CH invites film makers to join short film contest

CEBU, Philippines - To celebrate Cebu City’s 79th Charter Day, the city government is inviting film makers for a 79-hour challenge to write, shoot, and edit a five-minute short film.

Participants will be asked to incorporate pre-selected passages from the works of Don Vicen-te Rama, father of the Cebu City Charter and grandfather of suspended Mayor Michael Rama.

“The purpose of this competition is to encourage the young people to take part and recognize the history of the city and its past leaders,” Cebuano Cinema Development Council member Diem Judilla, who is also a faculty member and coordinator of Cinema program at the University of San Carlos.

This is the first 79 Oras Salidagan Sugbo 2016. Salidagan is a combination of the Visayan words “salida” and “dagan.” When combined, it means “film run or film race.”

This project is spearheaded by the city government, CCDC, city’s Public Information Office, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, and Cine Oriente.

In a press conference yesterday, Judilla said the competition will be launched on February 18 at 9 a.m. at the Cebu City Hall Social Hall. On that day, the CCDC will be giving kits with further rules and guidelines of the competition to participants.

Each kit, Judilla said will have five passages of Don Vicente Rama’s works. Parti-cipants will choose only one passage that will be incorporated in the film.

These passages will serve as the moral lesson or the theme of the films. Judilla said the interpretation of these passages will be up to the film makers.

He said entries are open to any genre; horror, comedy, romance, among others. All entries should be submitted on February 22 and it will be screened on February 23.

Judilla said entries will be screened at Cine Oriente since the area has also historical connection with Don Vicente Rama. Judilla said the works of Rama were first presented at Cine Oriente.

On February 24, Cebu City will celebrate its 79th Charter Day. On that day, winning entries will be presented.  (FREEMAN)