The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) lauds the young filmmakers behind the short film “Sa Layag ng Bangkang Paurong” after bagging the Best International Documentary Film award in the recently concluded Fresh International Film Festival in Ireland.
“I want to congratulate the students from Alaminos City National High School in Pangasinan who created this award-winning film. They are proof that Filipino-made films are world-class,” MMDA and concurrent Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) chairman Benhur Abalos said.
“The students who created the documentary were participants in the MMFF’s student short film caravan.”
Abalos also said he is even prouder because the students who created the said documentary were participants in the MMFF’s student short film caravan which provided students an opportunity to learn from distinguished filmmakers on the basics of filmmaking, cinematography, scriptwriting, acting, directing techniques, viability considerations in producing films, and other filmmaking aspects.
“The future of our local film industry looks very promising in the hands of our young filmmakers. And the MMFF is committed to help in honing their skills on movie making,” the traffic chief added.
The traffic head encourages student filmmakers to join the MMFF Student Caravan which will be made available online this year and participate in the short film competition to showcase their masterpieces.
“Through the student short film competition, we give chance to our young filmmakers to have their works be seen by bigger audiences.”
“Through the student short film competition, we give chance to our young filmmakers to have their works be seen by bigger audiences by pairing it together with full-length films,” he explained.
Abalos also said that the MMFF is preparing a Student Short Film Handbook to provide students with general insights into both the aesthetic and technical demands in filmmaking and to complement MMFF Film Making Caravan and Workshop.
“We wish to see a new generation of filmmakers, exploring fresh ideas and stories worth-telling that will capture the hearts not just of Filipinos here and abroad, but also of the international film industry,” he said.
“Sa Layag ng Bangkang Paurong” depicts the challenges of students working as boatmen in Hundred Islands, a popular tourist spot in Pangasinan.
It has been recognized in the Children’s International Film Festival in Bangladesh and 3rd Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival in Japan.
It also earned the Best Advocacy Statement and Best Documentary Film in the Streets to Schools National Film Competition of the Association of the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia last March.
The film has also been part of international film festivals such as the Newark International Film Festival in the United States; International Children’s Rights Film Festival in Istanbul, Turkey; Festival Film Bahari in West Java, Indonesia; Golden Tree International Documentary Festival in Hessen, Germany; and DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival in Kharkiv, Ukraine.