ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) launched its film series on the subject of human rights Thursday night, as part of ANC’s year-long celebration of its 15 years in service.Aptly dubbed “Kinse,” the film series featured a collection of 15 short films on human rights directed by some of the country’s distinguished filmmakers.
Sharing their take on human rights are directors Raymond Red, Erik Matti, Carlos Siguion Reyna, Mark Meily, Auraeus Solito, Jim Libiran, Jon Red, Richard Somes, Ato Bautista, Kiri Dalena, Ray Gibraltar, Raymund Amonoy, Kidlat de Guia, Nico Puertollano, and Paolo Villaluna.
The series was done in partnership with the Springfilm Foundation and The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
Dutch Ambassador Robert Brinks, who was on hand for the launch at the Tanghalang Aurelio V. Tolentino (CCP Little Theater), lauded the event.
“I hope this initiative serves as an inspiration to human rights advocates everywhere,” said Ambassador Brinks.
Commission on Human Rights representative Atty. Lizelle Paras, meanwhile, shared that human rights are for everyone, including every woman, child, LGBT, and people with disability.
"But until and unless human rights are spoken in a language that will have a practical application to our lives, then they will never be universal,” Paras said.
The event, hosted by Paolo Abrera and Ginger Conejero, was graced by the presence of ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III and ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Head of Operations Ging Reyes, who called “Kinse” ANC’s “passion project.”
She said human rights are “at the core of every nation, every society and every individual.”
Reyes added that while the primary goal of “Kinse” is to “push for the advocacy of the protection of human rights,” it also aims to “champion the Filipino talent.”
Finest filmmakers
And what talent it was.
“Kinse” featured an eclectic mix of veteran and young directors, all joining in ANC’s crusade for human rights.
From the poignant Jon Red piece “Absent” to Erik Matti’s hilarious “Hubad Na Katotohanan,” the films expressed powerful messages patterned in each director’s distinct style.
Raymond Red’s “Bangin” was an exercise in metaphors, a technique Red mastered in his 2000 film “Anino,” which gave the Philippines its first ever Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
The films tackled issues such as domestic violence (Raymund Amonoy’s “Liham Para Kay Marco”), media harassment (Mark Meily’s “Kaninong Boses”), children and women’s rights (Carlitos Siguion Reyna’s “Choices”), indigenous rights (Kidlat de Guia’s “The Forgotten Right”), and justice (Ato Bautista’s “Pilay”), among others.
‘One less victim’
“Kinse” is the brainchild of journalist Patricia Evangelista, who was also at the helm of the successful “amBisyon2010” with Paolo Villaluna.
Evangelista said in the 15 years of ANC, they have always strived to deliver the truth to the viewing public.
She noted that in this day and age, there is no medium more powerful to unveil the truth than the human imagination.
“Truth is not enough to provoke action. What we need is imagination,” she said.
Evangelista earlier said that for every film in “Kinse,” she hopes “there will be one less victim whose story ANC will tell.”
ANC will air a 6-part TV special on “Kinse,” hosted by actress and women’s rights advocate Angel Aquino every Monday, beginning May 23 at 9:30 p.m. on SkyCable channel 27.
Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
