The culmination of the week-long screenings and film talks for CineMapadayon proved to be a resounding success for the regional filmmakers of Western Visayas. Much of the success is attributed to the concerted efforts of the University of the Philippines Visayas as host organizer and the full support of the Iloilo City Government in realizing the objectives of CineMapadayon – a UPV film festival of Western Visayas Films.
The festival aims to showcase a roster of short films created by Western Visayas Filmmakers. The films included in the festival are films that have been previously selected in national and international film festivals. The films and the filmmakers are Kim Janus N Justo (“Antos Anak”), Mile Gomilla (“Balda Bari”), Jonathan Jurilla (“Tiempo Suerte”), Manie Magbanua Jr. (“Ugbos ka Bayabas”), JR Macahilas & Genevieve Cabarte (“Sa Direksyon ni Makoy: The Final Cut”), Leo Art Diosep Borres (“Exploration XY”), TM Malones (“Sin-o ang Tiktik?” and “Bawod”), Mark Joseph Perez (“Marikudo”), Kevin Pison Piamonte (“SOLO”), Mark Raymund Garcia (“Mga Bag-ong Nawong sang Damgo kag Katingalahan”), Edgar Joseph Derecho (“Huni Kang Pungaw”), Raymund Encanto Salao (“ANIMO”) Ma. Luisa G. Nalupano (“Panihol Sang Katungdan”), Richard D. Olano, Jr. (“Litaniya Sang Dutang Ginpatumbayaan”), Dennis Hubag (“Ang Duyan Ko Sa Panganod”), Niño B. Maldecir (“Mata Kang Busay”), Kenneth De la Cruz (“Sa Pagpula sang Lawod”), Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay & Richard Jeroui Salvadico (“Mga Handum nga Nasulat sa Baras”).
Complementary to the screenings, the festival also held film talks featuring some of the country’s film luminaries – filmmaker and film scholar Prof. Nick Deocampo of UP Film Institute talked about Cinema for Education, film director and an icon of Philippine Cinema, Elwood Perez, gave a talk on The Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, and multi-awarded writer and film director Carlo Enciso Catu talked about Writing and Directing for Films.
The weeklong festival at the UPV Cinematheque welcomed audiences from all over Western Visayas who also enjoyed the experience of visiting the UPV Cinematheque for the first time. The filmmakers were also given reception dinners and fellowship nights during the opening and closing ceremonies at Balay Sueño in Jaro, Iloilo City.
With the positive feedback from the public that came to watch the screenings, the festival organizers hope that CineMapadayon will pave the way for more regional filmmakers to continue making films that capture the soul of their regional narratives. CineMapadayon aims to expand the film selections to cater to more filmmakers – both professionals and amateurs alike – in its succeeding years.
CineMapadayon is truly on its way to becoming a destination film festival in the Visayas that will bring regional film screening experiences to a whole new level – combining entertainment, education, and networking.
CineMapadayon was also made possible through the support of the Division of Humanities, the UPV Office of Initiatives for Culture and the Arts, the UPV Cinematheque, and the Daily Guardian. (Prof. Bobby Rodriguez)
