?I?M FED up with the lies of the administration. I am using the power of film to refute some of the government?s claims,? said multiawarded movie/TV director Jeffrey Jeturian, who made the short film ?Ganito Tayo Ngayon, Paano Tayo Bukas??

The eight-minute feature tackles the current state of the country?s economy, which is an important concern that, Jeturian said, would be a deciding factor in this year?s national election.

Jeturian is one of 20 independent filmmakers commissioned by ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) to take part in ?amBisyon 2010,? a compilation of 20 short films tackling issues like education, environment, women, reform, corruption, poverty, insurgency and human rights.

Government critics

The project, which aims ?to show the state of the nation from the eyes of 20 Filipino filmmakers,? is a brainchild of directors Emmanuel Dela Cruz and Paolo Villaluna and produced by ANC executive producer Patricia Evangelista.

According to Jeturian, participating in the omnibus gives filmmakers ?the chance to express our views on the current state of the country, and to act as critics of the present government.?

He said the film took off at the time the Arroyo administration placed a newspaper advertisement in January about the country?s so-called economic gains.

?In the movie, we show that this pronouncement is a lie,? Jeturian, who megged the award-winning indie film ?Kubrador,? told Inquirer Entertainment on Wednesday. ?We follow a day in the lives of a newsboy, an office employee and a company executive, who all get to read the government?s claim of economic growth. This film aims to show whether this so-called economic gains are affecting the common folk.?

The director said he picked economy as a subject matter because he considered it ?safe? and ?broad? and covered a lot of topics like corruption, poverty and injustice.

Also working on ?amBisyon 2010? are filmmakers Ditsi Carolino, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, Kiri Dalena, Henry Frejas, Jade Castro, Erik Matti, Brillante Mendoza, Ellen Ramos, Jon Red, Raymond Red, Jerrold Tarog, John Torres, Paolo Villaluna, Sunshine Matutina, Pam Miras, Aissa Penafiel, Emerson Reyes, Gym Lumbera, and McRobert Nacario. They all received a P300,000 grant to produce the short feature.

The films will be screened on April 6, followed by a five-part TV premiere on ANC starting April 10. Interviews with the filmmakers and excerpts of the shorts will be aired tonight at 10:15 on ANC, and simulcast on ABS-CBN?s ?Sunday?s Best.?