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Fil-Am Creative's inaugural film fest celebrates PH filmmakers, artists

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Steve Angeles | TFC News Los Angeles 

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z8JNKoZHKwc?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>The nonprofit entertainment group Fil-Am Creative recently held its inaugural Filipino Film Festival in Los Angeles.The three-day event featured dozens of short films, special panels, and a thriving community of filmmakers, artists, and creatives.&quot;We celebrate you filmmakers and your diverse perspectives and unique voices as Filipino-Americans,&quot; said Jennielyn Abrot, the festival&#x27;s director. &quot;This is all for you.&quot;Fil-Am Creative Executive Director Mark Labella said the turnout at the festival &quot;shows how hungry Hollywood is to see Filipino films and filmmakers flourish.&quot;&quot;We&#x27;re here, and we&#x27;re here to support each other,&quot; he added.The Filipino Channel and Myx Global partnered with Fil-Am Creative for the festival, where non-Filipinos got a glimpse of Philippine-style storytelling.&quot;I didn’t know that much about Philippine cinema in general so I didn’t know what to expect,&quot; said Marie Rouhban, a juror. &quot;Fil-Am did a great job creating the short films. It was an outstanding job that they did, all the short films were really good.&quot;The festival included panels, which touched on animation and virtual reality.&quot;[This] is the perfect place to bring it to,&quot; said Michaela Ternasky-Holland on her film &#x27;Mahal.&#x27; &quot;You might not even know there are people in our community making virtual reality experiences.&quot;The event also honored well-known filmmakers such as Brilliante Mendoza, and awarded the next generation of filmmakers like San-San Onglatco, who received the Best Short Film Award.&quot;When I made this, I really wanted to give a voice to the everyday people and I thought Manila was the perfect study for this,&quot; said Onglatco. &quot;Everybody has a unique voice.&quot;The festival hopes to build for the future, as young filmmakers were able to connect with industry leaders. Some films also secured grants from the Filipino-owned rental company Birns and Sawyer.

Dozens of short films are featured during the inaugural Filipino Film Festival of the nonprofit entertainment collective Fil-Am Creative.