QC film roadshow inspires youth

TO celebrate 100 years of Philippine cinema, the local government of Quezon City launched the “QCinema Caravan” to show local independent films in public schools and barangay (villages) and inspire young people to become the next generation of filmmakers and artists.

The caravan will bring local full-length and short films from past entries of the QCinema International Film Festival Circle Competition to audiences composed of high school students and youth groups all over the city.

“We are doing this roadshow to promote good cinema from local independent filmmakers, and to expose young people to quality film-making from which they can pick up life lessons,” QC Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Belmonte, in her speech before high school students at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo High School, said the QC government hoped that young people would in the future submit their own creative works of art thru film.

The vice mayor said that up-and- coming filmmakers have been given the chance to turn their ideas into reality through the annual Qcinema competition.

QCinema features competing entries from upandcoming independent filmmakers, shorts, international feature films, and digitally-remastered Filipino classics.

From a pool of submitted scripts, a board of jurors composed of well-known filmmakers selects the eight best scripts.

“From the eight best scripts, the local government will give P1.5 million to each winning scriptwriter so that that person can develop and make his or her dream movie. And that person can be you,” Belmomte said.

Last year’s QCinema Circle Competition award for Best Picture was given to the movie “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness” by Khavn Dela Cruz. The film went on to receive the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Best Picture Award and the Best Film award at the 41st Gawad Urian awards.

The first leg of the caravan included stops in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo High School on August 30; Barangay Bahay Toro on August 31; and San Francisco High School on September 5.

Succeeding legs of the roadshow will especially target young people from impoverished areas in the city in order to inspire talented individuals who may want to explore further their skills in film and art.