BACOLOD CITY -- Nineteen short films are competing in the Sine Negrense: Negros Island Film Festival 2017 set on November 27 to 29 in this city.
The three-day festival, held for the first time in Negros, is presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, The Negros Museum, Design Brewer, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Committee on Cinema.
The Short Film Competition component themed “Negrense New Wave” encourages the new breed of filmmakers to find their voice as Negrenses to tell their own stories through film.
The 19 entries, including eight in the Open Category and 11 in the Inter-Collegiate Category, were presented by the project staff led by festival director Tanya Lopez, program director Adrian Torres, and co-festival director Rodolfo “Banjo” Hinolan in a press conference held at the House of Frida here Tuesday.
“Sine Negrense is a venue, a platform for local filmmakers to hone their craft. It’s a good way to promote local talent,” Lopez said.
The entries in the Open Category include “Adobo,” directed by Val Vestil; “Alibungan,” by Matthew Piodena; “Dalit,” by Belle Kay Loyola; “Five Sorrowful Mysteries,” by Shannan Gonzales; “Happy Birthday,” by Gkie Erebaren; “Hawud,” by Paul VenziFlorendo; “Kaasab,” by Vince Divinagracia; and “Handuraw,” by Gilbert Basilio.
Six entries are from Negros Occidental while two -- Vestil’s “Adobo” and Florendo’s “Hawud,” are from Negros Oriental.
Competing in the Inter-Collegiate Category are five short films by students of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) of Talisay City. These are “Kapit,” directed by Gemma Acaling; “Nene,” by Stephanie Marie Aliday; “Bihag,” by Franklin Latriz; “Hustisya Diin Ka?” by Kathy Rose Magan; and “Hangkat sang Kapigaduhon,” by Renz Osianas.
Two entries are from the University of Saint La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod, including JJ Guilaran’s “Paglas-ay sang Kalamay,” and Lourdes Antenor’s “Kuebiko;” and also two from Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod -- Lorezo Kenneth Dilag’s “Asu” and “Landong “ by Joaquin Angelo Alpas.”
Completing the 11 entries, which are all from Negros Occidental, are “Singgit sang Nalisdan,” directed by Carlo Navarrete of Silay Institute and “Pangalap,” by Jessie Soberano and Mark Labrador of the Department of Education Division of Sagay City.
The Sine Negrense Awards will give out three types of awards.
These are the “Ang Kadungganan sang Makina-admanon,” for the most promising filmmakers of the Inter-Collegiate Category; “Ang Kadungganan sang Hangkilan,” for the best film makers of the Open Category; and the “Ang Kadungganan sang Tingadlum,” for the Negrense master storyteller, dream weaver, and someone who has mentored Negrense artists/film makers.
A total of 31 awards will be presented during the awarding rites on November 29, 6 p.m., at the SM City Bacolod Cinema 4.
The festival’s opening ceremony on November 27, 6 p.m., also at the Cinema 4, will feature the screening of Peque Gallaga’s “Sonata,” shot in Negros Occidental.
Day 2, on November 28, will include lecture-forums and screenings of exhibition films and Sine Negrense entries. (PNA)
