A year ago at the Cannes Film Festival, the Film Development Council of the Philippines' Jose Javier Reyes met with Filipe Jose Brito Pereira of the Fest Film Lab, and they talked about the possibility of bringing international film professionals to the country.

Finally, the Fest Film Lab will be coming to the Philippines to train our local film professionals from July 12 to 17, 2025, at the Seda Ayala Manila Bay in Parañaque City. The workshop prides itself as a leader in non-formal education in the cinema and audiovisual sectors, with a solid emphasis on creativity and hands-on learning, guided by internationally acclaimed experts actively working in the field.

The “Film Editing Workshop” will be handled by French-born Mexican film editor Alex Rodriguez. Alex will talk about the editorial choices that shaped the pacing, tone, and emotional impact of his acclaimed films, “Children of Men,” “Y Tu Mamá También,” and “Mosul,” among others. He collaborates with Alfonso Cuarón, the director famous for “Roma,” “Gravity,” and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”

For our actors, there is the “Auditioning for Film and TV” with Nancy Bishop. Based in London, Nancy is an award-winning international casting director. Her two-day class will adopt a fun and informative atmosphere for actors to learn new skills and develop an international career. The goal is to practice their skills in self-taping, which is a crucial part of the international casting process. Nancy has collaborated with leading studios, including Paramount, Fox, and Universal, as well as top streaming platforms such as Amazon, Apple, and Netflix. She earned the CSA Artios Award for Best Casting in a Comedy.

The “Production Design Workshop” with Andrew McAlpine and Gemma Jackson will focus on the role of production design in cinematic storytelling, examining how visual environments contribute to the narrative and emotional depth of a film. They will state the evolution of the production design role, anticipating future trends, and strategies for career growth and adaptation in a rapidly changing industry.

Andrew’s work with Jane Campion on the critically acclaimed film The Piano is a testament to his gift to create deeply immersive and emotionally resonant spaces. He was honored with the BAFTA Award for Best Production Design. Among his other notable collaborations was with Danny Boyle on The Beach and the science fiction action film, “Aeon Flux.

Gemma is the original designer of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” where she crafted the impressive look of the first three seasons, earning her a Primetime Emmy Award for Season 2. Other notable credits are Disney’s “Aladdin,” directed by Guy Ritchie, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” and “Iris.”

“Telling the Story with Sound: A Workshop” with Mark Ulano and Patrushkha Mierzwa will tackle using the sound palette for directorial intent. As sound persons, they come to the project to discover, to learn, and to interpret.

Mark has had a 28-year collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino. He has been recording sound for film professionally since 1976 and has mixed over 150 film and television projects. His work on “Titanic” won him an Academy Award for Sound Mixing. He is known for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Ad Astra,” “Inglourious Basterds,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Patrushkha is one of the first women boom operators in Hollywood. She has worked on 80+ movies and television shows for major directors including Robert Altman, James Gray, Quentin Tarantino, and Martin Scorsese. Presently, she is writing a book on boom operating.

The “Film Financing in an Entrepreneurial Age Workshop” with Paul Miller will focus on the art of producing a film in the entrepreneurial age, where the means of manufacture and distribution are in flux and where finding your audience is key.

The workshop will look at how to develop, finance, and complete a movie from the viewpoint of a creative producer.

Paul is a producer, executive, and consultant working in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He is currently Head of Film at Madrid-based ISB Films. Miller frequently produces in the Middle East; his most recent film, “Norah,” premiered at Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2024. He is a member and consultant with Paris-based Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (A.C.E.), Europe’s premier producers' association, and a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.

The Fest Film Lab aims to support the growth and development of the Filipino film industry, equipping filmmakers with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration they need to tell their stories to the world.