LACK OF FUNDS may prevent the country?s independent filmmakers from participating in major film festivals abroad.

Gutierrez Mangansakan II?s ?Limbunan,? the Philippines? lone entry in the International Critics? Week section of the Venice Film Festival set in Italy in September almost pulled out of the prestigious event.

The director, whose film was one of the 10 finalists in the New Breed division of the Cinemalaya film fest last July, related that he is ?neck-deep in debt.?

To screen in Venice, he had to convert his film from High-Definition to Digital Cinema Package format which cost him P120,000. (That was a bargain, actually; DCP conversion cost over P400,000 last year.)

He was given P60,000 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), through the assistance of executive director Malou Jacob and commissioner Ricardo de Ungria.

The rest of the cost of the conversion was covered ?through loans from various sources,? Mangansakan said.

As of last Thursday, the director said ?the film, in DCP format, was ready to be shipped to Italy.?

No one home at FDCP

Comes the next hurdle: He?s worried that he and his staff will not be able to fly to Italy in time for the film?s screening on Sept. 11. (?Limbunan? is the closing film in the International Critics? Week section.)

?We cannot afford it. I myself don?t have a plane ticket yet,? he said. ?I?m just praying somebody would help.?

He had hoped to avail of travel grants from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). Malacañang, however, accepted the courtesy resignation of FDCP chair Rolando Atienza earlier this month, leaving the council without a head.

?My grant application with the FDCP is pending,? said Mangansakan.

He explained that the FDCP chair is the only person who can convene the Festival Committee, which decides on grant applications. ?After the committee?s deliberation, it will then transmit its recommendation to the FDCP Board.?

He has sought help from other government agencies ? the Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, even from several lawmakers, including the office of Senator Jose ?Jinggoy? Estrada who, in a letter addressed to President Aquino, earlier recommended actor Tirso Cruz III to replace Atienza in the FDCP.

Sadly, Mangansakan has not received favorable response from the government: ?I got the standard answer, ?No operating budget.? I?m so disappointed.?

Mangansakan?s dilemma isn?t an isolated case.

?A lot of filmmakers are in limbo now,? he said. ?At last count, five other Cinemalaya films have been invited to major film festivals in the next few months. Where will these indie filmmakers get the funds to screen their films abroad??

Danny Añonuevo?s ?Rekrut,? another Cinemalaya finalist, is competing in the First Film section of the Montreal World Film Festival, ongoing in Canada until September 6. ?I am still looking for a sponsor for my plane ticket. The invitation covers only hotel accommodation,? said Añonuevo.

Yet another Cinemalaya film, Mario O?Hara?s ?Ang Paglilitis ni Bonifacio,? had to drop out of the Venice fest because of time constraints. ?We are honored that we were considered. But it takes a while to prepare and process all the paperwork,? said Almed Garcia, representative of producer Boy Abunda.

Mangansakan noted: ?There should?ve been an interim body in the FDCP that would process pending applications during periods of transition.?

He remained undaunted, though: ?I am determined to represent the country in one of the world?s most prestigious film festivals even if our country?s leaders do not care.?

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