Got a short film idea? Here’s how you can enter the 2018 Cinemalaya film fest

Calling aspiring and veteran digital film makers! You have approximately two months to submit your entries to the Short Film category for the 2018 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and Competition.

The mechanics for the Short Film category requires that short films be made by Filipino filmmakers, are primarily in Filipino or any Philippine language, in a digital format, and no more than 20 minutes long.

Interested participants can submit their final work in a DVD format or in a USB flash drive (six copies), with violator, and properly labelled with the following: title, production company address, contact numbers, production date, director’s name and running time.

Don’t forget to send that with the completed application form (available here), an English synopsis of your film, and a brief biodata along with two recent 2×2 photos of the filmmakers. Place all of that and your DVDs/USBs in a properly labeled long brown envelope.

Deadline for submission is on March 2, 2018, 6:00 p.m., to the Media Arts Division of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.

The top ten short features will be announced on May 8, 2018 and will be screened during the 2018 Cinemalaya Festival on August 3‑12, 2018 at the CCP and other festival venues.

The best Cinemalaya short feature will receive ₱150,000.00 and the Balanhai trophy during the Cinemalaya Awards Night at the last night of the festival at the CCP Main Theater.

And with mainstream media slowly realizing the potential of independent films with Siargao and Ang Larawan winning several awards last Metro Manila Film Festival, the success of Smaller and Smaller Circles and the anticipation for Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (a sequel to Jerrold Tarrog’s Heneral Luna), this may open doors to Filipino filmmakers seeking nationwide acclaim and success.