MANILA, Philippines?In an interview with Inquirer Entertainment in March, French programmer Jeremy Segay said that the 6th Festival Paris Cinema, apart from having a special showcase of Filipino films, is also mounting Paris Project, ?a co-production platform.?

According to the festival?s official website, several Filipino-produced films have been chosen to take part in Paris Project.

Segay explained that Paris Project will allow ?industry professionals to give tips to [Filipino] filmmakers on how to gain access to grants and form partnerships with French companies.?

Filipino filmmakers will also be given the chance to pitch their projects to international distributors and investors for possible co-production or distribution deals.

Among the Filipino films participating in the program are: Adolfo Alix Jr.?s ?Kalayaan?; Alix and Raya Martin?s ?Manila?; Ato Bautista?s ?Three Days of Darkness?; Auraeus Solito?s ?Boy? and ?Refugees in Love?; Joel Ruiz?s ?Up, Down, Round and Round?; Wi Ding Ho?s ?Pinoy Sunday?; Jim Libiran?s ?Strykr?; Ralston Jover?s ?Bakal Boys?; Emmanuel de la Cruz?s ?1434456?; and ufo Pictures? ?Sleeping Cutie.?

The Filipinos will be joined by filmmakers from Japan, Germany and the Netherlands in the program. The festival is running from July 2 to 12 in the French capital.

Margie Templo, producer of Arkeo Films, explained that its two films (?Up Down? and ?Pinoy Sunday?) are still in development.

She related that Ho, director of ?Pinoy Sunday? is from Malaysia and, with two short films, has participated in the Cannes Film Festival (in the International Critics? Week in 2005 and the Directors? Fortnight this year).

Templo said Arkeo is ?exploring the possibility of international co-productions? in Paris. ?Pinoy Sunday,? she pointed out, is a co-prod between Arkeo and a Taiwan company.

?We are also looking for pre-sale deals,? she said. ?It?s a way to get your financing in place prior to shooting.?

Special focus

Bautista told the Inquirer that he is bringing a script of ?Three Days? to Paris, to pitch to prospective producers and distributors there.

Libiran, whose film ?Tribu? is competing in the festival, said his project ?Strykr? is in script development.

Paris Project also has a special focus on the Philippines, in which two films will be featured: Alix?s ?Adela? and Michael Christian Cardoz?s ?Ranchero.?

An entry in this year?s Cinemalaya, ?Ranchero? (along with ?Adela?) will have a private screening to be attended by distributors and producers.

(Email: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com)