Twenty-one (21) short films that exemplify Mindanao’s unique stories and narratives will be screened at the Cinemagis Northern Mindanao’s Digital Short Film Festival happening at Xavier University (XU) Little Theater, SM City Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Cinema 1, and Kiosko Kagawasan from January 23 to 26, 2019.
The Cinemagis is organized by the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) and Xavier Foundation in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
“FDCP is more than happy to support Cinemagis because the Festival is a perfect example of what we hope to inspire in all of the regions of the country—for localities to discover their own voices, stories, and lores and showcase and preserve them through the art of film. We hope to reach communities from the country’s center all the way to our regions to encourage them to develop their own film culture. Empowering regional film festivals like Cinemagis is in line with this objective,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.
As a partner and in line with its film education programs, FDCP will bring in Aped Santos, the production designer of Baler, to lead the lecture about Optimizing Local Resources for Film and Film Production Design. Coreen Jimenez, the producer of Respeto, will also be present to talk about Film Production and Management. FDCP will also host a Filmmakers’ Night where filmmakers can meet, network, and celebrate Mindanaoan Cinema at Macey’s Secret Garden in CDO on January 26.
Now on its 11th year, the Cinemagis remains steadfast in upholding its advocacy of promoting Mindanao’s rich culture, heritage, and tradition using film as the medium. It also helps regional filmmakers hone their craft and create a thriving film community.
The Cinemagis held a screening of CDO-based filmmaker Julienne Ilagan’s Kauyagan, an official entry to last year’s ToFarm Film Festival. Eight (8) entries were successfully accepted in the senior or professional category, while thirteen (13) will compete in the student category. There will be an awarding ceremony at the SM City CDO Event Center on January 26, 2019.
