MANILA, Philippines - The Cinemalaya Film Congress 2009 will be held on July 21 and 22 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino. The Film Congress is a major event of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition, which is now on its fifth year.

The Cinemalaya Film Congress will carry the theme “Linking Digital Highways” and will assess the output of indie filmmakers in the last five years. The congress will attempt to gauge the growth of the indie film from a national perspective, so that the value of the artistic achievements of indie films may be properly weighed, and so that indie filmmakers may assess for themselves, together with their audiences and sponsors, their prospects for development in the future.

Filmmakers, writers, critics, members of the academe and industry from all over the Philippines will be attending the event. Panel discussions will be held on Indie filmmaking, best practices and prospects in the NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; and building a national network of indie filmmakers.

Special screenings of film sby regional filmmakers are scheduled on July 18 and 19 at the CCP Dream Theater. To be shown are Bagong Bayani, Lupang Hinirang, Hermano, Supot, Ikatlo, Kapit, A Step for My Dream, Ang Paghahanap ni Batugan sa Bakang Ibinaon sa Bundok, Angan-Angan, Biniton, Kasing-Kasing Amang, Windows of Dreams, Anod, Bombdrop, Egay, Takipsilim, an excerpt from Tatlong Mukha ng Buhay (Episode 3: Ang Kabananta sa Buhay ni Abelardo Macaspac III), Kasisidmon, Kawti Academy, Pagbalik, Pag-Tuu, Panganod, Sangpit Senyor and Joy to the World.

Nestor O. Jardin, president of the CCP and Cinemalaya festival director, will be the keynote speaker of the congress.

For information, call the CCP Media Arts Division at tel. nos. 832-1125 locals 1702 and 1704.