MANILA—With the ongoing advancements in technology come new ways of how people can create content. Inarguably, Snapchat and Instagram Stories have predominantly changed the game in the area of video crafting, as they have paved an avenue for any person to create seconds of audio-visual entertainment in a snap. This sign of the times brings forth an interesting take on how filmmakers can create films.
With that in mind, global coffee brand Nespresso teams up with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Cinemalaya Foundation to organize the first Nespresso Vertical Shorts Competition. Its newest initiative into the creative arts, Nespresso launches the national competition to bring together talented directors, cinematographers and storytellers, and to challenge them to share compelling narratives. As stated in its press release, the Nespresso Vertical Shorts Competition is a celebration of innovation, passion and excellence in filmmaking.
“We wanted to create an avenue where the Filipino’s talent for storytelling can be celebrated and shared with everyone,” managing director of Novateur Coffee Concepts Inc. Patrick Pesengco shares. “Like a great cup of coffee, these films become an all-sensory experience that allow you to reflect, think deep, and encourage others to do something different and amazing.”
The Nespresso Vertical Shorts Competition was launched early June this year, and has opened the doors to all amateur Filipino filmmakers, including those residing and working abroad, to submit vertical short films of any genre. For its inaugural edition, the competition has received entries with “pagmamalasakit” or compassion as the central theme. The entries will be part of the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2018, which runs from August 3 to 12.
From numerous submitted entries, 12 were selected as finalists and were premiered on August 6 at the CCP Little Theatre. Excited to make their debut on the big screen is Gian Arre’s Itay, Ira Lastrilla’s Kasama, Arjanmar Rebeta’s Love Others as Your Selfie, Ruby Baldevarona’s Ratsky, James Golla’s The Door; Juan Parohing’s Pedro Pasahero, Benny Pioquinto’s Takipsilim, Jonel Revistual’s Ako – To Take Responsibility, Brian Reyes’ SLN, Christan Tan’s Kapit Lang, Kevin Tuason’s Braveheart, and Michael Sy Yu’s Yakap.
Jury members of the Nespresso Vertical Shorts Competition, from left to right: Patrick Pesengco, Chris D. Martinez, and Madonna Tarrayo.
An esteemed panel of judges—which includes Pesengco, award-winning playwright, screenwriter, author and director Chris D. Martinez, and president and CEO of Unitel Productions Inc. and StraightShooters Media Madonna Tarrayo—will select the three winners to be awarded on the last day of the Cinemalaya Film Festival at the CCP Main Theatre. The first-place winner of the competition will be receiving P50,000 in cash, while the second and third place winners will be given P30,000 and P20,000, respectively. All winners will also take home Nespresso machines and coffee capsule packages.
“It was inspiring to see the pure, creative talents of this new generation of filmmakers, and we are excited to share with Filipino audiences their amazing stories,” Tarrayo and Martinez says in a joint statement. “We encourage everyone to buy a ticket and support not only the films of our Nespresso Vertical Shorts finalists, but of all those who are taking part in the Cinemalaya Festival.”
“We look forward to continuing this competition in the years to come,” marketing head of Nespresso Philippines Melissa Valdez shares in an interview. “Hopefully, we can bring even more and better entries in the next editions and remain steadfast in providing a platform for Filipino creatives to share their stories to everyone.”
For more information about the Nespresso Vertical Shorts Competition, you may visit http://nespresso.ph/verticalshorts/.
