Culture Unplugged’s We Speak Here Filmfest

by SineBuano ~ February 26th, 2010

Culture Unplugged Studio film festival, ‘We Speak, Here…’, aspires to
bring intimate stories about/from the life of an individual – a personal
anecdote on observing, waking, healing or transforming the self.

The festival hopes to inspire reflections on human life and search forindividual purpose that can guide contributions to our common humanity.

Submissions deadline is on 7 May 2010.

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Join FDCP’s Historical Scriptwriting Contest!

by SineBuano ~ February 24th, 2010

This 2010, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) hosts a national scriptwriting contest.

The theme of the contest is historical non-fiction. Writers are invited to take on orthodox and unorthodox approaches in narrating Philippine history.

Also, writers are challenged to provide true yet unique, uncommon stories of Philippine History. This is preparation for 2011 which is considered to be a milestone year: National hero Jose Rizal’s 150th Birthday, the 65th year of Philippine Independence from being an American colony and the 25th anniversary of the People Power Revolution.

Deadline for submission of entries is on or before May 20. Winners will be announced on June 12, Independence Day.

The mechanics after the jump.

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Lino Brocka Filmfest now open for Entries!

by SineBuano ~ February 22nd, 2010

From the auditorium to the eskinita, marketplaces, union offices and picketlines where it was first held in August 2009, the Pandayang Lino Brocka Political Film and New Media Festival is again launched to reach to more youth and students, workers and urban poor.

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Cebuano films as Finale to CineRehiyon 2010

by Diem ~ February 18th, 2010

Cebuano films and filmmakers once more take part in the National Commission on Culture and the Arts’ CINEMAREHIYON 2010.

A strong delegation from Cebu is attending this OTHER CINEMA filmfest, led by the works of the multi-awarded Remton Zuasola who won last year’s Cinemanila awards for Young Cinema as well as this year’s Sinulog Short Film Festival.

The CinemaRehiyon is a film fest designed to give exposure to budding and established regional filmmakers and provide a venue to showcase diverse culture in the Philippines through cinema.

The  films will be screened at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde in the Cultural Center of the Philippines from February 17 to 20.

Entrance is free of charge.

Learn more about the Cinemarehiyon here

SineBuano Weekend, 2/5 & 2/12, 2010

by SineBuano ~ February 18th, 2010

SineBuano has been invited by the Mass Communications students of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) to take part of their annual Amateur Broadcasting Experimental TV Awards as judges for the short film category.

Last February 5, 2010 a Friday the judging of the short film entries was held. It was an all nighter.

A week later on February 12, 2010 the Awards Night was held in the USJ-R Campus Auditorium.

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Indie Filmmaking-style, Old Hat for Veteran Directors

by SineBuano ~ January 29th, 2010

In the upcoming Cinemalaya 2010, bigtime directors of the Philippine mainstream like Joel Lamangan, Mara O’ Hara Gil Portes and Joselito Altajeros  make do with the small indie film budgets of PhP600,000 each,taking part of the film fest’s Directors Showcase.

However these veteran directors welcome the challenge, as being old hands with working with tight budgets. Let’s take a look at what they have to say on working “indie”.

“Everything should be ready before filming. You can’t waste time thinking of camera angles and lighting, or rehearsing your actors. You should maximize every day.”

– Joselito Altajeros, Director of “Ang Lalaki sa Parola” and “Ang Lihim ni Antonio.”



“You start writing your script aware that you’ll be working on a very limited budget. For example, the original script of ‘Two Funerals’ features a road accident in the opening scene. Three buses fall off a cliff. That would have cost us P200,000—for only two seconds onscreen. I told my co-writer, Eric Ramos, ‘Let’s see … how we can achieve the same effect without staging this accident.”

– Gil Portes, director of “Mga Munting Tinig” and “Saranggola”


“I’m used to doing films in 10 days—those were the days of quickie films in the ’70s. You just need to work within your budget, without sacrificing quality. Your movie may not have big scenes or expensive set designs, but it should have substance and high-caliber performances by your actors.”

–Mario O’ Hara, director and screenwriter. His Cinemalaya entry is the historical film, “Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio.”

SOURCE