107 Films Await 16th Mindanao Film Festival Screening

As a platform for emerging filmmakers in Mindanao, the 16th Mindanao Film Festival will be screening 107 short films and full-lengths from Dec. 5 to11 at the Cinema 6 Gaisano Mall of Davao.

“This shows an active movement of regional filmmaking here in Mindanao. Our films are coming from the regions of Davao, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen,” Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation Inc. (MFTDFI) president Dax Cañedo said.

The MFDTFI organizes the annual Mindanao Film Festival, one of the longest-running regional film festival in the country. This year’s staging of the MFF is supported by the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Aside from Mindanao films, several selected shorts from Indonesia, India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Venezuala will also be shown.

Full-length films screened at the MFF include Julienne Ilagan’s Tofarm Film Festival entry “Kauyagan” Jewel Maranan’s documentary “Sa Palad ng Dantaong Kulang” Richard Somes “We Will Not Die Tonight” and “Dante the Musical” by Patrick Seras.

“Dante the Musicale” is a prison musical drama shot inside the Cagayan de Oro City Jail and has real-life inmates as cast members. The action flick “We Will Not Die Tonight” stars Dabawenya actress Erich Gonzales who also co-produced the film.

The MFF also features several animation shorts created by student animators from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

The film will vie for several awards which will be given during the film festival awards night on Dec. 10 at the Taboan, Matina Town Square. The MFF jurors include film actor Mon Confiado, film director Benjie Garcia and filmmaker Tim Rone Villanueva. (PIA/RG Alama)