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CEBU, PHILIPPINES - After much anticipation by international media,
the International Academy of Film and Television's one-year immersion
program finally launched on January 17.
Industry watchers are sitting up because this means a steady stream
of filmmakers from film capitals such as Los Angeles and New York,
will be making its way for Mactan island in Cebu, where the academy
is located, to take up teaching positions. This term, the faculty
members include:
" Ruel Dahis Antipuesto, an established filmmaker and photographer
who won the 2004 Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines Award,
among others;
" Robert Bell, an award-winning writer-producer-director who
has worked in the Middle East, Europe and Asia;
" Timothy Doolen, who has worked with New Line Cinema and
DreamWorks. His credits include Catch Me If You Can, The Ring and
House of Sand and Fog;
" Peter Enright, who has been shooting intensively in the
former Soviet republics, Australia and Britain for the last 30 years.
Specializing in documentaries, he has worked with BBC, ABC and NBC;
" Ivan Kintanar, who is the co-founder and was the technical
director and head animator of Warhamster Studios in the Philippines;
" Marianne Persson, a producer who used to collaborate with
eminent Swedish directors, Daniel Bergman, Mai Zetterling and Gunnel
Lindblom. She has been teaching film in Sweden and Singapore.
IAFT has already inked a teaching contract with New York-based
photographer and filmmaker, Roberto Minervini, for the second term.
Such a list of faculty members reinforces IAFT's emphasis on combining
theoretical work with real-world applications as these professionals
will enrich classes with their global experience.
Despite the stellar line-up of film industry veterans, the One-Year
Immersion Program is offered at a surprisingly competitive rate:
while similar programs in the United States charge between US$25,000
to US$30,000, the Program costs only US$8,000 for international
students and US$5,000 for local Filipino students. According to
program director, Stephen Paine, there have been numerous enquiries
about this unique beachside campus, stocked with state-of-the-art
facilities, from countries as far away as Australia and the United
States.
To encourage budding filmmakers, IAFT even established a Scholarship
Fund for students who wish to attend its courses. The Fund comprises
three assistance programs: one need-based award, CineLikha Young
Filmmaker Scholarship, and two merit-based awards, IAFT Lumière
Fellowship and Emergent Artists Award.
Awards with a total value of about US$30,000 will be granted based
on student's annual income (for the need-based award) or prior creative
history and demonstrated potential (for merit-based awards). In
fact, CineLikha Young Filmmaker Scholarship has already been awarded
to 21-year-old Dwight Handro Baisac Buot, who is an IT instructor
at AMA Computer College. The other awards are still open for application.
The Program, which consists of five 9-week courses, The Program,
which consists of five 9-week courses, includes courses on cinematography,
editing, directing, screenwriting, producing, filmmaking, sound
design and other electives. Students will also get to work closely
with the faculty members to for their final project which can be
part of their professional reel.
IAFT accepts a new student intake every two months so subsequent
terms will begin on: March 27, June 5, August 14 and October 23.
Housing is available for students at the 68-room dormitory, Casablanca
Inn, which is a five-minute walk from the campus.
For more information, please call +63-32-342-8889 or 1-866-300-7207
(toll-free from U.S.). Alternatively, you can visit www.filmschool.ph.
About International Academy of Film and Television
The International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) offers
courses that combine theory and application training under the directions
of leading Hollywood filmmakers serving as faculty mentors. Located
in the heart of Asia on Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines, this tropical
beachside campus houses state-of-the-art facilities for filming
and post production. IAFT extends a comprehensive, hands-on approach
to making films and videos using the latest in equipment and technology.
Courses are designed for aspiring filmmakers as well as industry
professionals looking to advance their skill sets.
The IAFT presents a unique internship program that allows selected
students to work on feature films and television productions with
Bigfoot Entertainment. Our curriculum serves to nurture the creativity
and individual talents of each student, cultivating the next generation
of filmmakers, and continuing the entertainment traditions of Hollywood
and other film capitals of the world.
The IAFT creates an interactive learning institution and curriculum
that serves to nurture the next generation of filmmakers, thereby
continuing the entertainment traditions of Hollywood and other film
capitals of the world.
The International Academy of Film and Television brings Hollywood
to Asia.
For more information, visit www.filmschool.ph.
ABOUT BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT
Bigfoot Entertainment is a fully integrated entertainment company
specializing in four different areas: production, professional training,
production services and film financing.
With newly constructed first-rate production and post facilities
in Southeast Asia, Bigfoot Productions produces quality independent
feature films, television programming and educational content for
all regions of the world. Check out our projects at: www.bigfootentertainment.com
The International Academy of Film and Television offers professional
training programs to create the future filmmakers of tomorrow. Industry
mentors from around the world, including Hollywood, teach at our
facilities using an immersion and hands-on approach. Find out more
at: www.filmschool.ph
Bigfoot Production Services is a full service, one-stop shop with
state-of-the-art sound stages, post facilities, equipment, crew,
talent, housing and locations. It offers an infrastructure to make
shooting in Cebu easier and competitive rates for productions to
save money. More info at: www.bigfootentertainment.com
Bigfoot Partners invests in emerging as well as established filmmakers
who seek financing to produce modest budget yet high quality independent
productions. Film projects can be submitted through the fund's website
at: www.bigfootpartners.com
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