3 Ilonggo filmmakers finalists in 1st Sineng Pambansa

At least three emerging Ilonggo filmmakers made it to the finals of the First Sineng Pambansa National Film Competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) slated in Davao City in June 2012.

Peter Solis Nery’s Gugma Sa Panahon Sang Bakunawa, Ronny N. Poblacion’s Beadworks, and John Raymund Macahilas’ Ang Mga Aswang are winners of the Visayas Division for Full-length Feature category.

Nery, an LA-based nurse, poet and author hails from Dumangas while Poblacion is a native of Janiuay and Macahilas is city-based.

This year’s Sineng Pambansa kicks off with 2nd Iloilo International Film Festival and 1st Ilonggo Short Film Festival Jan. 19-21 at SM City Cinema as one of the special events of Dinagyang Festival.

Meanwhile, Lester G. Babiera’s Ginabuhi It Bulig (Binubuhay ng Pagtulong) from Aklan is also a finalist in Documentary’s Visayas Division, together with Cierlito Espejo Tabay’s Walay Tumo’y ng Punterya (No End in Sight) from Cebu.

The finalists will be awarded seed money to finish their films, according to FDCP.

“The region-based filmmakers are now contributing their outstanding talent and creativity to the making of a true Sineng Pambansa or National Cinema,” said FDCP Chairman Santos.

A unique aspect of this competition is that the language of the locality was used in dialogue or narration, in order to underscore the vitality of the country’s indigenous cultural heritage through the medium of film.

The finalists are required to submit pre-production documents including complete list of respective production team with cast and crew; and the proposed calendar of activities for the film’s production in accordance with the timetable set in the guidelines, said Teodoro Granados of Competition Committee of FDCP.

The documents shall be submitted to FDCP and shall constitute the basis for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) related to the award of the initial and final tranches of seed money, he explained.

The MOA signing and release of initial tranche is scheduled Jan. 6 at FDCP office in Makati.