Bacolod launches 3rd Bacolod Film Festival, calls for entries from homegrown filmmakers

Mayor Greg Gasataya led the official launching of the 3rd Bacolod Film Festival 2026 during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday, August 3.

The mayor expressed optimism for the annual film festival as he encouraged aspiring and returning filmmakers to tell stories that celebrate Bacolod’s rich heritage while inspiring a more inclusive future.

Joining the mayor during the official launch and simultaneous call for entries were Councilor Em Ang and Festival Director Tanya Lopez, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.

Ang, author of City Ordinance No. 1061, Series of 2024, which established the Bacolod Film Festival, said the city is steadily gaining recognition for its creative industry as she pursues her vision of making Bacolod a center for filmmaking.

“The BFF serves as a platform for our filmmakers—from scriptwriters to the entire production team. It also gives them the opportunity to showcase their works in other film festivals here and abroad,” Ang said.

This year’s festival carries the theme, “Pag-angot: Celebrating Heritage, Shaping Our Future,” highlighting the role of cinema in preserving Bacolod’s cultural identity while encouraging fresh and innovative storytelling.

Lopez said this year’s festival envisions film as a living archive that connects the past, present, and future through narratives rooted in resilience, social responsibility, and inclusivity.

“Art is a documentation of our times. Looking back, there has been so much progress in Bacolod, with new buildings and places emerging while older ones slowly disappear. It is only fitting that through the Bacolod Film Festival, we document these changes and preserve them for future generations,” she said.

Lopez encouraged Bacolodnon filmmakers to submit original live-action films featuring the city’s heritage from August 3 to 21, 2026.

Entries must integrate three to five recognizable heritage elements of Bacolod, including its people, communities, historical landmarks, traditions, festivals, food culture, and other cultural assets.

To further strengthen the local filmmaking community, the festival will select eight to ten finalists, each of whom will receive a ₱100,000 production grant to support the development and completion of their films. The grant will be released in two tranches, with participating filmmakers also taking part in script consultations, workshops, and production mentoring organized by the festival.

The competition is open to filmmakers whose directors, together with at least half of their creative, production, and technical teams, are registered voters and residents of Bacolod City. All filming locations must be primarily within the city, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to showcasing Bacolod’s unique culture, communities, and heritage on screen.

Selected grantees will undergo an orientation and contract signing before beginning production, leading up to the festival proper on November 27–29, 2026, where the completed films will premiere before Bacolod audiences.

“We are putting the spotlight on Bacolod creatives. This is your opportunity to showcase your work and your creative talents,” Ang added.

On  June 29 Gasataya in coordination with the Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (DLEDIP) and Barangay Mansilingan, launched the G-Hive, which houses The Studio—a creative hub for animators, designers, and multimedia artists. The facility provides access to industry-grade equipment and workspaces designed to help creatives enhance their skills and produce high-quality visual content.

Meanwhile, the mayor also announced that the Bacolod Film Festival will be followed by the first-ever simultaneous launch of Metro Manila Film Festival activities outside Metro Manila, with Bacolod City hosting the MMFF Parade and Roadshow on December 11.*

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