ALTERNATIVE MOVIE THEATERS

UP FILM CENTER

At the UP Film Center you can watch all sorts of film on the big screen (sometimes for free and sometimes you have to pay). You can also, I think, watch whatever they have on video in their film library. Plus you can also get e-mails about what is showing on their big screen on a monthly basis. It is located at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Manila.

Film Center of the University of the Philippines
Magsaysay Avenue, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines
Telephone: (632) 9263640 Fax: (632) 9262722
upfilmcenter.bizhosting.com www.upd.edu.ph/~film_ctr
Subscribe to: cinemalibre-subscribe@yahoogroups.co
Tel. 9263640
e-mail: upfc@yahoo.com

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE (www.alliance.ph)

Its new, its nice, and I've been there and it rocks! It is VERY supportive of Filipino independent film and I wish I had the money to build my own Alliance! hehehe It's on Reposo Street (now known yata as Nicanor Reyes) somewhere behind San Miguel Village. When on its website click on Video Club to find out its schedule of French movies which it screens every Wednesday at 8 PM.
Its address is 209 Nicanor Garcia Street, Bel Air II, 1200 Makati City
tel. 8957585 / 8957441 fax 8993654
tel. 8101981 to 87
e-mail: info@alliance.ph

CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES (CCP)

At the CCP they have film screenings every so often in their theaters. Plus you can watch whatever they have in their video library (I would think lotsa Filipino movies) for a minimal library fee as long as you reserve in advance. It is located on the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Quirino Avenue in Manila.

Tel 8321125 up to 39 (ask for the Film Department)

PCIBANK TOWER

At PCIBANK tower they have a movie theater that shows international films once in awhile.

GLORIETTA 4 CINEMA 4 ART FILM, MEGAMALL PREVIEW STUDIO and SHANGRI-LA PLAZA CINEMAS

These are your best bets at finding art films in regular movie theaters.

ALTERNATIVE MOVIE VENUES

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
Yay! My alma mater is finally showing movies! At the Ateneo Comm Department, every Thursday at 5 PM, Marc Escaler and Andrew Ty show movies for free! e-mail subscribe-kinoscreenings@yahoogroups.com to get the scheds.

BEHIND THE MANILA FILM CENTER
Every full moon, the CCP will show films behind the haunted Manila Film Center. So for those of you who don't keep track of the regular lunar calendar. Please call CCP instead to make sure.

INSOMNIA
In Malate, on Julio Nakpil Street, is the famous Insomnia, which now shows indies on Tuesday's at 9PM.

BIG SKY MIND
They show movies. You can e-mail them for a sched. They are located at 66B Dona Juana Rodriguez St.(formerly Broadway), New Manila, Quezon City. It is located in front of the closed McDonalds on E. Rodriguez. Tel. 414.74.51 or e-mail at big_sky_mind@hotmail.com.

BRASH YOUNG CINEMA
Now open at the basement of the Unisys Building, dela Rosa corner Esteban street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. Its not a business, more of a commune, bring food, drinks, videos, or some money for the pot and just have a good time =).

INSTITUTO CERVANTES
Somewhere near St. Scho, Leon Guinto corner Estrada, I think. Their address is 2515 Leon Guinto Cor. Estrada Sts., 1004 Malate, Manila, tel. 5261482/3/4/5, fax. 5261449
Go here for Spanish movies, I think they screen every Tuesday.

FR. NICK'S MOVIE LIBRARY
A very nice library of old movies with viewing rooms in Ateneo de Manila University Comm Department.

VIDEO TAKEOUT
Where every true cinema buff can borrow hard-to-find lasers in Manila. So far this is the best collection of movies I have seen here in Metro Manila and people say this is the best I will ever find. There is one located at Makati Cinema Square and another one in Ortigas Center.

SINEMAHAN FILM SHOWING
Arthur Manalo's (40-B Scout Mardrinal) behind Virgin Cafe, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. He shows films every so often.
tel. 9243225

RICKY LEE'S HOUSE
One of the most famous screenplay writers in the Philippine with over 100 of his scripts produced, Ricky Lee always holds workshops for scriptwriters. And if you really become his friend, you can watch movies in his house where he has a great library of movies and books. His house is somewhere in Xavierville near Ateneo. Sorry but I don't know the address or the phone. =)

SANCTUM
Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila
This place sometimes shows movies. This place is gorgeous, with old wooden furniture, whimsical art on the wall, bright red, yellow and blue sofas, etc. It is very artsy but also proves that artsy doesn't mean having to look rundown. It reminds me of what Insomnia used to before it became TOO popular. A great place to go if you want some quality time with your significant other. Come to think of it, I shouldn't even tell you where it is, hehehe =)

TITUS BRANDMA CENTER
24 Acacia Street, New Manila, Quezon City (its somewhere near Mowelfund).
telly: 7218677
Story has it a Dutch priest loved movies and thus collected a lot of them and when he left, he left his whole collection to this convent (which is also the only place left in the Philippines that has all Latin masses). And so once in awhile they hold screenings here. I haven't been able to go yet but I have heard its a nice place.

