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 Lumi?re 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
