The first Bacolod Film Festival will be held in July, Councilor Em Ang said on Monday, February 26.
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the ordinance creating the Bacolod Film Festival and the Bacolod City Film Festival Council authored by Ang on February 14.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city government is allocating P3 million for the festival and the Department of Trade Industry has committed to provide additional funds.
Each filmmaker joining the film festival competition will be allocated a P300,000 grant, Ang said, adding that they are looking at initial 10 entries or less.
The council will prescreen and vet all the entries, Ang said.
The ordinance aims to develop the film production scene in Bacolod where locally-made films will be shown in major cinemas in the city, Ang said.
Bacolod cinemas have agreed to show only locally produced films for two weekends, she said, similar to the Metro Manila Film Festival.
This will provide local filmmakers a venue to showcase their short films, and give local creatives a platform for eventual national and international exposure, Ang said.*