Competition is open to:

~ All independent filmmakers at least 16 years old and must not have joined any major film competition.
~ Filmmaker should be a Resident of the City or Province of Zamboanga with at least one year residency in Zamboanga City or Province of Zamboanga. (Proof of Residency must be presented)
~ Entry shall follow the theme: “Kultura de Zamboanga”
~ Any Digital Camera may be used (including cellphones)
~ The video should be at least Three (3) Minutes but not exceeding Ten (10) Minutes.
~ Use of copyrighted music is prohibited, unless allowed by the owner of the material.
~ Nudity, foul language, slur on religious belief, or any other form of offensive content shall likewise be prohibited.
~ Film may be in the native tongue or dialect must have readable English subtitles.
~ All entries should be submitted in DVD format.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) shall include the finalists in its portfolio of Filipino films under its Sineng Pambansa Local Film Festival and shall have the right to the exhibition of the finalist in its CINEMATHEQUES nationwide.

Deadline for submission of entries will be 16 February 2012. Entries should be submitted to:
MS. SARITA FERNANDEZ
FDCP Local Festival Coordinator
City Tourism Office
Paseo Del Mar
Zamboanga City
09177144884
sarita_sebastian2005@yahoo.com

Announcement of the finalists will be on 22 February 2012. All finalists will be competing in the Film Festival on 26 February 2012 at MINDPRO Citimall.

Awards and Recognition will be on 27 February 2012.

CASH PRIZES awaits winners:
1st Place       Php 30,000
2nd Place       Php 20,000
3rd Place       Php 10,000

Deadline of entries: 16 February 2012 (Thursday)

To download the entry forms click the link http://www.fdcp.ph/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/short-film-competition-entry-form.pdf

Source: Film Development Council of the Philippines Website [link]

Last February 23-25, 2011, Zamboanga City finally had the chance to host a film festival where activities all about film were held at the city. Indie films were screened for three days at the cinemas of Mindpro Citimall for free! Lots of students and movie enthusiast had the chance to watch indie films since the local cinema rarely screens them. The films included were "Halaw" by Sheron Dayoc, "Limbunan" by Teng Mangansakan, "Emir", "Concerto", "Sabungero", "Kano", "Ang Mundo sa Panahon ng Bato", "Di Natatapos ang Gabi" and the classic 1937 film "Zamboanga". The event is called "Sineng Pambansa" which is an activity of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. They also have it in other cities like Iloilo and Baguio.

Weeks before the film fest, i already heard about it in the news and i'm really excited to watch the films. The Mayor really had the full support to host the Sineng Pambansa in the city since it the place where one of the most important and first ever films in the Philippine film history was produced. "Zamboanga" is one of my most anticipated film because i'm curious about how the old Zamboanga looks like and how they created the movie. I'm also excited to watch "Halaw" by a Zamboangueno director Sheron Dayoc. The film bagged the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Editing during the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

However, I was really busy for the three days so i wasn't able to watch the indie films at the cinema. Good thing, we were invited by Council Gerky Velasco at the Red Carpet night just an hour before the event. Not only we had the chance to watch "Zamboanga" we also saw the directors and casts of some of the films. Mr. John Arcilla, the lead actor of Halaw, also rendered an original song made for the film. The song is beautiful and epic. Anyways, i really intend to write this post to share my thoughts about the film "Zamboanga".

"Zamboanga" is one of the five existing pre-war Filipino films and one of the oldest, produced in 1936. The film was said to be lost due to the war. But a film historian, Nick de Ocampo rediscovered it at the archives of the US Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

Synopsis:
A sea-faring tribe whose livelihood is to search pearls in the rich, pristine waters of Zamboanga. Danao, a young pearl fisher, is engaged to the datu's granddaughter, Minda. With Danao's exquisite pearls, the datu announces a celebration in his return. Hadji Razul, a cruel and lustful ruler of a Moro tribe living in another island was among the invited. Involved in piracy and looting, he associated himself with a renegade American Captain who owns a small trading yacht providing Chinese laborers. A tribal war sparks as Hadji abducts the beautiful princess during one of Danao's diving expeditions, tearing down the peace and tranquility Zamboanga once enjoyed. (resource: FDCP Zamboanga Film Festival 2011)