Setting the stage for Bacolod City’s hosting of the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this December, the MMFF and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in partnership with the Bacolod City, brought the MMFF University Caravan to Bacolod City, on Tuesday, October 20.
The educational caravan, held at Roy’s Hotel and Convention Center, aimed to engage young people and provide them with an opportunity to learn more about filmmaking and the Philippine film industry, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
The event also officially launched the city’s countdown to the flagship national film celebration, building momentum toward a major milestone – Bacolod’s historic turn as the first official host city of the MMFF outside Metro Manila, it said.
To provide hands-on training, organizers flew in industry leaders to conduct immersive masterclasses and panel discussions for 100 student artists and filmmakers gathered from across the city.
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Director General Paolo Villaluna, acclaimed scriptwriter and producer Moira Lang, and multimedia artist and talent manager Noel Ferrer broke down the creative process, sharing comprehensive overviews on story development, film production, directing, screen acting, and talent management.
Participating institutions included the University of St. La Salle, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod, La Consolacion College-Bacolod, Bacolod City College, Bacolod City National High School, and Negros Occidental High School.
“This is historic. This is the first time that we are having a host city outside Metro Manila. That is why Bacolod is very fortunate,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said, highlighting the landmark nature of the event.
In his opening address, Bacolod City Mayor Gasataya expressed deep appreciation to the organizers and film experts, underscoring how this milestone activity establishes a new benchmark for the city’s creative landscape.
“It is indeed an honor on my part to welcome the persons who are responsible in bringing this very important activity for all of you. It is not that easy to have this kind of workshop to teach you, to provide skills with you, with the trainings, because all the resource persons today and this afternoon are experts in their respective fields. And because of that, we would like to thank the Metro Manila Film Festival for bringing all of them to Bacolod City today,” Gasataya said.
The mentors were equally moved by the participants’ enthusiasm. FAP Director General Paolo Villaluna praised the emerging local talent, sharing that he was thrilled by the students’ energy and impressed by the creative concepts they presented during the workshop.
With the success of the University Caravan setting the tone, Bacolod City now gears up for the main event – preparing its venues and streets to welcome the nation’s biggest film stars, directors, and cinema enthusiasts for the 52nd MMFF Parade of Stars this December, the press release said.*
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