UPV CineMatahum Film Fest Tours Western Visayas

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) is expanding its CineMatahum Film Festival with its first regional tour this November.

The festival, which celebrates Western Visayas’ vibrant film narratives, will feature screenings at UPV campuses in Pandan, Antique, Iloilo City, and Miagao, Iloilo.

The public is invited to attend the festival screenings, scheduled as follows:

• November 8-9: Pandan Antique Extension Campus
• November 14-16: UPV Cinematheque, Iloilo City Campus
• November 23: MILC, UPV Miagao Campus

Originally launched as CineMapadayon in 2022, CineMatahum continues to amplify the voices of young regional filmmakers, offering a platform for student-created films that highlight local stories.

With the theme “Films Made by People Like You for People Like You,” the festival aims to decentralize filmmaking and cultivate appreciation among regional audiences, while celebrating languages like Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, and Akeanon.

This year’s lineup includes UP Visayas short films that have gained national recognition at events like Puregold CinePanalo, experimental films by UP students, and selections from regional festivals, including the Bantayan Film Festival, Miagao Film Festival, Sarok Film Festival, and entries from institutions like the University of San Agustin, Filamer Christian University, Sigrab Film Festival of Central Philippine University, Iloilo Doctor’s College, and PESCAR of West Visayas State University.

Each screening session will feature talkbacks, allowing filmmakers and audiences to engage in meaningful discussions about the films. These sessions will be facilitated by film students.

CineMatahum emphasizes “pedagogical cinema” and involves students in filmmaking through workshops led by Ilonggo filmmaker and educator Prof. Nick Deocampo from the UP Film Institute. Students from UP Visayas, State University of Northern Negros, University of Antique, and UP High School in Iloilo participated in these workshops, honing skills in research-based storytelling and production. This initiative supports Chancellor Clement Camposano’s vision of cinema as a medium for learning and community engagement.

Organized by the UP Visayas Division of Humanities, CineMatahum seeks to cultivate a vibrant regional film community, embracing the motto “Kita ang matahum sa CineMatahum” (We are the beauty in CineMatahum). UPV advertising students are actively promoting the festival through on-ground campaigns.

With Daily Guardian as the official media partner, CineMatahum will soon announce industry guest speakers to further enrich the festival experience.

For updates, follow the CineMatahum Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551562432515.