GenSan holds the first LSFF

   The SOCSKSARGEN Center for Film Arts, Inc. (SCFA) in partnership with the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Open Space Cinema Foundation conducted the first Lantawan SOCSKSARGEN Film Festival (LSFF), last January 16-19, 2015 at the Oval Plaza General Santos City. 

   LSFF showcases different films from Region XII and other parts of Mindanao. SCFA Chairman of the Board and LSFF Director Dennis “Bordie” Carillo says, “LSFF aims at providing the opportunity for local talents to showcase their innovations, creativity, originality, but not implying an expensive production of their masterpiece, yet, demonstrating the rich ingenuity and quality use of the medium of digital filmmaking.” Further, he declares the two categories in competition: the Sine SOCSKSARGEN and the Sine Mindanaw. 

   Sine SOCSKSARGEN qualifies the filmmakers within Region 12 – the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City. The entries should contain themes or topics which have relevance to Region 12 culture - the place and its people. On the other hand, the Sine Mindanaw opens the competition to filmmakers anywhere in Mindanao, except in Region 12. An added feature of the festival is the Cinema Rehiyon Reloaded, a collection of selected films from the film festivals in various regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These films are gathered and shown for exhibition during the festival, but they are excluded from the competitions. 

   Lafis ni Efung by Jordan Manua gets the Best Film and Best Cinematography award. As the festival juries cited, "The film is awarded for its deceptively uncluttered plot in its portrayal of a young protagonist in a journey, both physical and psychological, that slowly unravels layers of meanings in a humane and simple way." 

   Bryan Wong is awarded as Best Director for his film Halugway sa Mamumuno. His film also garners Best Editing, Best Production Design and Best Sound. Angelo, Ang Batang Ama by Andriel Evidente gets the Best Screenplay. The Best Actor is awarded to Kris Evidente (Angelo, Ang Batang Ama) and Daryl John Rey Batilo (Puting Panyo) while the Best Actress is given to Christine Lapidez (Kaugmaun) and Astrid Hernandez (Mga Patay na Bitoon). Ang Pagpukaw Sa Akong Damgo by Arnel Barbarona is declared as Best Film in Sine Mindanaw category. As cited, "The film is chosen For soaring into poetic flights about love, loss and redemption, using real geographies, as well as cutting edge mobile phone technology." 

   “Through the holding of film festivals, the viewers will become aware that ours is one culture to be proud of, and we take pride of being Filipino, “Carillo adds. The LSFF belongs to one of the ten accredited regional film festivals in the country that officially receive support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) every year.

Originally posted in Yadu Karu's Blog

Read More

The turning point

'Jamir' – was the title of my second short film. So far, it was the turning point of my career as a filmmaker. Why I say so? Because making this short film taught me a memorable lesson that is useful in my future projects. 

The film is about a boy who is torn between his familial obligations and his education. ‘Jamir’ is somewhat my statement about the peace agreement between MNLF/MILF and the Philippine Government. This short film was supposed to be premiered in foreign film festivals. Unfortunately, it did not make it nor should I say I did not submit it because of the “disastrous” outcome of it. 

I felt disappointed because of many reasons. One of the main reasons was I collaborated with the wrong people. That time, I was so overwhelmed by the idea of collaborating with Andrei Karoly Hernandez (a.k.a. Amaya Han) and my batch mate in GenSan Summer Film Camp 2013, Meika Vieve Catog (a.k.a. Lady M Chua). I thought they were good as a team in the film project. It turned out to be the opposite. 

My instinct told me not to pursue it because it shown signs like they did not read the script before we shoot the film. But I did not mind it because I was too stupid in clinging in such idea. I’m expecting that they’re good because Amaya Han is a film student in San Carlos University (in Cebu City) and Meika is a Mass Communication student in New Era University (Manila). 

That stupid mistake led to a domino effect type of disaster. I don’t mean to be a whiner here or to play the blaming game but after our shoot I was a bit depressed because of its outcome. I contacted them for several times. All they have were excuses implying they’re not interested anymore. I contacted them due to the fact that the film is problematic in terms of its technical aspects. I don’t know why they acting that they are not part of the film project. 

Instead of stressing myself of contacting them, I made a plan B to fix it. Instead of reshooting the film (as suggested by Teng Mangansakan), I only reedited it. My sister (who is the Producer of the film) and I decided to move on with it. If someone asks about the project, we never say any remarks on it. 

We are thankful that Teng Mangansakan considers ‘Jamir’ for the 2014 SalaMindanaw International Film Festival. And because of this, I submitted the film to the 10th Mindanao Film Festival and it was nominated for Best Film (in short film category). 

Even though they are spreading bad rumors about us, my sister and I don’t give a damn on it. We already moved on and looking forward to make the next film project. Because of this experience, we now assess our collaborators before a project begins. We really learn our lesson. 

I write this blog because it’s part of (my) history. It serves as a reminder that I should be smart, strategic and faithful to my vision as Director. It serves as proof that I should collaborate with people with the same wavelength as mine. This is not the sign of bitterness but enlightenment. I write this piece because I moved on.

Read More