Roxlee

Roque Federizon Lee (Roxlee) is a Filipino animator, filmmaker, cartoonist, and painter. In 2020, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from FAMAS, the Philippines' oldest award giving body, in recognition of his pioneering work in alternative cinema and animation.

Major works and exhibitions 1989 - "Spit/Optik" Premieres in Berlinale Forum Section with 8 other RP short films 1990 - Selection of Roxlee films in "No-Budget Film Festival" in Hamburg, Germany 1990 - Retrospective in Hamburg, Germany 1992 - Roxlee retrospective at Image Forum (Tokyo's Premier Experimental Film Art House) 1992 to 1993 - Fellowship Grant in Tokyo, Japan 1994 - Roxlee retrospective at 18th Hong Kong International Film Festival 1995 - Roxlee retrospective at Animagination, First Filipino Animation Festival, CCP 2004 - Exhibition of over 50 Cartoon Paintings at Singapore International Film Festival 2009 - "Green Rocking Chair" in Rotterdam and Singapore International Film Festival 2008 - Filipino participant at Busan Bienalle Art Festival 2011 - A Twist of the Past for the Present + Heat Studies - University of the Philippines Film Center 2012- Along with other Filipino artists at Sharjah Bienalle 2019 - RETROX (Roxlee Retrospective) - UPFI Film Center 2019 - Kaliskis (Oil Painting Exhibition) - Mono 8 Gallery

Organizational affiliations and positions 1978 to 1980 - Cartoonist for Jingle Magazine 1995 to 1997 - Cartoonist for 1st Yamagata International Film Festival 1980 to 2000 - Comic strip contributor ("Cesar Asar") at Manila Bulletin 2001 to 2004 - Executive Committee Member of National Committee on Cinema - NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts)

Honors and awards 1982 to 1985 - Annually won at Experimental Cinema of the Phils. (ECP) 1986 - Honorable Mention - Experimental Short Film - Kelibia Short Film Festival, Tunisia 1987 to 1992 - Annually won at Gawad CCP (Cultural Center of the Phils.' Short Film Contest) 1988 - Best Student Film - Film Academy of the Philippines 1987 - Juan Gapang - Best Experimental Short Film - Gawad Urian Awards 2006 - Daluyan Awardee (progressive leaders and pioneers in the independent film community in the Philippines) - Philippine Independent Filmmakers' Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IFC) and Robinsons Galleria Movieworld 2008 - a Tribute at .MOV Digital Film Festival 2010 - Lifetime Achievement Award - Animahenasyon - Animation Council of the Philippines Incorporated (ACPI) 2016 - Manila Scream (with Blair Camillo and Bob Macabenta ) - Juror's Award for Short Film - Metro Manila Film Festival 2020 - Lifetime Achievement Award for Alternative Cinema- FAMAS

Filmography 1983 - Tronong Puti (White Throne) - shorts 1984 - Tatlong 'A'(Three A's) - animation 1984 - The Great Smoke - animation 1984 - Tao at Kambing (Man and Goat) - animation 1985 - Inserts - animation 1985 - ABCD - animation 1987 - Lizard, or How to Perform in Front of a Reptile - experimental 1987 - Ink - animation 1987 - Juan Gapang (Johnny Crawl) - experimental 1987 - Prayle (Friars) 1988 - Juan Tunog - experimental 1989 - Juan Toga - shorts 1989 - Pencil 1989 - Spit/Optik - animation 1989 - Moron's 1989 - Moron's Monolog - experimental 1990 - Mix 1 & 2 - experimental 1993 - Tito's Wedding - shorts 1993 - Harajuko - experimental 1999 - Cesar Asar - full length film 2000 - Juan Gulay - shorts 2001 - Nose 2001 - Tronong Puti 2 - shorts 2003 - Haus of Sing - experimental 2004 - Two Birds Hit with one Big Stone - experimental 2005 - Batumbuhay (Live Rock) - documentary 2005 - Romeo Must Rock - documentary 2005 - Ghost of Rocker Janis - experimental shorts 2006 - Left Turn (Juan Kaliwa) - animation 2006 - 35 MM Man - experimental 2006 - La Pula (Red Chief) - shorts 2007 - Musika Dong - documentary 2007 - Bahay Kubo on Wheels - documentary 2008 - Monkey and the Turtle - animation 2008 - Green Rocking Chair (Juan Baybayin Story) - creative documentary 2017 - Manila Scream - Experimental

The 12 Commandments of Independent Filmmakers Source: Thou shall shoot only original movies with original storyline. Shoot whatever available medium, what is important is the concept. Be resourceful, always look for potential sponsors. Shoot films with limited budget but with unlimited ideas. If possible, thou shall only have a maximum of 2 takes per scene. Thou shall not be blinded by the stars. If you can eliminate the star complex the better. Thou shall not patronize very commercial and trashy movies. Thou shall not limit yourself. Always aim for the international release of your films. Remember, your film can be your passport. Thou shall not be disrespectful of other filmmakers even if they make bad films. Thou shall not be greedy. Share your equipment, film stocks and ideas with other aspiring filmmakers. Thou shall not lose hope even if you have little audience for now, maybe the bigger audience will be the next generation to come. Thou shall not always aspire for financial gain but always strive for cinematic excellence. Thou shall not be bothered by bad reviews of your films. Put in mind there are bad critics everywhere. Thou shall not have the feeling of a great director. Be humble and recognize the existence of the Supreme Being above. Thou shall not lose the passion of making films. Just work and work up to the last breath.