TaliSine film fest brings student stories citywide

TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental — Talisay City has launched its inaugural TaliSine Short Film Festival, creating a new platform for student filmmaking and local storytelling in Negros Occidental.

The festival opened Aug. 17 at Don Simplicio Lizares National High School with the program “Pamukaw: Handuraw sang Kultura kag Istorya,” organized by the Department of Education Schools Division Office, the TaliSine Festival Organizing Committee, and local government offices.

Assistant City Administrator Ismael Penado formally opened the event on behalf of Mayor Rowena Guadalupe Lopez-Lizares, joined by DepEd officer-in-charge Schools Division Superintendent Jen-Ann V. Rosal, City Councilor Martin Gerard C. Lizares, and festival director Jonathan Jurilla.

Jurilla, a filmmaker and associate professor at the University of the Philippines Visayas, said, “This event is only the beginning. Seeing the positive response from Talisaynons and witnessing young students with no previous experience in filmmaking create and produce their own stories, then seeing audiences resonate with them, has been truly heartwarming. I’m fully motivated to push this event as an annual tradition, and I hope that, in the future, we can also welcome filmmakers from outside Talisay to join us.”

Following a cultural performance by the Salinlahi Dance Troupe, the festival showcased nine films exploring family, identity, culture, resilience, and youth experiences.

The films are “Bitso-Bitso,” directed by Camerone Jean G. Realubit and produced by Ma. Yolanda Diongon; “Dabo-Dabo,” directed by Julia Joy Treyes and produced by Ma. Nadeil Rivera and Kevin John B. Lamio; “Dutan-on,” directed by Rijannah Louisse A. Kubota and produced by Kirk Joy B. Padios; “Limbong,” directed by Rei Edriane Amihan and produced by Patricia Mae T. Tingson; “Padayon,” directed by Cheslene Rae Valdevieso and produced by Diana Jean Perez; “Palapak,” directed by Thea Megan Capili and produced by Maribel Lastrado; “Panublion,” directed by Reuben James Bolo and produced by Ralph Vincent Garbanzos; “Sincerely, Dos Hermanas,” directed by Sophia Mae T. Dela Cruz and produced by Kezandra D. Gentelizo; and “TaGu (Tanum nga Gugma),” directed by Franco Amier Piz and produced by Ma. Jessadel S. Quinoñes.

Rather than confining screenings to a single venue, TaliSine is operating as a citywide short-film caravan from Aug. 17–24, transforming local high school spaces into temporary cinemas with morning and afternoon sessions aimed at reaching students directly.

Participating schools are Don Simplicio Lizares National High School, Dr. Antonio A. Lizares Memorial High School, Efegenio Lizares National High School, Inocencio V. Ferrer Memorial School of Fisheries, Colegio San Nicolas de Tolentino–Recoletos, Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School, and Notre Dame Talisay.

Each screening features talkback sessions in which student directors, cast members, and crew interact with their peers, discuss their creative journeys, and promote storytelling.

The films grew out of a May 12–14 workshop in which students received training from industry practitioners, including Jurilla, visual artist Tey Sevilleno, theater artist Mary Jane Quilisadio, production designer Kathryn Baynosa, and cinematographer Aldwin Juson.

The entries are being evaluated by a jury composed of Helen Arguelles-Cutillar, a tourism and cultural development advocate and festival director of Sagay City’s Margaha Film Festival; Leonard Ian Billones, a filmmaker, screenwriter, and contributor to regional and national film projects; and Daniel de la Cruz, an award-winning Ilonggo filmmaker and founder of BDABDA Studios.

The festival will culminate with the TaliSine 2026 Awards Night at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Talisay City Public Plaza, where the top student filmmakers will be recognized.