If Metro Manila Philippines have annual film festival so called “Metro Manila Film Festival(MMFF)” during the Christmas period, likewise also, Olongapo city Philippines is planning to have its own too ,but not yet clear if it is during Christmas season or just part of the “fiesta” in Olongapo city via Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. collaboration.
For recently, the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. have invaded Olongapo city and held a film festival last November 26-30,this year 2011entitled “Cinemalaya Sa Gapo” at the Olongapo City Convention Center wherein the government officials of Olongapo city were inspired to have their own film festival which they will entitled “SineGapo Film Festival”, since according to them, the recent film festival brought by Cinemalaya to them have somewhat connection to their vision for Olongapo city and according to Olongapo city Mayor James “Bong’ Gordon jr., their city is a best place to build film production studios that is similar to Universal Studios in California for the city’s forest hubs, seaport, airport, bays and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone says it could be. Moreover, having a film festival will benefit more the city’s tourism industry. As Olongapo city councilor De los Reyes said:
“We see Cinemalaya as one of the more appropriate avenues to carry out our vision. We have begun our efforts in encouraging and exposing Olongapenos to the arts, particularly by sending a delegation during the opening of the recent Cinemalaya Film Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, “
But actually, it was the Olongapo councilor Bugsy De la Torre who brought or do the initiative to bring the Cinemalaya on their city as part of their fiesta events being him as the fiesta executive committee chairman. For the purpose why he brought the Cinemalaya on their city because according to him, he or the local government of Olongapo city wants to discover and support young filmmakers that could arise and could be in their city thus, he wants to have a collaboration of the city with Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. and will eventually create their annual film festival entitled “SineGapo Film Festival” similar to Metro Manila Film Festival but their own film festival is different compare to Metro Manila Film festival because theirs are from Cinemalaya rather than from the mainstream film studios.
As Olongapo city councilor Edic Piano says,being a vice chairman of the fiesta committee:
“We hope to screen Cinemalaya films yearly..The plan is to eventually make our own films and create what we would call a ‘SineGapo Film Festival’”
The Cinemalaya Foundation Inc, have no any hesitations regarding the plan collaboration since it is the aim of the foundation to bring their films on the regions of the Philippines. As Cinemalaya Festival Director Nestor O. Jardin says “
“The CCP and Cinemalaya Foundation have always worked together in the past to bring Cinemalaya to the regions. This is part of our outreach program aimed at promoting Philippine independent cinema to as many Filipinos as possible by showcasing films that speak of the unique Philippine culture, experience and values which one would not normally see in the mainstream cinema. We therefore look at this project as educational in thrust.”
Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit or according to them no-for-profit and non-government foundation that is dedicated and committed on the development and promotion of Philippine Independent Film that held annual film competition and festival by Filipino independent film makers which aims “…to encourage the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers – works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. It also aims to invigorate the Philippine filmmaking by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers….”