FOR THE first time in the Metro Manila Film Festival?s 36-years, five independently produced films will be screened as a prelude to the annual 10-day event in December.

According to Francis Tolentino, chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority, which oversees the festival, this innovation aims to encourage young filmmakers to uphold quality even on a limited budget. (By definition, an indie film is produced mostly outside of a major film studio.)

Said Tolentino, who is also MMFF executive committee chairman: ?This is our way of showcasing the work of new filmmakers. It is also aimed at raising public awareness of [Filipino] indie films, which are often not commercially shown here but are acclaimed abroad.?

The five indies that will usher in the MMFF:

Jerrold Tarog?s ?Senior Year,? which is about 10 students struggling to hurdle obstacles before graduation. Produced by Digitank Studios and Metric Films, the coming-of-age film stars Che Ramos, LJ Moreno, RJ Ledesma and Ina Feleo.

?Presa,? by Adolf Alix Jr., is an all-women film about life in a women?s correction center, top-billed by Anita Linda, Tetchie Agbayani, Rosanna Roces, Perla Bautista, Jodi Santamaria and Ina Feleo.

?Slowfade,? by Rommel Sales, is about a man?s rediscovery of his long-forgotten craft, filmmaking. Sales posted on the website www.slowfademovie.com: ?[The character] Darius shoots a series of videos about himself and his community and the beauty of life.?

?Rindido? is the latest project of filmmaker/animator Noriel Jarito. It is about an overseas Filipino worker who catches his woman with her paramour, runs amok and terrorizes an entire neighborhood. Actors Chanel Latorre and Banjo Romero play the lead roles.

Jonah Lim?s ?Nasaan si Hefte?? tells of a boy who is swept away by a strong current during a riverside picnic. It features Darryl Shaw, Anna Luna, Kenneth Go and Rommel Luna.

The MMFF project is dubbed as ?Tribute to Indie Films?Philippine Premier.? The five films will each have two screenings from Dec. 16-20 at the SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.