MAINSTREAM MOVIE WEBSITES

GETASIA.COM
Movies showing in Manila and the rest of Southeast Asia

GLORIETTA 4 CINEMAS
If you wanna go straight to the source

PINOYCENTRAL.COM
Another website for movies showing in Metro Manila

PLANETGIMMICK.COM
Another website for movies showing in Metro Manila

LEGMANILA.COM
Yet another website

PINOY.TV
Not exactly a movie website, Pinoy.TV is one of the first independent webcasters of the Philippines. A great place to send your video work on the net.

FILM FESTIVALS

CINEMANILA FILM FESTIVAL
Held sometime around July a great time to watch foreign films and meet independent filmmakers.

METRO MANILA FILM FEST
For the more mainstream Filipino movies, held in December after Christmas.

PELIKULA AT LIPUNAN
Held in January by Mowelfund where hopefully the film I edited should come out

CINE EUROPA
Held in October, get to see great European films at the price of, well actually, for free!

HONG KONG FILM FESTIVAL
The nearest kick-ass film festival to the Philippines, The Hong Kong Film Festival ranks with the Toronto, Cannes and Sundance. And since Chinese movies are taking the world by storm this year, the festival should be a doozy.

MOVIE MAGAZINES

PELIKULA
Sponsored by Louie's THX, a noble effort to improve filmmaking in the Philippines.

SUNDAY INQUIRER MAGAZINE
At the backpage of the Sunday Magazine of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, you will find some of the films showing Metro Manila that week.

VILLAGE VOICE
Sometimes you will find film listings of the week in this free newspaper found at convenient locations or delivered directly to you if you're lucky.

WHATSON-EXPAT
Sometimes you will find film listings in this weekly free newspaper found at convenient locations frequented by foreigners.

ALTERNATIVE MOVIE THEATERS AND VENUES ABROAD

When abroad it is always good to get weekly city guide magazines like TIME OUT to find out what movies are showing. It is also important to find out if the movie is subtitled in English if you are in a non-English speaking land.

NEW YORK CITY

In New York there are literally tons of alternative movie theaters.

First check out the NYTODAY website which for me was the best website in New York City for movies.

Then check out the following for even more info, VILLAGE VOICE and TIME OUT New York City for more movie scheds. Time Out can also be bought at newsstands and the Village Voice can be found for free at some street corners and stores in New York.

Also in New York they have these two websites called URBANFETCH.COM and KOZMO.COM that will deliver any video to your place in under an hour. Surprisingly (or maybe not) they have a very deep and diverse selection of even non-mainstream films. So if you use these websites you can almost get to watch any movie you want in the comfort of your own home!

And also check out the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), where you can watch any movie you want as long as you reserve in advance. So it is a good idea that when you arrive in New York, to call the MOMA right away and reserve so that you can watch movies. The MOMA considers film to be an art form so I guess they should have a very diverse library of movies.

Plus you must check out the NYU-Tisch Film School, the bluest of the blue, film school of america. They also have screenings of student works and other works.

So I guess this should apply to every city. Check out the movie theaters, museums, universities, websites and magazines to find out how and where you can find alternative movies.

FILM SCHOOLS

MOWELFUND

The best filmmaking school in the Philippines, Mowelfund teaches around thirty people a year the basics of filmmaking for around ten thousand bucks. But with that you get one month of lectures, five months of filmmaking experience plus the expertise of top film practicioners of the Philippines. Mowelfund provides the film, equipment and cameras at no extra charge. But what Mowelfund provides even more is the opportunity to hobnob with the country's best directors. Mowelfund launched the career of Raymond Red (Cannes Film Festival Winner) and up and coming directors Robert Quebral (Picha Pie MTV of Parokya ni Edgar, Kitakits sa McDo commercial) and Aureaus Solito (Huling El Bimbo MTV for the Eraserheads, Impeng Negro). For people wanting to break into filmmaking, Mowelfund is a great place to start!

Tel. 7271915 / 7271961

LINKS

IMDB.COM

The ultimate movie website! If there were a movie god, this would be his website, hehehe

ADCRITIC.COM

The coolest commercials website!

PROPAGANDA FILMS

The birthplace of Michael Bay (Bad Boys, The Rock), Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich), David Fincher (Fight Club, Alien 3), Simon West (Con Air), Dominic Sena (Gone in Sixty Seconds) and the up and coming John Moore, director of the totally awesome Sega Dreamcast Thief commercial! Gedamit! What an elite bunch-a directors! Just wait awhile while you dowload this site because it takes long but it is worth it.

CINESCAPE.COM

The place to find the buzz on up and coming movies.

AINT-IT-COOL-NEWS.COM

Legendary website about movie rumors and news.

JBFILMS.COM

Jerry Bruckheimer's website!

My friend JJ has just put up a site and its called News from The Underground and it is found at http://boracay420.tripod.com/

DISCLAIMER

The "I Think" Disclaimer means I am not entirely sure about the information I put down so further personal verification is needed from the side of the reader. =)