Abrenian Heritage Film Fest finalists named

BANGUED, Abra -Four documentary films and one short film are the top five finalists for the first Abrenian Heritage Film Festival (AHFF).

The five competing films are “Panagkabalyo: Ladawan ti Regget ti Panagbasa” made by La Paz Integrated School, “Kinadaanan”, “Nira” and “Kamangeg” made by the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and “Annanga ken Kattukong” made by An-anaao Integrated School.

The winners of the film festival will be crowned as the 1stGawad Sine Abreño 2019 Best Documentary Film and Best Short Film on September 2829 at the Oval Era Cinemas in Bangued.

These films recorded and edited by students with the aid of their teachers, generally focus on the promotion and preservation of Abrenian heritage and culture and these will be shown to the public during the awarding ceremony.

The AHFF was conducted by the Sine Abreño, and the Department of Education -Schools Division Office of Abra, in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Philippine Information Agency-Abra in celebration of the 100 Years of Philippine Cinema.

In a press conference, Abrenian Film Festival Director and Film Ambassador Dexter Macaraeg outlined

the importance of preserving culture visually whether though a documentary, short film or feature story.

“This Abrenian Heritage Film Festival is venue in discovering pure Abrenian talents. This is their opportunity to preserve their cultures visually and it will motivate public and private schools also to be a culture-oriented institutions,” he said.

Macaraeg assured that the winning films will have chance to compete in the national or even in an international film festival arena such as the Sinag Maynila or the Manhattan Film Festival in New York.

Macaraeg’s documentary films “Amamma” and “Tata Pilo” have garnered multiple awards and recognitions from the different film festivals around the world. He hopes that these students who are aspiring to enter career in the cinema industry would experience the same.

Division Schools Superintendent Dr. Amador D. Garcia said the film festival has provided tremendous support to schools in advocating Abrenian culture among students.