NEGROS ISLAND groomed as
International Film Backdrop
Sine Negrense Negros Island Festival
Happening in November 2017
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has led the launching of the Negros Island Film Festival (NIFF) dubbed as Sine Negrense, at the Negros Museum last Friday. This is the first film festival for the whole island of Negros, which aims to promote regional films to the national and international scene.
The theme for this year’s short film competition is Negrense New Wave, which will promote Negrense character, culture, beliefs, folklore, lifestyle, current issues, and even superstitions from the eyes of young, talented, and quite untapped filmmakers.
Who Can Join Sine Negrense
Sine Negrense Short Film competition is open to all Negrenses born and currently residing in the Negros Island Region. There will be two contest divisions—the Intercollegiate and Open Categories, which is for all amateur and professional filmmakers. For the Intercollegiate category, students currently enrolled in any of the universities, colleges, or vocational schools in the island should seek endorsement from their respective institution heads.
When and Where to Submit
The deadline of submission for short film entries is October 1, 2017. You may drop or send entries to
The Negros Museum
Old Provincial Agricultural Building
Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City 6100
Negros Occidental, Philippines
There will be no deadline extension. Entries that will be mailed should be postmarked on or before the due date.
Criteria for Judging
The filmmaker should be able to creatively tell a story using the elements of cinema and effectively incorporate all the technical aspects, such as cinematography and production design. He or she should be able to visually reflect Negrense heritage or current issues. The short film should generally excite and enrich the film experience of the viewer.
20% – Originality
20% – Adherence to the theme
10% – Cinematography
10% – Production Design
10% – Screenplay
10% – Editing
10% – Sound Design
10% – Musical Score
Total 100%
NEGROS ISLAND as
International Film Backdrop
Along with this development in the regional film industry, the FDCP is looking to promote Negros Occidental as a venue for international film shootings, through its Philippine Film Export Services Office. This was revealed by FDCP Festival Development lead officer Jo Andrew Torlao during the intimate press con last Friday at the Negros Museum.
PFESO, an agency under the FDCP, is strengthening the promotion of the Philippines as a location for film making to its film markets in some international film festivals around the world.
To boost this endeavor, Torlao said that the agency is helping international filmmakers and producers who want to hold their shooting in the country by lobbying for tax incentives for them. PFESO officials will be coming to Negros Occidental next month to give an orientation about the program and they have already asked for partnership with the provincial government.