Western Visayas Film Grant Program

Started in 2013, CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival has gone a long way of celebrating and promoting local filmmakers and their crafts. The festival gathered various artists who share the same passion and bring in enthusiasts to enjoy the works of their friends and kasimanwas.

Master filmmaker and Region VI filmmaking icon director Peque Gallaga is adorned by viewers of "Sonata", the closing film of the 1st CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2013 at SM Cinema 1 of SM City Iloilo. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

Master filmmaker and Region VI filmmaking icon director Peque Gallaga is adorned by viewers of “Sonata”, the closing film of the 1st CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2013 at SM Cinema 1 of SM City Iloilo. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

CineKasimanwa is the brainchild of an awarded Ilonggo filmmaker, multidisciplinary artist and film curator Elvert de la Cruz Bañares who aside from making sure that the local films are promoted also lobbies the films to be part of different film festivals and the National Art Fair. Together with Deputy Festival Directors for the past two years, August Andong who worked as Culture and Arts Assistant II of the Broadcast Arts Division and Performing Arts Department of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ruth Borja Pequierda who in the past worked as the Culture and Arts officer of Broadcast, Film and New Media Arts Division, many Ilonggo film enthusiasts also joined CineKasimanwa as volunteers to help disseminate information, invite people to watch the films and help the Festival Director conduct film appreciation workshops at universities. This is to ensure that everyone in Western Visayas is reached and informed about “their” festival. It is through these opportunities of having their films screened that filmmakers are encouraged to continue making films that become a medium to promote places, crafts, people, talent and culture of Western Visayas.

CineKasimanwa 2014 satellite tours kicked off at NCR at TIU Theater (formerly THX Theater) in Makati City. Huge billboards adorned the whole stretch of its compound. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

CineKasimanwa 2014 satellite tours kicked off at NCR at TIU Theater (formerly THX Theater) in Makati City. Huge billboards adorned the whole stretch of its compound. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

Iloilo was represented by five films after a long lull in Cinema Rehiyon 6. Among the filmmakers who were sent: Frances Lacuesta whose film, the Gawad URIAN nominee "Luna", is being re-presented to the public again; "Kapawa" by Noel de Leon (represented by Alen Galindo) and TM Malones of "Salvi: Ang Pagpadayon". Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

Iloilo was represented by five films after a long lull in Cinema Rehiyon 6. Among the filmmakers who were sent: Frances Lacuesta whose film, the Gawad URIAN nominee “Luna”, is being re-presented to the public again; “Kapawa” by Noel de Leon (represented by Alen Galindo) and TM Malones of “Salvi: Ang Pagpadayon”. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

In the past two years, CineKasimanwa showcases mainstream, independent, new breed, documentaries, experimental and animation full length and short films in different programs namely the Moo-Moo-An sa Biyernes featuring Ilonggo horror and fantasies, the Children’s program, documentary and short film programs and the filmmakers in focus program.

The Guimbal iFilm Society (filmmakers from Guimbal Iloilo) with CineKasimanwa Festival Director Elvert Bañares during the closing ceremonies of the 1st CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2013 at SM Cinema 1, SM City Iloilo. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

The Guimbal iFilm Society (filmmakers from Guimbal Iloilo) with CineKasimanwa Festival Director Elvert Bañares during the closing ceremonies of the 1st CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2013 at SM Cinema 1, SM City Iloilo. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

Acclaimed actor Sid Lucero with actress Alessandra de Rossi were the special guests during the opening night of the 2nd CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2014. With producer Moira, they presented the film "Norte" by Lav Diaz. Lucero and De Rossi also represented T'yanak by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. The guests are seen here with the very active volunteers of CineKasimanwa. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

Acclaimed actor Sid Lucero with actress Alessandra de Rossi were the special guests during the opening night of the 2nd CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2014. With producer Moira, they presented the film “Norte” by Lav Diaz. Lucero and De Rossi also represented T’yanak by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. The guests are seen here with the very active volunteers of CineKasimanwa. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

The festival runs for one whole week every December in three venues, SM Cinema, FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo and UPV Cinematheque. All the films screened during the festival are made by filmmakers from Iloilo, Bacolod, Antique, Aklan, Capiz and Guimaras. It’s the time of the year that the audience can enjoy watching and be proud of films that they can call their own.

Filmmaker Tara Illenberger presents her new film in seven years, "Gaid", at the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo during the 2nd CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2014. The film's cast and crew were all in attendance. Photo by Christian Evren Lozañes.

Filmmaker Tara Illenberger presents her new film in seven years, “Gaid”, at the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo during the 2nd CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2014. The film’s cast and crew were all in attendance. Photo by Christian Evren Lozañes.

Region VI filmmaking icon director Nick Deocampo talks about his documentary film "Cross Currents", the opening film of the 1st CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2013, at the UP Cinematheque in UPV Iloilo. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

Region VI filmmaking icon director Nick Deocampo talks about his documentary film “Cross Currents”, the opening film of the 1st CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2013, at the UP Cinematheque in UPV Iloilo. Photo from CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival page.

This year, the Department of Tourism Region VI together with CineKasimanwa and the Western Visayas Filmmakers Network created this Western Visayas Film Grant to help local filmmakers produce their short films on Western Visayas – its culture, the stories, and the people. Six deserving winners of the grants will receive one hundred thousand pesos to present their own stories which focus on Western Visayan heritage, folklores, beliefs, legends, and traditions in its six provinces – Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

The very active DOT-Region VI Regional Director, Atty. Helen Catalbas with CineKasimanwa Festival Director Elvert Bañares and Deputy Festival Director, Ruth Borja Pequierda after the screening of "Asin" the closing film of CineKasimanwa 2: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2014 at SM Cinema, SM Iloilo.

The very active DOT-Region VI Regional Director, Atty. Helen Catalbas with CineKasimanwa Festival Director Elvert Bañares and Deputy Festival Director, Ruth Borja Pequierda after the screening of “Asin” the closing film of CineKasimanwa 2: The Western Visayas Film Festival 2014 at SM Cinema, SM Iloilo.

For 18-35 years old filmmakers from Western Visayas or for those of you who know someone who belongs in the age bracket, visit: WESTERN VISAYAS FILM GRANTS PROGRAM (Rules, Regulations & Entry Form) ► http://ge.tt/3IZ5nbD2 for further understanding of the film grant and for the full mechanics.

To know more about CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival please visit their page http://www.facebook.com/CineKasimanwa or email at CineKasimanwa@gmail.com.