Diether Ocampo said working on the film ?Slow Fade? helped him understand what his father went through before succumbing to colon cancer.

?I tried to look at this movie from my father?s point of view,? the actor, who was only 6 years old when his dad died, told the Inquirer.

Rommel Sales? ?Slow Fade? is about a filmmaker, Darius, who?s diagnosed with cancer just as his wife Tere gets pregnant with their first child. It is one of five independent films to be screened as a prelude to the coming 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Deither is Darius and Precious Lara Quigaman plays Tere. The film was written by Paul Sta. Ana.

?Nasaan si Hefte??

Jonah Lim, director of ?Nasaan si Hefte?? said the film was made with a measly budget of P50,000. ?It was shot in 10 weeks with more than 20 actors. It?s a film with a small budget, but with a big heart,? Lim added.

It?s about a boy who is swept away by a strong current during a riverside picnic. A few years later, the boy returns thinking he is someone else. ?It is an experiment on multi-level storytelling,? the director explained. ?There are parts that seem violent but no violence is shown. It presents positive messages without being preachy.?

?Senior Year?

Jerrold Tarog?s entry ?Senior Year? is about the experiences of 10 middle-class high school students of the fictitious St. Frederick?s Academy. The director said the cast is composed of actual students who participated in one of his acting workshops.

This coming-of-age movie also features Che Ramos, LJ Moreno, RJ Ledesma and Ina Feleo.

?Rindido?

?Rindido,? by Noriel Jarito, is about an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who catches his woman with another man, runs amok and terrorizes an entire neighborhood. Actors Chanel Latorre and Banjo Romero play lead roles.

?Nine years ago, I was an OFW in Saudi myself. It was there where I learned about the domestic problems that other Pinoys face,? Jarito said. ?The film tries to make Pinoys realize that working in another country is not the only way to escape poverty.?

?Presa?
Adolfo Alix Jr. said he takes pride in making films that reflect real-life experiences. His latest, ?Presa,? is about life in a women?s correctional center. It is based on the true story of an inmate, who was accused of drug pushing and is hoping to get a presidential pardon this Christmas.

It stars veteran actress Anita Linda, with Perla Bautista, Ina Feleo, Jodi Santamaria, Rosanna Roces and Tetchie Agbayani.

?I?m thankful that more and more venues are made available for us to showcase our work,? said Alix. ?This gives viewers more options, too.?

Each of the five films will be screened from Dec. 16-20, 7 p.m. at Cinema 3 of Robinsons Galleria?s Movie World in Quezon City. ?This is to help promote Filipino culture and values, as well as to encourage more filmmakers to create more films,? said Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, who is also the head of MMFF Executive Committee.

A cash prize of P100,000 awaits the winner of the Best Picture. The criteria for selecting the winner is similar to that of the main festival entries: 70 percent for artistic, creative and technical excellence; 30 percent for cultural values, Tolentino said.

The festival, which features eight films, will run from Christmas Day to Jan. 3.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was elected jury head. Also in the jury are two journalists, an actor, director, scriptwriter and cinematographer, said actress and executive committee member Boots Anson-Roa.

Four new jury members?a bus driver, teacher, student and a housewife ? were made to attend ?a special film appreciation session to guide them in their decision making,? she added.

Adjustments were also made in the process of choosing the nominees for the awards that will be given during the ?Gabi ng Parangal? on Dec. 26 at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City. ?To make it more discerning, and not arbitrary, there will only be three to five nominees per category,? Roa said.

The ?Parade of the Stars? will be held on Dec. 24 at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila.

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph