The following is a press release from the Bacolod Film Festival.
The Bacolod Film Festival is now accepting script submissions with the theme “Stories with a Smile” or those with a “potential to inspire laughter, warmth, and a renewed appreciation for the brighter side of life.”
The film festival, set for September, is open to filmmakers who are registered voters and residents of Bacolod City. They can be producers, directors, or scriptwriters of an entry.
The festival accepts short film scripts of any genre, such as romance, drama, comedy, or horror, in any Filipino language with English translation. Entries must be submitted on or before Saturday, May 18, 11:59 pm, after which 10 finalists will be chosen.
Selected filmmakers will be given a production grant of P300,000 each, to be released in two tranches: P200,000 first, and the remaining P100,000 once the picture lock version of the film has been submitted.
The total running time of the produced films must be 15 minutes to 20 minutes, including opening and closing credits. The short films must be in narrative live-action form, when taken as a whole. Documentary, experimental, or animation will not be accepted, except if added only as elements within the film.
The Bacolod Film Festival aims to create a venue where local filmmakers and producers can showcase their talents and further solidify the image of Bacolod, known as the “City of Smiles,” as one of the creative hubs for filmmaking in the Philippines.
“Bacolod should be proud of its creatives. We have very artistic directors and actors,” said Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, who chairs the Bacolod Film Festival Council.
The Bacolod City Council or Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) recently passed City Ordinance No. 1061, or the Bacolod Film Festival Ordinance, authored by Councilor Em Ang, with Councilor Cindy Rojas and Councilor Celia Matea Flor as co-authors. Ang, chairperson of the SP committee on history, culture and arts, also serves as BFFC vice chair.
The other members of the BFFC are the chair of the SP committee on tourism, city tourism officer, city legal officer, city budget officer, local economic development and investment promotion officer, Department of Education Division superintendent, and representatives from SM and Ayala Malls Cinemas and the local film industry.
Members of the BFF Organizing Committee and their relatives (up to the second degree of consanguinity) are prohibited from joining the competition. There is no entry fee to participate.
Multiple entries are accepted, but each script must be submitted with a separate entry form and online registration. The selection committee will only consider one entry per finalist.
The short films must have their premiere at the Bacolod Film Festival this September.
For more inquiries, you may email bacolodfilmfestival@gmail.com or send a message on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BacolodFilmFestival. – Rappler.com