BAGUIO CITY — Philippine cultural heritage takes center stage within film entries and upcoming projects to encourage communal engagement and connection.
Montañosa Film Festival is a way to establish Baguio City to be brimming with rich cultural heritage through its month-long activities and events, such as “PeliGulat”: Fright Night Screenings held at the Old Diplomat Hotel and “SineMusiKain”: Open Air Film Screenings held at Rose Garden.
Montañosa Film Festival partnered with CINEGOMA: RK Rubber Film Festival, which trains people in filmmaking because it teaches them values and traits such as project management, teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking.
“Masasabi pala nating napakaraming k’wnto, napakarami palang concept puwede nating mapanood kaya sa mga filmmakers na nandito, congratulations din sainyo. Ang masasabi ko lang sa Montañosa ay yung partnership natin with CINEGOMA. Umpisa pa lang ito ng maraming taon tapos, higit sa lahat, syempre kayo na ang idol namin when it comes to film festival so kung anuman yung ginagawa ninyo dito sa Baguio, makakaasa kayo na gagawin naming goal na magawa rin namin ang ganitong klase sa Quezon City,” Dir. of CINEGOMA: RK Rubber Film Festival Xavier Cortez said.
Dir. Cortez also mentioned a week-long film screening at Olongapo and Quezon City will be done this year, with Baguio City joining the list by 2026.
Film entries were highly sought after from aspiring filmmakers to be featured in both cities.
A collaboration between an aspiring filmmaker and Dir. Cortez was encouraged wherein anyone interested can message their Facebook page called “StudioEx by BossEx.”
Actor Miyuki Kamimura, Tanabata in the film adaptation of Sinai Hamada’s “Tanabata’s Wife,” also announced a free theatre workshop for theatre practitioners and novices interested alike from the 1st to the 3rd day of April at the Harvest Creative Community Hub, Botanical Garden for them to experience Asian theatre.
“My message to the new film directors, documentary or otherwise, for this year, the next year, and the following years to come, enjoy your work. Live life happily, pick out the most important thing in life, and show it to the public. You have the talent to do that, so pagsikapan ninyo. Enjoy life,” Dir. Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso advises aspiring talents who want to enter the film industry. By Dessa Joi Peralta
