Bacolod prepares for 1st film festival
THE Bacolod City government has launched a film festival to showcase the creativity of filmmakers residing in the city, develop film appreciation, and further promote the local film industry.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez officially announced the call for entries to the Bacolod Film Festival through the recently approved City Ordinance No. 1061.
The ordinance, which provides for the creation of the Bacolod Film Festival Council (BFFC), is made up of 21 sections covering its functions and responsibilities, the role of the Festival Director, the festival theme, selection process, awards night, and source of funds, among others.
The BFFC will select filmmakers who will receive subsidies to shoot short films that will be shown during the film festival in September. An awards night will also be held as a culminating event.
Councilor Em Ang, Bacolod City Council’s Committee Chairperson on History, Culture, and Arts revealed that the city government will provide production grants worth P300,000 each to 10 filmmakers, whether producer, director, or writer, who are bona fide residents of Bacolod City. She clarified that selected filmmakers do not need to shoot scenes entirely in the city.
The ordinance is anchored on Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which mandates local government units (LGUs) to exercise their powers for the enrichment and preservation of culture in their respective jurisdictions.
Ang added that the city government is partnering with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), pursuant to R.A. 11904, otherwise known as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, for funding assistance.
“Bacolod is the very first one to avail of that by way of our film festival,” Ang finally shared.