In its goal to become one of the film hubs in the region, Sagay City’s Margaha Film Festival, or “Sine Margaha”, is back on its 4th year, with eight short films in competition that will be screened at Margaha Beach, Brgy. Old Sagay on Friday, February 24.
The festival, which started in 2020, will feature eight new short films created by Sagaynon filmmakers which will highlight the tangible and intangible cultural heritage mapped in the city, a press release from Sagay City said Wednesday, February 22.
In the past years, films from Sine Margaha have competed and exhibited at various film festivals and events, including Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, Gawad Alternatibo, Cinema Rehiyon, Sine Negrense, among others.
This year, the films in competition are “1942” directed by Kent Raven Ardeña, “Akoya: Ang Perlas sang Isla Ezperanza” by Roger Rochar, “Ang Kining Binalaybay ka Ambahanon ko Para sa Imo” by Kent John Desamparado, “Dumuluaw” by Jun Marl Alconga, “Lubong” by John Argiel Victor, “Pandayunon” by Jo-ane Pitogo, “San-o kag Paano” by Aljean Joulse Tagayong, and “Tinago” by John Paul Rodriguez.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., said that Sine Margaha aims to celebrate local culture and develop the talents of Sagaynons in filmmaking and other art disciplines.
Vice Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva also said that with the festival’s public screening, he hopes to spread awareness of Sagay’s heritage, art scene which was inspired by Nune Alvarado and make Sagay a film destination that will help spur economic activities but with guidelines in place.”
Sine Margaha has held an annual film competition except in 2022 because of the pandemic. Last year, the festival produced three centerpiece short films.
The city government has been providing seed money worth P10,000 per film production to produce the films that will premiere in the festival every last week of February.
On February 24, apart from the local premiere of eight short films, the festival will also screen the three films produced last year which are “Balas, Balod, kag mga Bitoon” by Kent John Desamparado, “Pag-ulikid” by Seb Valdez, and “Pirata” by festival director Helen Cutillar.
This year’s opening film will be “Mga Bag-ong Nawong (sang Damgo kag Katingalahan)”, a short film directed by Sagaynon Mark L. Garcia, which competed at the Singapore International Film Festival 2021 and was dubbed as one of the best Filipino films of 2021 by CNN Philippines.
This year’s jury is composed of Film Critic and Anthropologist Tito Valiente, Actress Chai Fonacier, Director Arden Rod Condez, literary artist Kenneth Ian Rivera, and Broadcaster Rod Florentino.*