After two decades of celebrating Philippine independent filmmaking, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. are now accepting submissions for the Short Film Category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2024.
The submission deadline is on or before 6 pm on March 8, 2024.
Open to all Filipino filmmakers, the country’s largest independent film competition allows participants to submit a maximum of three (3) entries, but only one (1) entry per proponent may be considered as a finalist.
Entries must have been produced from March 3, 2023, to March 8, 2024. Short film entries that have participated in other local and international festivals and competitions are qualified to join Cinemalaya. However, if an entry is selected as a finalist in both the Cinemalaya and Gawad Alternatibo, it will automatically be removed from the Gawad Alternatibo lineup in favor of Cinemalaya.
Entries may be submitted either online or offline. For online applications, all requirements should be submitted through https://forms.gle/gb4csK1rcDqFwnhs7. The requirements include a duly completed entry form, synopsis in English, a brief resume with 2×2 photo/s of the filmmaker/s, and the final work in MP4 format, with a violator/watermark (for screening purposes only) and properly labeled with the title, production company, address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name, and running time, which should not exceed 20 minutes, including credits.
For offline submission, entries should be sent to the Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division office, located at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Annex Building, Vicente Sotto St., Pasay City. Film entries must be submitted on a thumb drive (USB), with the entry form, synopsis, and filmmaker’s profile. All must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, title of the film, and contact details.
The Cinemalaya Selection Committee will shortlist 10 film finalists that will be screened at the 2024 Cinemalaya Film Festival from August 2 to 11. These finalists will have the opportunity to compete for the coveted Balanghai trophies.
Since 2005, Cinemalaya has been dedicated to the development and promotion of Philippine independent film. At its core, it provides a platform for the production of cinematic works by Filipino independent filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. With its call for submissions for the 2024 short film competition, Cinemalaya continues to invigorate the Philippine film industry by fostering a new generation of Filipino filmmakers.
For the full mechanics, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and the Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org). Follow the official CCP and Cinemalaya social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for more updates.
