Council OKs creation of body to support local filmmakers

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has recently approved an ordinance creating a Cebuano Cinema Development Council to support Cebuano filmmakers that produce historical and cultural heritage of the city.

City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, who authored the ordinance, was in high spirit after the City Council approved on October 22 his proposed measure.

Cuenco said there is a need to promote and preserve Cebuano culture through film in order to establish a prosperous and unified film industry that produces high quality motion pictures and encourages social and cultural transformation.

He said that Cebu City residents should be made aware of the rich cultural heritage of Cebu in film and language, citing the classic Cebuano films like; Tahas, (1950); Rosas Pangdan, (1957); Badlis sa Kinabuhi, (1969); and Mayor Andal, (1979); that have graced the silver screen.

“There are already existing professional and amateur organizations of filmmakers and individual artists who need to be coordinated and supported,” he said.

Section 2 of the ordinance states that; “It is hereby declared a policy of the City of Cebu to promote and support the development and growth of the Cebuano local film making industry in strengthening and preserving Cebuano film culture.”

Cuenco, chairman of the City Council’s committee on tourism, said that the CCDC will conduct programs that would help enhance the art and craft of film making industry.

CCDC is created under the Office of the Mayor. The city mayor will sit as the chairperson or his duly representative, and other members are the chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Tourism, local and international relations, arts and culture; two representatives from the cinema education sector; one representative from the mass media; two representatives from filmmakers’ organization; two representatives from the independent cinema; and one representative from the film archives sector.

Some of the powers and functions of the CCDC that is pronounced under the ordinance are; to undertake the annual Cebu City Film Festival; to establish, launch, organize and undertake local and international film festivals, exhibitions, and other similar activities in City of Cebu; to conduct research, restore, archive and preserve old Cebuano films that would serve as a bases of study for filmmakers, students, and academe; among others.

Section 9 of the ordinance authorizes the CCDC to accept donations that must be received by the city government with the Deed of Donation signed by the city mayor.  (FREEMAN)