Bacolod’s local stories to be featured in 3rd Bacolod Film Festival

Nine local filmmakers have been chosen to receive production grants worth PHP 100,000 each to bring their short films to life for the upcoming 3rd Bacolod Film Festival.

This year’s festival, scheduled from November 27 to 29, centers on the theme “Pag-angot: Celebrating Heritage, Shaping Our Future” to spotlight Bacolod’s rich traditions, local communities, and evolving cultural landscape.

The grant, to be distributed in two tranches, together with dedicated workshops and script mentoring sessions, supports local directors during their shoots across the city.

Each short film, ranging from 15 to 20 minutes, must incorporate three to five distinct heritage markers from Bacolod. These range from historical landmarks, local traditions, and culinary highlights to the everyday experiences of Bacolod’s residents.

Festival Director Tanya Lopez emphasized the urgency of capturing these elements visually as the urban landscape transforms, giving both current audiences and future generations a window into the city’s roots.

Mayor Greg Gasataya reiterated the local administration’s commitment to strengthening Bacolod’s creative ecosystem, pointing to initiatives like City Ordinance 1061 (the Bacolod Film Festival Ordinance) and the G-Hive creative industry hub at the Mansilingan Activity Center, which provides filmmakers with access to equipment and studio spaces.

A dedicated evaluation panel, made up of Jonathan Jurilla, filmmaker, professor, and TaliSine Film Festival director; Helen Arguelles-Cutillar, tourism and cultural advocate and festival director of Sagay City’s Margaha Film Festival; and Rolin Miguel Cadallo Obina, playwright, Bais City culture and arts officer, and festival director for the Bais Film Festival, reviewed this year’s project submissions.

The final nine selected entries span themes of local folklore, family ties, personal identity, and community life. They are Rolf Dubouzet Baynosa’s “Beware of Dog,” Farleen John Casidsid’s “Si Balong Ginbulang,” Dranreb Cimatu’s “Buklod Balod Bakod Bacolod,” Renzo Grijaldo’s “Ka Aslum Sang Batwan,” Jaden Mijares’ “PrinCaesar,” Mai Montelibano’s “Lumay,” Kurt Soberano’s “Duwa Duwa,” Reginald Amador Zack Verzosa’s “Tukturuok,” and Pamela Reinee Viedor’s “Ang Tagabantay.”

Student filmmakers Casidsid and Mijares highlighted the grant program as an essential platform for emerging talent to gain practical industry experience and showcase stories rooted in Negros Occidental.