MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) kickstarts UFlix, a platform for short films created by students, with screenings and a forum gathering student filmmakers and educators at the Cinematheques Centers nationwide last September 24.
Cinematheque Center Manila screened films from Mapua University and the Far Eastern University (FEU). Cinematheques Iloilo and Negros screened films from the students of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), Davao with San Pedro College, and UP Mindanao. Nabunturan Centre meanwhile featured student films from Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School.
Student film organizations, student production houses, and film educators from tertiary-level institutions attended the full-house event. A forum on the “Status of Student Film Movement in the Philippines,” was conducted at the Cinematheque Centre Manila to discuss issues and challenges of the film industry.
Panelists included filmmakers and film educators Mr. Jose Javier Reyes, who also heads the film program of De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Ms. She Andes of Mapua University, and Ms. Sockie Fernandez of St. Scholastica’s College Manila.
Participants of the screening and forum at Cinematheque Center Manila were composed of students from Adamson University, Assumption College, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, Far Eastern University, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Trinity University of Asia, University of Santo Tomas, and the University of the Philippines, among others.
“This collaboration between the government and the academe is crucial in harnessing the potential of our filmmakers of the future. We must, as a government, always seek to identify and capitalize on this as part of our job to develop and grow our country’s film and cinema industry,” FDCP Chairman and CEO Tirso Cruz III said as he welcomed participants.
With its aim to extend support for the industry, the FDCP is building a platform to provide support, and make resources more accessible in the academic setting. UFlix will be screening student films across Cinematheque Centers in the country in its goal of providing an exhibition platform for films made by Filipino students.
Initiatives aimed at cultivating a new generation of filmmakers — the Academic Film Society (AFS) and the Student Film Assistance Program (SFAP) — were also announced by the FDCP’s Talent Development Unit.
Many of the short films included in the UFlix line-up were part of recently-concluded student film festivals. Among these are Bagong Sibol organized by UPV last June, and SinePiyu by FEU which was held at the Cinematheque Center Manila last May. UFlix will be regularly screening student films in the Cinematheque Centers across the country.
To be updated of the upcoming UFlix screenings, stay tuned to their Facebook page.
