According to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Diño, around 60 to 70 percent of the films released in the country every year are products of independent film festivals.
In this respect, FDCP recognizes the crucial role of indie films, and indie film festivals for that matter, in keeping Philippine cinema alive. Hence, the agency exerts efforts to help indies find more audience. It hosts workshops and other activities to assist filmmakers find their niche and widen their target audiences.
“The FDCP has what they call a festival partnership programme which allows CFFF and the FDCP to collaborate in several projects,” says Unitel Productions and Straight Shooters President and CEO Madonna Tarrayo during the official media launch of CineFilipino Film Festival (CFFF).
During the event, Cignal Entertainment and Unitel Productions, Inc. unveiled the eight feature length films that will be part of this year’s CFFF, which will run from May 9 to 15 with a grand awards night that will be held at the Kia Theater on May 12.
The eight feature length films are: Delia & Sammy directed by Theresa Cayaba; Excuse Me Po directed by Ronald Espinosa Batallones; Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus directed by Dwein Baltazar; Hitboy directed by Bor Ocampo; Mata Tapang directed by Rod Marmol; Mga Mister ni Rosario directed by Allan Habon; Poon directed by Ronie Supangan; and The Eternity Between Seconds directed by Alec Figuracion.
Five years after its debut in the industry, the CineFilipino Film Festival (CFFF) continues to showcase new filmmakers churning out exceptional stories.
“We have five new filmmakers and three who have done feature-length films in other festivals. With this line up you can expect a rollercoaster of emotions in every frame,” Tarrayo says.
It comes as no surprise that in just a few years, the CFFF has become the center of championing new stories with fresh talents. It has always put an importance on the story above all else.
“Kwento ang hari,” the festival's mantra, is the belief that CFFF has always followed and imbibed in all of its efforts. This has definitely been noticed by Filipinos and also by the international community.
The past years’ winners have gained national and global visibility in several platforms, some even joining international film festivals. With Cignal Entertainment solidly backing up the efforts of the filmmakers, the festival is fast becoming the hub for the industry’s most creative minds. All of its finalists show a freshness of approach, strong potential for audience engagement, mass friendly without sacrificing quality, and are commercially viable.
More filmgoers will also have the chance to see the final entries. CFFF is offering more screening opportunities this year as its partner cinemas expands significantly. For the first time, CFFF films we be screened in selected cinemas from the North to the South. During the festival, CineFilipino feature length films and short films will be shown at Gateway Cinemas, SM Cinemas (under CineLokal), and Ayala Malls.