'Pista Sa Puting Tabil' filmfest puts spotlight on aspiring filmmakers

(INTRO) If a journey of a thousand miles takes a single step, then Cine-U, the new film club of Cebu Normal University, has taken an admirably bold step towards channeling their passion, interest and largely untapped talent in filmmaking and creative storytelling by organizing "Pista sa Puting Tabil," the first-ever film festival of the university.

"Pista sa Puting Tabil" marks the first major project of Cine-U, which was founded by the Com 107 (Intro to Film) BA-2W (SY 2006-2007) class under the guidance of Januar Yap, a professor in CNU's College of Arts and Sciences - English Department. The university-wide film fest had five categories namely, short films, documentaries, music videos, commercials and guest features, all of which, except for the latter, were weaved by teachers and students alike amid many challenges that confront any aspiring filmmaker. Jeffrey James Ocang, another English faculty member of CNU and a BA Broadcast graduate of University of the Philippines-Diliman whose class submitted the most entries, said "the film fest makes a very good start for discovering and developing talents."

"It is also good that this is a competition of sorts, as they strive to deliver quality work," Ocang said. "Of course, you cannot expect the caliber of those in the Manila Metro Film Festival, nevertheless, this will serve as breeding ground for our aspiring filmmakers."

Cine-U club president Emmanuel Mante, for his part, said that they were prompted to hold "Pista sa Puting Tabil" because of the challenge posed by their teacher, Januar Yap, to have an event that should help give a good name and foundation to their organization.

The film fest, which opened last Monday, February 19, drew 15 short films, five documentary films, 10 MTVs and six commercials, themes of which came in variety but nonetheless reflective of social realities, youth interests, local culture and familial ties. All entries were made in digital format.

The Short Films are ROSARY (A man will pay the price for worldly desires); NOLI ME TANGERE (Setting the minds of today's youth on the role they are expected to play in the society. Jose Rizal's " Ang Kabataan ang Pag-asa nang Bayan" is given emphasis in this short film); YATAF (Confessions of a homosexual infected by HIV, his love for a man who betrayed him, and his advise for people like him); EGOY (A man falling into a denouement of mental and psychological confusion, as his past haunts him); TERKUTUK (Be careful on what you wish for…Andrea falls into a trap she herself created); PAHIYOM (The daily struggles of a nursing student); KAWANG (Role model she may be…but take a look at the skeletons in her closet); IKAW (A family with a unified hobby- texting); PATALIM (Story of a student prostitute); MY IMMORTAL (A love cursed by evil, transforming a God and a Goddess into ordinary beings and sending them to earth. Will their new state bring back the their lost love?); KARNABAL (A battered child's aspirations and frustrations); KASING-KASING SA USA KA BUTANGIRU (The horrors of being enslaved to one's own desires); and FIRST TIME (The thrills of a first try).

The Documentaries include SINULOG (In search for the real essence of Sinulog); ANG NASALIPDANG BAHIN (The Sinulog side stories); KANDILA (Real stories of candle vendors); ISDA (Tales of a fish vendor); FIRST TIMERS (City fellows visit a fisherman's paradise); and ANG BULAWANG BINHI UG AND KINABUHI SA MAG-UUMA (The life of a farmer and his harvests).

Music Videos are THE COCONUT NUT (A bukobar vendor's trip to fantasy land as the most handsome man on earth); NO TOUCH (The evolution of courtship); KUNG MAIBABALIK KO LANG (Reminisces one's beloved); BULONG (A battered child puts an end to her sacrifices); HILING (Scenes from inside a rehab); BONGGA KA DAI (The indifference among members of the female gender); and PAGSUBOK (Features trials experienced by most women).

The Commercials TOVEE CHIPS (Tells how a snack chip heals a broken friendship); VOTE WISELY (Shows the consequence of indiscriminate voting); STOP MENDICANCY (Beware of false beggars); CUT THE HABIT (Conforming to City Ordinance 1361 "Bawal Umihi Dito"); KAN-ANAN SA CNU (Features the Cebu Normal University canteen); and PAKIGBISUG ALANG SA KABABAINHANG KATUNGOD (Woman empowerment).

An Awards Night will cap the weeklong festival tomorrow, February 23, to be held at the CNU Inner Court Stage. Awards include Best Short Feature, Best Documentary, Best Commercial, Best Music Video, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director (one for each category), Best Screenwriter (for the short feature and documentary), Best in Cinematography, Best in Special Effects, and Best Ensemble (for the most efficient production group).

Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition housemate, Budoy as well as Missing Filemon, among other Bisrock bands will be guest performers in tomorrow's culminating night.