The showcase of the films in competition at the Margaha Film Festival extends its screenings through the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ online streaming platform “JuanFlix” from March 10 to 16.
After its official kick-off on February 22, “SineMargaha” films are still being showcased through public screenings at the Sagay City Plaza and on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel, featuring 10 films from the Sagaynon Shorts Programme and 7 from the Philippine Shorts Programme, a press release from Sagay City said Wednesday, March 12.
Late last month, Margaha Film Festival held its awarding ceremony were the 9-panel of jurors gave out 23 awards including technical, acting, and creative awards.
In the Philippine Shorts Category, Jermaine Tulbo’s “A Crab from a conch shell”, a film that explores grief in the lens of an orphan girl is the first-ever Best Philippine Short Film of the festival.
The jury cited the film as “a masterful depiction of grief without being overpowering, with the transition so seamless that it has ceased to be the images of sadness but already sadness itself.”
“Refined and yet lacking a self-consciousness common in well-constructed film, visual poetry takes over the narrative of this film, which rightfully deserves the top prize”, the citation added.
In the same category, Anjo Salmorin’s “Sino Nagaeog-Gaeog sa Eugan-Eugan?” was awarded Best Director and Jury Prize.
The jury prize award in the Philippine Shorts Category was given “ex-aequo” or equal with Juvy Ann Clarito’s “Sa Ilalum sa Balabal sa Alitaptap”.
Alleison Dimatulac’s “Subasko” was awarded the best screenplay.
Meanwhile, Seb Valdez’ “Si Sir kag ang Gamay nga Bata”, a film about a mystical “Kapre” teaching a young mystical creature the ways of how to coexist with the people is the Best Sagaynon Short Film.
The jury said that the film was “daring and confident, this film represents how the filmmakers from Sagay are constantly pushing themselves to new boundaries, breaking them even, and crossing barriers to present an extraordinarily unusual way of looking at creatures that are supposed to frighten us and yet turn out to be more breathtakingly human than any one of us”.
The film also won best editing, best sound design, best original soundtrack, best acting performance in a supporting role for RZ Magpusao, acting award in a leading role for Carlo Navarette, and best screenplay.
SineMargaha Sagaynon Shorts Jury Prize was awarded to Mery Grace Rama-Mission’s “Walo-Walo: Walo ka adlaw nga Kanay, Walo ka adlaw nga Labugay”, alongside the awards for directing, musical score, acting performance in a leading role for Archel Lacre, Nunelucio Alvarado Panublion Award, cinematography, and poster design.
Ginboy Bataclit’s “Babaye sa Bubon” was the SineMargaha runner-up and also brought home awards for acting performance in a supporting role for Jea Llema, production design, and audience choice.
Alfonso Macam, III’s “What’s Up?” was awarded as best trailer.
The Sagaynon shorts each received P40,000 seed fund from the Office of Sagay City Vice Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva.
Rama-Mission, who also sits as the president of the film group “Balhasanay Filmmaking Movement” said that it was a game changer in the local filmmaking movement where they do not spend much time in sourcing funds for their film and more for producing their films.
This year, the Margaha Lifetime Achievement Award was given to film educator and critic Tito Valiente for his contribution to the local filmmaking by conducting series of film education programs since the installment of the festival six years ago and his efforts in preserving cultural heritage in the city through cultural mapping.
In his speech, Valiente said that with the film festival opening a Philippine Shorts category, it has broke boundaries as Sagaynon stories are now criss-crossing the islands of the country.
“You have gone far as the stories you tell in your films are now going beyond Sagay and it is an honor to be part of this movement”, Valiente, who is also part of the 9-person jury, said to the filmmakers during the awarding ceremony at the Sagay City Gymnasium, Feb. 23.
The jury were composed of Valiente, NCCA-National Committee on Cinema Chairperson Butch Ibañez, film educator Jose Antonio Garcia, Bakunawa Film Festival Director and multi-disciplinary artist Elvert Bañares, Negros Museum Executive Director Tanya Lopez;
Filmmaker and Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival Director Alex Poblete, Visayan artist and actress Chai Fonacier, filmmaker and FDCP Head of Education Rica Arevalo, and artist and writer Kenneth Rivera.
On Feb. 26 and 27, film screenings and director’s talkbacks took place at the AGM Hall, State University of Northern Negros, allowing students and film enthusiasts to engage with filmmakers and discuss their creative processes.
Vice Mayor Cueva also thanked all the stakeholders to make the event possible and urged everyone to work hard in making Sagay a filmmaking hub and an international film location.
“Let’s work hard to achieve this and not become complacent. Strive for excellence in your storytelling and put Sagay City on the map”, he said.
The Margaha Film Festival 2025 is presented by the City Government of Sagay under Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., the National Commission for Culture and the Arts – National Committee on Cinema, the FDCP, the Office of Vice Mayor Bebo Cueva, and SYANO Artlink.
This is made possible through partnerships with the Office of Neg. Occ. Rep. Alfredo Marañon, III, Rotary Club of Sagay- Sinigayan led by Joemarie Katalbas and the State University of Northern Negros led by its President Renante Egcas.*