by Stephen J Pedroza
Among the 13 official entries from all over Northern Mindanao, “Ika-3 Putahi” by Joeromer Bacus and “Wa Ko Kakita” by Eastine Charles Taneo emerged as victors during the 6th Cinemagis Digital Short Film Festival.
Under the banner of Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA), the festival shortlisted 5 entries for the professional category and 8 student films, screened at Xavier University Little Theater (XULT) and SM Cagayan de Oro Cinema 3 on January 24-25.
“This year’s festival curated films that have social relevance and impact,” said Hobart Savior, XCCA director. “They reflect social biases, peace issues, self-awareness and climate change.”
The awarding ceremony was held at SM City Event Center on its last day.
Cinemagis winners
"Ika-3 Putahi" (Recipe No. 3) was hailed as the Best Short Film- Professional Category. It also garnered 6 other awards, namely Best Art Direction, Best Story, Best Editing, Best Sound Scoring, Best Director for Joeromer Bacus and Best Actor for Rusty Quintana.
As a psycho-thriller, “Ika-3 Putahi” depicts the consequences of unrequited affection and a journey to the limitation of one’s sanity.
“Lugdang” (Drowned) by Gray-em Erezo received the 2nd Best Short Film award, along with Best Cinematography and Best Actress for Kris Gebe. The Special Jury Award for Social Responsibility on Climate Change also went to “Lugdang” for tackling the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong.
The 3rd Best Short Film went to “Hello” by Kevin Nico Surposa of Iligan City.
“Panamilit” (Farewell) by Tat Soriano won Best Poster and the Cinemagis Audience Choice Award.
Meanwhile, “Wa Ko Kakita” (I Haven’t Seen It) by Eastine Charles Taneo from Liceo de Cagayan University (LdeCU) was chosen as the Best Student Short Film. It also won Best Story, Best Director for Taneo and Best Actor for Ray Anthony Vacalares.
‘Wa Ko Kakita’ is a film patterned after the legend of the pineapple but with some interesting twists and a modern appeal to the audience.
“Kaon Ta” (Let’s Eat) by Richard Mars Caberte from XU landed 2nd Best Student Short Film, along with the awards for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
Inspired from a real cannibal from Japan, Caberte’s film deals with the perversion over human flesh and the appetite-stirring horror that comes with this uncanny obsession.
“The Perfect Girl” by Janine Banday from XU got the 3rd Best Student Short Film.
Jocell Sedigo won the Best Actress award for her role in “Binibining Cancer” by John Solomon Legara, also from XU. The award for Best Sound Scoring went to Legara’s film as well.
“Perla” by Angel Frances Borres from Xavier University High School (XUHS) reaped the Best Trailer award among the 13 entries.
Tracy June Dy of “The Perfect Girl,” Rhea Arroyo of “Panamilit” and Alger Macud of “Lugos” were hailed as Stars of the Night during the awarding ceremony.
Fringe features
Part of the festival was a special screening of “Crossfire” by Davao City’s Arnel M. Mardoquio, one of Mindanao’s prized assets in the realm of independent filmmaking. It was shown during the Cinemagis’ opening program on Jan 23, 6pm at XULT.
His film underscores the complicated issues in the Mindanao landscape such as wars, conflict on ancestral domain claims, exploitation of indigenous communities, illegal recruitment and corruption, and challenges the audience to take part in coming up with solutions to these problems.
Orvil Bantayan, a filmmaker from Davao City, conducted a two-day free Guerilla Filmmaking Workshop at XULT participated in by more than 30 film enthusiasts.
To materialize one’s dream of becoming a filmmaker, Bantayan said, “The only way to practice filmmaking is to make one.”
In addition, this year’s Cinemagis featured three special citation pictures— “Backwash,” a Sendong aftermath documentary film by Jose Alfonso Sendaydiego, the award-winning film thesis of Glenn Mark Doromal, “Ang Walay Kahumanang Adlaw” (Infinite Sun) and a documentary film on CDO’s “Hapsay” governance, “Street Vendors” by Joi Gacayan.
Despite the absence of formal film schools in Northern Mindanao, Cinemagis has served as an avenue to showcase the artworks of filmmakers in the region.
“Even though we don’t have formal film schools in the city yet, Cinemagis, in a way, fills that gap,” Savior said, adding that XCCA will offer an intensive seminar-workshop on filmmaking and screenplay writing this summer to hone the talents and skills of local filmmakers and aspirants.
Stepping stone
Supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through its National Committee on Cinema, Cinemagis was organized in collaboration with Xavier Science Foundation (XSF), Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCU), XU NSTP and SM CDO.
Cinemagis served as the springboard for short films coming from Northern Mindanao to be screened in NCCA’s 6th Cinema Rehiyon, the national film festival for the regions, to be hosted by XCCA on Feb 18-22.
“Wa Ko Kakita,” “Unawa,” “The Perfect Girl,” “Kaon Ta,” “Lugdang,” “Ika-3 Putahi,” along with Butuan City’s “Diskonek” and “Ang Walay Kahumanang Adlaw” will represent Region 10 in the event.
Cinema Rehiyon forms part of the National Arts Month (NAM) celebration in February.
Aside from giving Northern Mindanao filmmakers national exposure, the festival also aims to promote local talents, voices and culture. To this end, the Cinemagis jurors, Dr Steven Patrick “Tibo” Fernandez, Felimon B Blanco and Rudolph Alama Gutierrez, together with Savior and Bantayan, conducted a forum with the filmmakers to share some insights and tips on how to improve one’s cinematic language and aesthetics.
“The beauty of an independent short film (or full-length) is that it makes you think. By the end of your film, your audience must learn something aside from just being entertained,” Blanco said during the interaction.
Gutierrez emphasized, “Promote local flavors. Use your local language … collaborate with local artists, composers and actors.”
Dr Fernandez shared, “What is very important is the passion to pursue filmmaking. Keep on elevating your standards and prepare yourself for criticisms because that’s the only way to improve your craft.”
He added that today’s generation of filmmakers must start a “revolution” and challenge the country’s mainstream cinema.