BACOLOD City – The Bacolod Film Festival (BFF), a new initiative aimed at invigorating the local film scene, concluded its first awards night at SM Cinema 1.
The event, marked by the presence of city officials and cinema luminaries, celebrated the artistic achievements of local filmmakers.
Ten films competed in this pioneering festival, showcasing a wide array of narratives and styles.
The entries included “A Flower A Day”, “Aninaw”, “Blind Date”, “Chicken Inasal”, “Glub”, “Laragway sa Karon”, “Manokan Country”, “Puli na Diche Lesly”, “Sa Pwesto ni Pestong”, and “The Mansion”.
“Sa Pwesto ni Pestong” emerged as a major winner, claiming both Best Picture and Best Director for Vinjo Entuna.
“Aninaw” also stood out, securing accolades for Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography, along with a Jury’s Prize for Ensemble Acting awarded to Milton Dionzon and Reynaldo Amaguin.
Other notable awards included Best Musical Score for “A Flower A Day”, Best Editing for “Laragway sa Karon”, and Best Sound and Best Special Effects for “Chicken Inasal”.
The festival also recognized individual talents with Dante Macam winning Best Actor for his role in “Laragway sa Karon” and Rene Hinojales receiving Best Supporting Actor for “Puli Na, Diche Lesly”.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez expressed optimism that the BFF will mark the beginning of a flourishing era for Bacolod’s film industry.
The event was attended by notable figures including Movie and Television Review Classification B pard Chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio, several city councilors, and members of the local and national film community.
The festival also featured a raffle, announcing five winners of an iPhone 15 and three winners of P100,000.
Winners are invited to collect their prizes from the City Mayor’s Office by September 30.
The BFF was established under City Ordinance No. 1061, passed on February 14, 2024, to promote local film development, talent showcasing, and cultural appreciation.
An appointed BFF council is tasked with the festival’s organization and ensuring the ordinance’s successful implementation./PN
