Several members of the group that created the award-winning independent film Tribu won't be able to go to Korea for the Busan International Film Festival because of visa problems.
"Tribu delegates for Pusan Film Festival suffer humiliating discrimination from Korean embassy; by issuing visa effective only after the festival event is over," said Tribu director Jim Libiran. However, the Korean embassy only issued visas for Jim Libiran, sound editor Marc Laccay, and executive producer Dodge Dillague because they were not "first time travelers." The others were denied as they were not able to present the necessary documents.
Mitch Libiran, Jim's wife said that she felt that there was discrimination.
"Sabi sa nag-interview sa amin, hindi raw nila kami kilala. Hinahanapan din ako ng bank statement at certificate of employment. Kahit pa sinabi ko na ang festival ang siyang sasagot sa aming gastos pagdating ng Korea, hindi pa rin kami nabigyan ng visa. Kahit na sinabi ko na huwag naman 15th ang date na ibigay niya sa isa namin kasamahan, hindi rin ako pinakinggan," Mitch said.
She added that the consul officer did not even scan their papers which showed that the group was invited to the festival.
Mitch also said that it appears that the consul general feared that they might overstay in Korea or, worse, go TNT (tago ng tago).
Mitch said that she would leave Oct. 11 for the awards night, hoping that Tribu wins.
"We were hoping na maging lenient sila dahil may sulat naman kami mula sa festival organizers pero nakakainis ang nangyari sa amin. Nakaka-disappoint," Mitch lamented.
Marc Laccay won the Best Sound award in the third Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival while Tribu was the Best Film in the Cinemalaya 2007.
The Pusan film festival is scheduled to be held October 4 to 11 in Pusan, South Korea. Out of the four Filipino films invited to Pusan, only Tribu - which narrates the lives of gangsters-rappers belonging to gangs or "tribes" in Tondo - was chosen for competition.
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