Eight locally-produced short films will have a free screening during the launching of the 2nd Bacolod Film Festival (BFF) on Nov. 27, across participating cinemas at SM City Bacolod, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and Cinematheque Centre Negros.
The official lineup of short films includes “Tonton”, directed by Charlene Mead Tupas, “Truth & Dare” by Banjo Hinolan, “Tililing” by Dranreb Cimatu, “Balay Alibangbang” by Kyle Ramas;
“Tuyaw”, directed by Roland Chavez, “Sa Tunga Entablado” by Jiane Nicole Flores, “We Can Really Only Ever Be One” by David Reasol, and “Bagong Bayan”, directed by Kir Kizziah Hulleza.
All films have been rated PG (Parental Guidance) by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, the city said in a press release Nov. 24.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed full support for local filmmakers, and highlighted this year’s festival theme, “Panan-aw: Local Frames, Global Change”, which emphasizes narratives rooted in Bacolodnon identity and lived experiences.
The BFF is jointly implemented by the city government of Bacolod and the Negros Cultural Foundation (NCF), with support from the Office of Bacolod Lone District Rep. Albee Benitez. Institutional partners include the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the MTRCB, and The Negros Museum.
Mae Llamas, head of the Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions, shared her excitement for the official launch that will feature free shows at the opening day, followed by a two-day public screening on Nov. 28–29.
“I think we have leveled up the Bacolod Film Festival because we are giving filmmakers the opportunity to be mainstreamed in cinemas,” Llamas stressed. “We’ve seen many film festivals in the province and the region, but none have truly been mainstreamed in cinemas. This time, we are not only mainstreaming them but also connecting them with film producers.”
Regular screenings at SM City Bacolod (Cinemas 1 and 4) and at Ayala Malls Capitol Central (Cinemas 1 and 2) will feature four screenings per day.
Cinematheque Centre Negros will host two screenings per day, and four on Nov. 29. Cinematheque Centre Negros will also serve as venue for the festival’s post-screening talkbacks with filmmakers on Nov. 27, followed by the BFF Director’s Forum morning of Nov. 28 and the “Panan-aw” Conversations on film appreciation and the importance of regional film festivals in the afternoon.
Tickets for regular screenings are priced at P200 each, and will be available at the ticket booths in Ayala, SM, and Cinematheque lobbies. Ticket-selling dates will be announced soon. ||
