According to Tan, these 11 finalists have to comply with requirements before being granted P500,000. Such requirements include the production plan (a list of the technical staff such as the Director of Photography, Assistant Director, Musical Director, likewise the final script, sequence treatment, schedule, etc.).  

There is also a need for the finalists to give details regarding their counter-financing.

Tan elaborates, "We're only giving a grant of P500,000. So kung ang project nila would be, let's say 1.5 million [pesos], they have to tell us where they are getting the one million [pesos]."  

Such is the nitty-gritty of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.  

"Yung lahat ng yun, binubusisi namin," states Tan.

"Tinitingnan namin kasi kung okay yun, [kung] workable... we see to it that the project will work.  

"That's the reason why Cinemalaya [has] nice products naman. Magaganda...  

"Ang tao... may kumpiyansa sa Cinemalaya it's because we're able to turn out products that are good and naging significant... napapalabas sa mga major festivals abroad...  

"Basically, yun ang ginagawa namin. Kaya we're very careful and meticulous.  

"At the same time, ang monitoring team namin, [naka-]support talaga kami sa filmmakers.  

"Kasi maraming mga filmmakers, minsan... they're still... they're new graduates... it's their first film, so they're not aware of mga certain things that they have to do in order to do to make a significant film na magwu-work."

DEALING WITH CONTROVERSIES. Cinemalaya will have its 8th edition from July 20 to 29, 2012.

Perhaps among the prominent independent film festivals in the country, it cannot be helped that it becomes embroiled in controversies from time to time.  

"It's part of the job," remarks Tan. "Kasi kami, we cannot let things pass naman just because we want to get away with intrigues.  

"Kasi we're supposed to protect Cinemalaya, we protect the standards."