The show must go on for Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival as it turns to digital screenings and virtual events for its 16th edition running until Aug. 16.
Despite the restrictions of quarantine, the indie film festival pushed through online via Facebook live, KUMU, and Vimeo on Friday vis-á-vis its traditional counterpart in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
“With the digital version now taking place, the featured films will not only be enjoyed by Filipino audiences but film aficionados in different parts of the world as well,” said CCP President Arsenio Lizaso in the opening “Cinemalaya 16: Stream of Consciousness.”
Laurice Guillen, the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. president, emphasized the importance of film in this age, “Content is a prime commodity. It means we should continue to make films now more than ever.”
This year’s feature finalists, however, had to put their projects on hold until they find a way to shoot safely and within budget during the pandemic, according to Guillen.
“Will filmmakers need to contextualize their subject matter to the time of this imposed but necessary quarantine?” Guillen asked challenging aspiring film contestants next year on how they will deliver content.
Meanwhile, festival director Chris Millado discussed how our theaters, cinemas, and streaming rooms remain dark as our country continues to look for ways to manage the effects of this pandemic and finally overcome it.
“[Allow] Cinemalaya to shine hope into the spaces where you live, work, play, and dream,” he said.
Co-produced by the CCP and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc., the biggest indie film festival in the country opened with a short virtual program, with pre-recorded messages streamed live on digital portals.
For more information, check out the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).
