MANILA, Philippines?Apart from Pusan (South Korea) and Vladivostok (Russia), the 50th Thessaloniki International Film Festival is also honoring the Philippines in a special retrospective.

According to its website, the ?Independence Days? section of the Greek fest, which runs Nov. 13-22, is ?paying tribute to Philippine cinema of the 21st century.?

Thirteen Filipino films are included in the section, which presents ?outstanding developments in alternative/independent cinema from all over the world.? They are: Adolfo Alix Jr.?s ?Adela?; Pepe Diokno?s ?Engkwentro?; Sherad Anthony Sanchez?s ?Imburnal?; Raya Martin?s ?Independencia? and ?A Song for Indio Nacional?; Brillante Mendoza?s ?Tirador,? ?Kinatay? and ?Lola?; Alix and Martin?s ?Manila?; Lav Diaz?s ?Melancholia?; Khavn de la Cruz?s ?The Muzzled Horse of an Engineer in Search of Mechanical Saddles?; Jim Libiran?s ?Tribu?; and John Torres? ?Todo Todo Teros.?

Director?s triumph

The website noted that the country?s ?rise? in the international scene is ?evident? in Mendoza?s Best Director triumph in Cannes and Diokno?s back-to-back win [the Orizzonti prize and Luigi De Laurentiis award] in Venice?both this year.

The site noted that ?Philippine cinema has a long history? and that today?s directors are ?descendants? of pioneers Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka and Raymond Red.

Thessaloniki commended the current crop of RP filmmakers for their ?independent and creative spirit.?

Filipino films, according to the site, ?illustrate the country?s various realities [with] fresh, nonconformist voices ? radical in content and form.?

Mendoza is lauded for his ?harsh yet poignant and compassionate brand of social realism.? Diaz is similarly hailed for his ?commitment to realism.?

It was also pointed out that veteran actress Anita Linda, ?a Philippine cinema icon since the 1940s,? top-bills two films in the retro: ?Adela? and ?Lola.?

Martin, who also has three films in the list, is noted for depicting his countrymen?s ?struggles for independence and identity.?

The site describes De la Cruz as a ?pioneer? in the digital movement; while Torres, Libiran and Sanchez are praised for ?depicting their country in a candid, outspoken manner.?

These filmmakers, the site related, ?seek to make testaments of lives.?

Curated by film critic Lefteris Adamidis, the Independence Days section will feature a round-table discussion as well.