16th Mindanao Film Festival Opens

One of the country’s longest running independent film festival opened on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the cinema 6 Gaisano Mall of Davao. The week-long Mindanao Film Festival will screen 107 full length and short films.

The opening night featured a screening of “Kauyagan” (Way of Life ) by Cagayan de Oro filmmaker Julienne Ilagan. The film shot in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon was a participating entry in the 2018 ToFarm Film Festival.

Jamir Mallari of the Lead Officer of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) office in Davao City, Rudisel Alberina, program director of the Davao Autism Intervention Center Foundation Inc. (DACFI), Barbie Blanco, president of Junior Chamber International Davaoeña Dabadaba and Rudolph Alama festival director of the 16th Mindanao Film Festival led the cutting of the ribbon which ushered the start of the festival.

The Mindanao Film Festival founded in 2003 as the Guerrilla Filmmaking Festival aims to be the platform for budding and established regional filmmakers in Mindanao to showcase their films to the public. Highlights of the film festival include the weeklong theatrical exhibition at Gaisano Mall cinema, open fora with the filmmakers and the festival awards night which will be held at Taboan Matina Town Square on December 10.

The event is spearheaded by the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation Inc. (MFDTFI), National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through the partnership of the Davao Autism Intervention Center Foundation Inc. (DACFI) and supported by Anflocor, JCI Davaoeña Dabadaba, Kaizen Davao, Dhanstore, Midtown Creative Arts, White House Fusion Cuisine, Pudols, Wady’s Bistro, Stairwell, Luz Kinilaw, Aqua Elementz, Ninety Ninety Kitchen, Lacay Enterprises, Lacay Karinderia and EDC Construction and Supply. (PIA/RG Alama)