mff

About 58 short films and three full-length films and documentaries will be screened during the 12th Mindanao Film Festival which will be held this December 7 to 13 at Gaisano Mall Cinema 6.

Opening the festival on December 7 will be the full-length independent film “Baboy Halas” helmed by Dabawenyo filmmaker Bagane Fiola. Another notable screening is the 2016 Busan International Film Festival Mecenat Awardee (Best Documentary) “Crescent Rising” by Zamboangueno filmmaker Sheron Dayoc.

Baboy Halas, which tells the story of a Matigsalug hunter and his family living in the forest of Marilog, received the Jury Prize given by NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) and Best Artistic Contribution for Cinematography which was awarded during this year’s QCinema International Film Festival held in Quezon City.

The various films entered in the Mindanao Film Festival (MFF)have come from different localities across Mindanao notably Davao City, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Zamboanga City.

The festival carries the theme “Cinema of Change” which highlights the films as tools for awareness and subsequent transformation.

This year’s film screenings are thematic in nature as they will be blocked according to a certain theme rather than the previous geographical and school-based groupings.

Shorts in the “Films from Nabifilmex” include Sherador, Asay, Warak, Yagapanaw, Pamugas, Makaakar, Bahandini Lola, Belo and Panggaw. These films were created by Comvalenyo filmmakers and were featured in this year’s Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition (Nabifilmex).

Films tackling friendship are featured in the block “Amigo Ta” these include shorts Higala, Orpheus, Ma’am La,  Anito, Ang Agimat, Birthday Boy, Kathryn and Margaret. Films about family are included in the “Ohana” block among these shorts include Dear Mama, Lipstick, Abal, Bulong, Lapok.

Films about crime and its repercussions are part of the “Crime Does Not Pay” block- shorts included are; God Must Think I’m Cain, Pulis, Fachada, Nino, Panun and Static. Short films centered on the lives of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender) are part of the “Bahaghari” block, these shorts include; Handuraw, Dasal, Love, Entre Medio del Fin.

Shorts about love, its joys and pain are part of the block “Nagmahal, Nasaktan” these films include Kapanglawan, Soulmate, Allyn, Next Time, Subangand Sad Boys Club. Films that revolve around student life are featured under “Estudyante Blues” block, these short films include; Bobby, Gaba, Sta. Monica, Kinsa Ta?, The Project.

Documentary works are included in the CineReal block. These films include; A Fading Heritage, The Soil of Dreams, Panicupan, Under the Canopy of Light, Saranggola, PagbarugugPagtuon. Two short films created by students and entered in the Davao region leg of the Population Commission’s 2016 Adolescent Health and Youth Development Independent Film Festivalwill also be screened these student shorts are Buboy and Kapit-os.

Films produced from the 2016 Guerrilla Filmathon, a 24-hour filmmaking race held in the capital of Davao del Norte province will be shown in the “FilmathonDavNor” block these films include; Tanum, Huwag Na Lang, AkoBahalasa Imo, Halug, Ang HanasnaMagsusugid, Balagtas, Amboy and A Father’s Promise.

The various films will vie for different awards and citations during the festival awards night that will be held on December 12 (Monday) at Gaisano Mall Cinema 6.

MFF is one of the country’s longest-running regional film festival, it is organized by the Mindanao Film and TV Development Foundation in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) with support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Philippine Information Agency Region XI (PIA-XI).

 


 

PREP, a Davao-based event coordination company, will be part of the opening and awarding ceremonies of the 12th Mindanao Film Festival. See you!