1st Sineng Pambansa contest launched

Could your story become the next Filipino film masterpiece? The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has launched the 1st Sineng Pambansa National Film Competition, which aims to promote and protect the Philippine film industry. "If you want to join the growing ranks of the country’s young and dynamic filmmakers, many of whom have won national and international awards, now is your chance," according to a press release from the FDCP.

In line with its mandate to develop the local movie industry, the FDCP is holding the nationwide scriptwriting and film competition to enhance the country's film culture. It also aims to highlight and unify the diverse visions, views, and voices of Filipino filmmakers across the Philippines. Filipinos who have not written or co-written, directed or co-directed more than three films, documentaries or animated features are eligible to join the contest, which will be held in two stages: a. The Scriptwriting Competition for Feature Film, Full-length Documentary, and Animated Short Film Competition in August 18, 2011 to November 15, 2011; b. The National Feature Film Competition which will gather all the films produced from the winning scripts of the Feature Film Scriptwriting Competition, Full-length documentary Competition, and the Animated Short Film Competition in January 20 to May 2012. For the Feature film and full-length documentary categories, there are three divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The participants’ entries must be set in the geographic location corresponding to the division, and must be in a language or languages indigenous to the setting. The FDCP will reward finalists with seed money to translate their stories into quality films for local and even foreign exhibition. Finalists for the feature film competition will receive 600,000 pesos each, while finalists in the full-length documentary competition will be given 300,000 pesos each. Three finalists for the nationwide animated short-film competition will be awarded 100,000 pesos for their storyboards. The deadline for submission of screenplays is midnight of November 15, 2011. Finalists will be announced on December 20,2011. The filming is scheduled for January 2012. Final submission of films is on April 15, 2012. The festival will be held in May 2012 in Davao City or Cebu City. - CGL/YA, GMA News For detailed guidelines, please visit http://www.fdcp.ph/