Bacolod gears up for its inaugural film festival

The Bacolod City government has introduced a film festival aimed at highlighting the creativity of local filmmakers, fostering film appreciation, and boosting the city’s film industry.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez formally launched the Bacolod Film Festival, inviting entries through the newly enacted City Ordinance No. 1061.

This ordinance establishes the Bacolod Film Festival Council (BFFC), comprising 21 sections outlining its functions and responsibilities, including the Festival Director’s role, festival theme, selection process, awards night arrangements, and funding sources.

The BFFC will select filmmakers to receive subsidies for producing short films to be showcased during the festival in September. Additionally, an awards ceremony will be held to commemorate the event.

Councilor Em Ang, Chairperson of the Bacolod City Council’s Committee on History, Culture, and Arts, disclosed that the city will grant production subsidies of P300,000 each to ten filmmakers who are bona fide residents of Bacolod City, regardless of whether they shoot scenes within the city limits.

The ordinance is based on Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991, which empowers local government units (LGUs) to promote and preserve culture within their jurisdictions.

Ang mentioned that the city government is collaborating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide funding assistance, as outlined in R.A. 11904, also known as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act.

“Bacolod is the very first to take advantage of this opportunity through our film festival,” Ang concluded.

Entertainment News: Bacolod gears up for its inaugural film festival