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Raymond Red's 'Anino'
tapped to compete at Cannes

By Rica Arevalo

RAYMOND Red's short film, ''Anino'' has been formally invited to compete in the short film category of the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival. The competition will take place from May 10 to 21 in France with Red's movie competing with 10 other short films for the Palme d'Or for best film and the Jury Prize.

Participation

Red received a letter from Gilles Jacob during the Holy Week confirming his participation in the festival. Belgian director Luc Dardenne will be the jury president, and the members of the jury are actress Mira Sorvino and directors Francesca Comencini, Claire Denis and Abdherramane Sissako.

''I felt very happy. It was the first time that I made a film exactly the way I wanted it. When I made 'Anino,' it didn't matter if I had to sell it or show it for free, basta ginawa ko lang siya, (I just wanted to create it)'' Red says.

''Anino'' is an important milestone for Red because it was the product of his frustration over not making films for the last seven years. ''Because of my frustration,'' he shares, ''I had to go back to my roots, which was making short films. Others consider making short films for amateurs, but I have a high regard for the discipline in making shorts.''

Church photographer

''Anino'' stars Eddie Garcia, Ronnie Lazaro and John Arcilla. The film explores the widening gap between the rich, powerful class against the underdog, lower class. Lazaro plays a struggling church photographer being tormented by an Evil Being played by Arcilla. He wanders in the city in search of his truth. Red was inspired by Lino Brocka's ''Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag.'' Looking through the Cannes archives, we note that only two Filipino directors have participated in the prestigious festival: Lino Brocka and Mike de Leon. Now, Red is the third.

Politics

Red's film was chosen on its own merits. ''I heard from some quarters that you need influential people to be selected for a festival, and that politics are involved. But, when I submitted my film to Cannes, I did not know anybody. I had no direct contact. Nag-submit lang ako and yet it got in,'' shares Red.

He is currently busy working on the subtitles of his film. He will attend the festival next month and hopefully bring home some honors. ''I hope to meet possible financiers for my 'Makapili' project,'' he adds. He has been struggling to start that dream project for 10 years now but no local producers want to take a risk on this visionary filmmaker.

from: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 29, 2000