Phoenix in my iPod/cd player/car stereo.
My best recent purchase that I can’t get over with is wireless headphones that I can pair with my laptop and cellphone

From their website:
“In the last decade, over 814 people have been killed by “death squads” allegedly sponsored by local governments in the Philippines. Many of the victims are minors — supposed gang members, petty criminals, drug dealers, and street children. The Philippine government denies the existence of these vigilantes, and given the continuing inadequacy of our justice system, many Filipinos seem to accept the need for such brutality in approaching the nation’s crime problem. The issue is rarely talked about in the Philippines. With “Engkwentro,” we want to raise it on an international stage.”

The film, shot in three months in three different cities, had the smallest budget compared with other participants.  Diokno’s feat came after the victory of Brillante Mendoza in another international film festival. Mendoza was named best director at the recently concluded 62nd Cannes Film Festival for “Kinatay.”

Pepe Diokno flew to Italy to claim his award. “Engkwentro”, Diokno’s first film, won a special mention prize in this year’s Cinemalaya 2009 digital film festival. Filipino filmmaker Pepe Diokno’s “Engkwentro” won the top prize in the Orizzonti (New Horizons) section of the 66th Venice International Film Festival which he bested with 24 other films from Vietnam, Egypt, Peru, Russia, Tunisia, Italy, China, Germany and the United States, among others. He also won the Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future award presented by the jury president director Haile Gerima. It made him US$100,000 richer. The prize was donated by distributor Filmauro.

More trivia from the Enkwentro movie:
- Zyrus Desamparado 18-year-old actor who played Tomas actually hails from Tabunok, Talisay City, Cebu and finished high school at the University of the Visayas – Main Campus.
- Pepe Diokno wrote, directed AND produced Engkwentro.
- The movie was shot handheld style without any fancy cameras present
- Felix Roco, 20 year old, is the son of local cinema legend Bembel Roco.
- Pepe turned 22 last August
- Pepe Diokno is the grandson of the late senator and human rights advocate Jose Diokno

To those who missed the PLDT MyDSL Watchpad Launch event, Engkwentro and Kinatay are featured at the myFlicks movie central section of the PLDT MyDSL Watchpad channel myView and can be accessed anytime by all PLDT MyDSL subscribers. All they have to do is to register online and the service is free for them. Experience Engkwentro in HIGH DEFINITION today, December 11-13 at SM Megamall, Mall of Asia, North Edsa, and Cebu.

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Photos from Getty Images and their Flickr site.