by: Danella De Vera
Copyedited by: Orange Alcaraz
Publication by: Yelena Fabricante

The credits would always flash only after a movie. Most people—despite watching what they would say, “the pinnacle of cinema”—would not bother to stay and acknowledge the ones behind it.

Little do we know that most of the films we watch are staged by the ones beyond the ruthless, ingenious, and inventive. Behind these famous actors, trending scenes, and hard-hitting lines are the fresh minds of those who used to be unnoticed—the female mind.

Along with the continuous shift from the stereotypical power to the emerging movements for women’s empowerment, there is the rise of Filipina Filmmakers. Many would think that men still dominate the filmmaking industry when, in fact, eight out of the ten highest-grossing Filipino films were directed by women.

To recognize this constant growth and to honor the Filipina filmmakers of today, together with the celebration of the 5th Philippine Film Industry Month—The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and JuanFlix recently concluded “JuanFlix Presents: Lights, Camera, Re-Action! Featuring Direk Her: The Rise of Filipina Filmmakers.”

Covering the whole month of September were jam-packed screenings of iconic movies through which female directors have pioneered. One of which was a special screening of “Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus” by Dwein Baltazar, followed by a talkback session featuring award-winning directors: Dwein Baltazar and Sigrid Bernardo.

“As a woman myself, I make it to a point to tell stories from the perspective of a woman. Because it’s always from the perspective of men.”

This was the response of “Kita kita” Director Sigrid Bernardo to the question: “What is the approach of a female director in creating movies?”

In history, most Filipino films had only established one role for women: full-time housewives, slaves, and merely side characters to add depth to the main hero. But for years, iconic directors like Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Antoinette Jadaone had strived to rewrite the narrative. And filmmakers like them are the ones who inspired Director Baltazar and Bernardo to pursue and continue to push through their passion for telling stories through film.

Baltazar and Bernardo proudly shared their sentiments with regards to their journey into filmmaking with the influence of previous female directors in the limelight.

For Director Baltazar, it was her love for films like “Kisapmata” by Mike de Leon, “Bona” by Lino Broca, and American film director and screenwriter Miranda July that influenced her to become a filmmaker herself.

Whereas for Director Bernardo, it was her personal experience, seeing how her single mother pushes through the struggles of women that made her start writing stories that reflect them.

Both of these talented minds, together with the female filmmakers of this generation, are a testament that our society is capable of empowering women, not just in the film industry, but also in all other aspects.

Today, where discrimination against women is still evident, let us be reminded that the mastermind is the man with the plan—but the mastermind can, and will, openly be a woman.