In the fall of 2007, Brian S. Valdez, a native of Dallas, Texas, was already enrolled in an arts institute for a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Video Production when he made the spur of the moment decision to fly to Cebu, Philippines, to study digital filmmaking at the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT). Several reasons prompted the change, but the strongest was that IAFT presented a great filmmaking education at a lower price, and his parents were paying the bills.

Brian, an IAFT alumnus who won Best Film Thesis for his short 6 ½ minute film Inday, says that he was inspired by the work of the Dardanne Brothers of Belgium, and Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier, when crafting his graduate piece. “Inday is a story about a young girl from a poor family who has a sick father. She consequently gets herself romantically involved with an older European man in an effort to finance her father’s medical care.” When asked about how he came up with the concept for the story, Brian reveals that he was overcome by a conversation that he overheard between two people (a Filipina and an older Caucasian man) dining in the same restaurant as he. Inday won the most coveted award that IAFT has to offer, principally because the film was shot on 16MM—a first in the history of IAFT.

Fresh out of film school, Brian is now working as an Assistant Production Coordinator for Bigfoot Entertainment’s (BFE) latest film project, Tears from Afar. Asked about working on a feature film, Brian confesses that “Jumping onto a feature right after graduation was both a shock and inspiration for me.” He adds, “I can see everything that I learned in school put into practice on the production.”

Brian is planning to return to the United States in December to pursue a filmmaking career in Los Angeles. “I owe all the filmmaking knowledge that I learned, and the connections I was able to establish to IAFT,” Brian reflected when asked about his time at IAFT and BFE. “I used to have certain regrets about my parents sending me here. But now, I realize that being immersed in a third world country to learn film has made me more mature. I can say that it is the best decision my parents ever made regarding my education.”

About The International Academy of Film and Television

The International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) offers courses that combine theory and application under the expert auspices of leading Hollywood filmmakers serving as faculty mentors. Located in the heart of Asia on Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines, this tropical waterfront campus houses state-of-the-art facilities for filming and post production. IAFT extends a comprehensive, hands-on approach to making films and videos using the latest in equipment and technology. Courses are designed for aspiring filmmakers as well as industry professionals looking to advance their skill sets.

IAFT presents a unique internship program that allows selected students to work on feature films and television productions with Bigfoot Entertainment. Our curriculum serves to nurture the creativity and individual talents of each student, cultivating the next generation of filmmakers, and continuing the entertainment traditions of Hollywood and other film capitals of the world.

The International Academy of Film and Television - Asia's Premier Film School. For more information, visit www.filmschool.ph

About Bigfoot Entertainment

Bigfoot Entertainment is an innovative, socially responsible entertainment company, which provides quality content, products, services and training for the global marketplace. Founded in 2002, the company continues to finance and produce feature films, television series and reality shows that are distributed throughout the world, many of which receive recognition and awards at film festivals. With primary production facilities in Cebu, Philippines and a presence in Hong Kong and Los Angeles, Bigfoot is positioned to be a viable competitor in the international entertainment industry.

Bigfoot Entertainment - leaving lasting footprints in the world of entertainment!

Visit us at http://www.bigfootentertainment.com