Philippines RPCV Victor Jimenez of the Asian-American Market, are presenting a film festival to promote multi-culturalism
Films in Palm Bay to reel off diversity
BY LINDA JUMP
FLORIDA TODAY
PALM BAY -- Local businessmen, led by Victor Jimenez of the Asian-American Market, are presenting a film festival to promote multi-culturalism in Palm Bay. It's something they want held annually.
The first movie shown will be "Imelda." It's about the life of Imelda Marcos -- wife of Ferdinand Marcos, the deposed leader of the Philippines -- and is planned for 3 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Roxy 10 Cinema on Palm Bay Road. Cost is $10.
"This was a controversial film," Jimenez said. The 100-minute documentary about the former first lady -- best known for collecting more than 3,000 shoes, showing her extravagant lifestyle -- was done by U.S. filmmaker Ramona Diaz for Unitel Pictures International.
Initially, Marcos, now 75, sought in court to stop distribution of the film, because she said it belittled her. She withdrew her petition.
"We want to create more cultural awareness," said Jimenez, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines from 1987 to 1989.
Jimenez said he is trying to get the Filipino-American Association of Brevard County, a dance group of those younger than 18 from Palm Bay, to perform before the film showing.
Melynn Jimenez, 14, Victor's daughter who was born in the Philippines but who has lived in the United States since she was a baby, has been a member of the dance group for six years. "I learn about my culture there," she said.
Jimenez said Orlando and Miami offer international film festivals and Palm Bay, which has a lot of cultural diversity, should too. "I think it's important for the different nations of the world to be understood," he said.
Jamie Barrett, coordinator of the Moore Multicultural Center at the Cocoa Campus of Brevard Community College, supports the idea of an annual festival and said the center has sponsored festivals with Jewish films as part of its diversity celebration.
"From my experience, international films have been a window on other ethnic experiences. They're a perfect way to understand how the people live, think and perceive the world around them."
She said she hopes students at the center can work collaboratively with Jimenez to offer international films. "Film is visual narrative and storytelling. I'm happy to be part of this," Barrett said.
Contact Jump at 409-1423 or ljump@flatoday.net
