Filmmakers agree – end online negativity

Vice President Leni Robredo and the Filipino filmmakers joining the Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival (INPFF) share one thing in common: They are fed up with negativity and hate online.

For the 15 finalists of the INPFF, the competition goes beyond the competition. They also hope to change the national conversation like Robredo.

“Being part of the social media generation, I realized the impact [of these films]. Malayo ang mare-reach, and it will catch the attention of a lot of people,” said Demy Cruz Jr., one of the finalists competing in the film festival.

His work, “Ang Gahum Sang Daku Nga Handum (The Power of Big Dreams),” tells the story of a teacher who belongs to a group of indigenous peoples.

“If we have stories like this on a day-today basis, it’s an opportunity to change what pops on our feed,” Cruz stressed.

According to AR Angcos, the INPFF is an opportunity to “sow a seed of doubt” on the wave of negativity and hate online and in real life.

“I want people to realize that we have moral values,” said Angcos, who tells the story of a hiker helping poor communities in the mountains in “The Climbing Puppeteer.”

“Eventually we will get tired of negativity and we will see deep inside, we will question ourselves about it, and allow positivity to flourish again,” the filmmaker quipped.

Matthew Pelayo, who made a short film about a female Uber driver in “Overdrive,” said films featuring Filipinos with stories of inspiration and hope show that “we’re all the same despite different struggles.”

Joining the three finalists are other filmmakers namely Kimberly Ilaya (Liwanag), Gian-Andre Arre (Mclaine), Jocelyn Frago (Liham Pagmamahal Para sa Kasalukuyan), Kelsy Lua (Gawilan), and Alyssa Bernardino (Dealing With Healing).

Included are Sandra Nicole Fajardo (Alkansiya), Florence Rosini (Ang Biyahe ni Marlon), Mika Quizon (Pamilyang Bernardo), Anne Custodio (Ngiti), Errianne Rojo (Dibuho), Meg Serranilla (Tago), and Kristel Reyes (Person With This Ability).

INPFF is a nationwide, all-digital film competition launched by the Office of the Vice President and Ayala Foundation to mark the first anniversary of Istorya ng Pag-asa. It was opened to Filipino filmmakers, both professional and non-professional, who must feature true stories of inspiration from ordinary citizens.

In partnership with the Ayala Foundation, top three winners in the INPFF will be named during the gala night on June 12.