NEWSFLASH

IN PRAISE OF RAYMOND RED AT CANNES FILM FEST
(Philippine Star by Ricky Lo)

Manila, May 18, 2000 - Here's a reaction letter from New York-based Ana Marie Datuin to a Funfare item about Raymond Red's short film Anino which is in competition (Short Film Category) at the Cannes Filmfest:

"I believe any Filipino, who knows the importance and glamour of being chosen to compete in the Cannes for the Festival, should be ecstatic over the fact that the Philippines is currently being represented in this most prestigious international film festival by Raymond Red whose short film, Anino, is in competition. I think we don't have to wait for Raymond to bring home the Palme d'or Award for us to give him the accolades he deserves. At this point, he is already a winner and he deserves recognition and our cheers for having made it to the top 10 out of 517 entrees from all over the world.

I am not pushing for Raymond because I know him personally and that I have the honor and privilege of working with him through the film Sakay. I am rooting for him because I strongly believe he deserves it and we, Filipinos, should begin to learn how to give credit where credit is due. I am saying this because when Marilou Diaz-Abaya was positioning her film Rizal for the Cannes Festival, it was the topic of all major newspapers. I am not saying Marilou Diaz-Abaya doesn't deserve our attention because she is a good film director. But, I guess, the point I am driving at is that, why is it that now that someone, who's only claim to fame were his films Bayani and Sakay which both made it to the top 100 Filipino films anyway during the last century, finally made it to the elite circle of the Cannes Film Festival, no one is talking about it?

Come on, now! It's not too late for us to cheer for Raymond. At this point, he needs all the prayers and moral support he can get from all of us. After all, if he wins, he's not only doing it for himself -- he is also (once again) opening the doors for other members of the Philippine cinema like what the late Lino Brocka did through his films Jaguar, Orapronobis, Bayan Ko, and Bona and as member of the Cannes Film Festival July in 1986."