Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Vice Mayor Yul Servo with Kreativeden Entertainment CEO Kate Villanueva (left) and DTCM Director Fermin Bermejo (right) show the memorandum of agreement they signed for organizing the Manila Film Festival.
Photo by Edd Reyes
Top 8 short films for TMFF named
THE city government of Manila and the Kreativeden Entertainment on Monday afternoon signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the organizing and staging of The Manila Film Festival (TMFF) in time for the celebration of Araw ng Maynila in June.
Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna Pangan, Chairperson of the TMFF, Kreativeden Entertainment CEO Kate Villanueva, TMFF Director Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto and Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM) Director Fernan Bemejo led the signing held at the Bulwagang Antonio Villegas.
The mayor in her speech said the festival will again showcase an excellent wide variety of local films created by students from different colleges and universities nationwide.
Coinciding with the MOA signing, the TMFF introduced the top eight finalists from 69 entries from student filmmakers nationwide.
“Sa araw na ito ay ipapaalam naman din natin sa publiko yung walong katangi-tanging istorya na magbibigay muili sa atin ng kaibang aliw at saya, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, imbes na full length ay gagawin nating short film,” Mayor Honey said.
The entries that made it to the Top 8 receiving the production grants of P150,000 to P300,000 each are “Happy (M)others Day directed by Ronnie Ramos of the University of the Philippines Film Institute, Bahay, Baboy, Bagyo, directed by Mike Biong, also of University of the Philippines Film Institute, An Kuan directed by Joyce Ramos of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Three for 100, Ang tamang porma ng pag-uukay at iba pang mga bagay-bagay I think, directed by Cedrick Labadia of iAcademy, Ditas Pinamalas, directed by Adrian Renz Espino of Adamson University, Pinilakang Tabingi directed by John Pistol Carmen of Bicol University, Una;t Huling Sakay directed by Vhan Marco Molacruz of Colegio San Juan de Letran and Ballad of a Blind Man directed by Charlie Vitug of College of Saint Benilde.
TMFF will also feature short film of respected young filmmakers Dwein Baltazar (Third World Romance), JP Habac, Jr. (Im Drunk I Love You), Sigfrid Andrea Bernardo (Kita-Kita), and Pepe Diokno (Gomburza).
The Top 8 Films and the four short films of featured directors will have its premiere on June 4 at the Metropolitan Theater and its awards night on June 11 at the same venue while cinema screening venues from June 5 to 11 will be announced later.
