The Grand Prize for the Short Animated Film – Student Category was recently awarded to Diskarte, during Animahenasyon XI, an annual animation film festival showcasing original Filipino works.
Organized by the Animation Council of the Philippines, the event featured outstanding pieces from students, enthusiasts, and professionals. Since 2007, the association hosted workshops and free screenings, providing excellent opportunities for industry professionals to network and students to improve their craft.
Diskarte by Jose Agustin Delfin Crisostomo and Michelle Allysa Cervantes, both Bachelor of Arts in Animation graduates of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), is a satire on the deplorable state of public transportation in the country.
This production likewise won the top prize in the animation category of the Ika-29 Gawad CCP para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video (Gawad Alternatibo) in August 2017, and was screened at the recent Cinema One Originals shorts program.
Apart from Diskarte, works by Benilde students and alumni also took home prizes at Animahenasyon XI, to include Vaughn Bryner Tan’s Holy Dung (Best in Technical Prize), and Brighten Up by Jeremy Sanchez (Best in Narrative Prize) in the Professional Category.
Mentored by a roster of award-winning practitioners, Benilde’s Animation program hones students in different skills, from traditional hand-drawn to digital two-dimension, three-dimension and computer-generated imagery (CGI), and experimental stop-motion.
Benjamin Marasigan Jr., present chairperson of Benilde’s Animation Program and former president of the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), disclosed that an accomplished skill in drawing continues to be essential in animation, especially for those seeking to join international production companies, such as Disney and Pixar.
He added the program’s curriculum would be updated soon to include classes in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and visual effects.