Social advocacy cinema: The mode of production by alternative multimedia collectives
Article

Alternative multimedia collectives in the Philippines advocate for social change on behalf of the marginalized sectors of society by producing, distributing, and exhibiting social advocacy cinema and other audiovisual productions. They creatively utilize film in various forms as a tool for social advocacy by adhering to the theory and praxis of alternative cinema that counters the dominant ideology, hegemony, and culture of mainstream media and commercial filmmaking. Anchored in the framework of small-scale, collective, and political filmmaking, this paper examines the mode of production of alternative multimedia collectives such as Kodao Productions, Tudla Productions, Mayday Multimedia, Film Weekly, Southern Tagalog Exposure, and The Breakaway Media, to name a few, that emerged and active between 2000 to 2019, or from Estrada to Duterte regime.

Volume 20 Issue 01 · June 2023 · Continuing Traditions in Legacy Media · Main Article

Artsibo at Sineng Bayan: Pagpapanatili ng Kolektibong Alaala at Patuloy na Kolektibong Pagsalungat sa Kasinungalingan at Panunupil
Article

Sineng Bayan (People’s Cinema) is a salient part of Philippine alternative cinema, which is in stark contrast to the dominant commercial cinema. It is an important aspect in the pursuit of a more serious Philippine cinema. Political film collectives that arose in the early 1980s and flourished during the Marcos dictatorship gave way to Sineng Bayan.

This article focuses on the archival audiovisual works of AsiaVisions Media Foundation (AVMF), a non-government organization which primarily utilized film documentaries in its propaganda-education work, and Alternative Horizons (AlterHorizons), the first media cooperative in the country.

This study on Sineng Bayan and the Archives forwards the discourse on film as an effective cultural weapon of the Filipino people in their struggle for national freedom and genuine democracy. Capturing the people’s experiences and struggles through audio-visual presentations, videos, and films, the works of these political film collectives are part of the collective memory and documentary heritage of the country.

Bahagi ang Sineng Bayan ng alternatibo at independiyenteng sinema sa ating bansa. Alternatibo ito dahil kumakatawan ito ng mga pelikulang politikal na hindi nakukupot sa komersiyal na interes. Mahalagang usapin ang ganitong paggawa ng mga likhang pampelikula para sa mas seryoso’t mas malalim na sinemang Pilipino.

Umusbong ang Sineng Bayan noong dekada 1980 sa panahon ng diktadurang Marcos. Tampok sa politikal na kolektibong pampelikula na umiral sa panahong ito ang AsiaVisions Media Foundation (AVMF), isang organisasyong di-panggobyerno na naglayong gamitin ang pelikula para sa propaganda-edukasyon. Kaagapay nito ang kaadbokasiyang Alternative Horizons (AlterHorizons), ang kauna-unahang kooperatibang pangmidya sa bansa.

Ambag ang pag-aaral at kaalaman hinggil sa Sineng Bayan sa pagsulong ng diskurso kaugnay ng pelikula bilang isang mabisang sandatang pangkultura ng mamamayang Pilipino sa kanilang mithiin para sa pambansang kalayaan at tunay na demokrasya.

Pinapahalagahan ang mga likha ng Sineng Bayan bilang pamanang dokumentaryo ng ating bayan. Ang artsibo (archive) ng mga likha ng mga politikal na kolektibong pampelikula ay isang kongkretong bahagi ng kolektibong alaala nating mga mamamayang Pilipino.

Volume 15 Issue 02 · December 2018 · Cinema and the Archives in the Philippines · Main Article