Raymond Red is a pioneering figure in modern Filipino alternative cinema, boasting a background in visual arts and photography after studying at the prestigious Philippine High School for the Arts and the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.
His journey in filmmaking began in the 1980s, where he created numerous experimental and narrative short films using super-8mm and 16mm formats, earning him recognition and accolades at both local and international film festivals. This early success inspired a new generation of independent filmmakers, and he has since become a regular lecturer and instructor in various film workshops, college film and fine arts programs, and mass communications programs, mentoring many prominent Filipino independent filmmakers of today.
In 1990, Red was invited to the esteemed DAAD Berlin Artists in Residence program, where he received a film production grant from ZDF 2nd German Television. This led to the production of his first full-length feature film, "Bayani" (Heroes),a low-budget historical bio-pic that bridged the gap between Filipino alternative and mainstream cinema. He went on to create two more full-length features, "Sakay" and "Kamada," both of which won major awards at prestigious film festivals.
Red has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including being one of the first Filipinos to receive a Rotterdam Hubert Bals Memorial grant, being mentioned in the Oxford History of World Cinema, and winning the Palme d'Or award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival for his short film "Anino." He is also recognized for his technical expertise, having served as a speaker for new moving image technology launches of companies like Sony, Canon, Kodak, and Fuji, and as a juror for both local and international film competitions.
In addition to his feature films, Red has also been active in television commercials and music video production, and has created experimental short works. His recent award-winning full-length features include "Himpapawid" (Manila Skies) and "Kamera Obskura." As of September 2015, he is currently in production for his new project, "Rebels With A Case," set to be released in November.
