• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The 10 budding Bacolod filmmakers, who have been selected to premiere their “Stories With a Smile” short films during the first Bacolod Film Festival (BFF) edition this September, will enter into memoranda of agreement with Mayor Alfredo Benitez for their P300,000 grants.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod has authorized Benitez to sign the MOA with BFF grantees Vincent Joseph Entuna, 25, of Barangay Mandalagan; Oscar Severino Villanueva, 50, of Brgy. 17; Crisha Arroyo, 23, Brgy. Vista Alegre; Rodolfo Hinolan Jr., 39, Brgy. Pahanocoy;
Juan Carlo Miguel Araullo, 20, of Brgy. Taculing; Reginald Amador Zack Verzosa, 22, Brgy. Alijis; Willbryan Garcia, 46, Brgy. Villamonte; Georgia Mari Elardo, 26, Brgy. 7; Chelsea Tasic, 20, Brgy. Taculing; and Charlene Mae Tupas, 30, of Brgy. Cabug.
Each of these 10 finalists, out of the 33 hopefuls, will receive P300,000 grant in producing his or her short film entry.
Under the MOA, the first tranche of P180,000 will be released at the start of the film production, P60,000 upon submission of the film poster, and the remaining P60,000 upon submission of the teaser and full film.
The grantee shall submit liquidation and fund utilization reports, including all documents to support the disbursement and/or expenditures not later than Sept. 30, 2024, or after the completion of the project, whichever is earlier, the MOA added.
During the presentation of the finalists at the Bacolod Government Center lobby June 10, led by BFF director Seymour Sanchez and Councilor Em Ang, the city said that Elardo’s entry, “Chicken Inasal”, is set in 2222 in the cyberpunk city of Bacolod; Tupas’ “Aninaw” embarks on a journey against a backdrop of an evolving city and of failing memory; Arroyo’s “Laragway sa Karon” tells of an unexpected friendship full of colors; and Tasic’s “A Flower A Day” is of a young woman finding solace amid the faded charm of a quiet, rundown café.
Entuna’s “Sa Pwesto ni Pistong (The Barber’s Chair)” is about a humble barber navigating a tumultuous era while serving a diverse array of customers; Villanueva’s “The Mansion” tells of a young artist’s struggle to find inspiration and becoming obsessed with the White Lady legend; Garcia’s “Puli Na, Diche Lesly” is a bittersweet story of family ties and the things we do for love;
Araullo’s “Blind Date”, tells of two savvy social media stars getting set up and struggling to meet up; Versoza’s “Glub” is about an outcast, who wants to have someone who understands him and meeting a person who he thinks would be the one; while Hinolan’s entry, “Manokan Country”, is of a chicken inasal cooking faceoff in a bid to preserve the heart of a community. | CGC
