Filmmakers from Region IV-A gathered once again at UPLB for Pelikultura: The CALABARZON Film Festival 2019 on March 13-15.

Now on its ninth year, Pelikultura attracted 26 entries that tell stories from the region. These digital films vied for various awards under two categories: student and open.

During the awarding ceremony that was held on March 15 at the CAS Auditorium, the entry “Para Kay James” by Steven Paul Evangelio of UP Diliman was named as the Best Film under the student category.

It also garnered two other awards: Best Editing and Best Performance for its ensemble cast.

Meanwhile, Gio Potes’ “Sunugin ang Aparador” was hailed as Best Film under the open category. Potes is a Rizal-based filmmaker.

“Sunugin Ang Aparador” also took home the Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay honors.

According to Dr. Leonora Fajutagana, chair of the Department of Humanities (DHUM), holding Pelikultura in UPLB is part of its commitment to promote culture and arts in the region.

Dr. Fajutagana serves as the executive director of the UPLB SamaSining, the integrated arts program of DHUM. UPLB Pelikulab, the host of Pelikultura, is under the UPLB SamaSining.

Pelikultura is part of the Cinema in the Regions, a flagship program of the Cinema Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). 

On behalf of NCCA, Jayson Septimo challenged the filmmakers to continue creating relevant regional and national stories.

Making films, Septimo said, is a way to create collective experiences, intentions, and stories as a community and as a country. Such, he added, is tantamount to creating the soul of the country.

Meanwhile, Renneth Moldes of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), who spoke on behalf of its chair Liza Diño, identified Pelikultura’s role in empowering regions and localities, particularly in cultivating their own film culture.

Present during the awards night was Dr. Serlie Barroga-Jamias, vice chancellor for community affairs and a professor of development communication.

In a message that she delivered on behalf of Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Dr. Jamias commended Pelikultura for bringing regional films closer to more people and giving independent filmmakers an avenue to showcase their work.

Aside from film showings, the three-day festival also featured fora and workshops with Dr. Rolando Tolentino, professor at the UP Film Institute, and directors Keith Deligero and Jewel Maranan (KEAraguas)