Cinema Rehiyon 8 will be held at Cavite’s premier university, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas from November 28 to December 2, 2016.

Films made by filmmakers from outside of Metro Manila and focusing on other regions of the Philippines will take the spotlight again in Cinema Rehiyon 8 from November 28 to December 2, 2016, in the province of Cavite, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) National Committee on Cinema in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc..

With the theme “Creating Cinema Communities, Celebrating Cultural Legacies,” the annual festival of regional films will be held at Cavite’s premier university, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.

The festival opening will be highlighted by the showing of The Moises Padilla Story, starring Leopoldo Salcedo. Directed by National Artist for cinema, Gerardo de León, the 1961 film revolves around a mayoral candidate in Negros Occidental, who was tortured and murdered in 1951. The opening will also include the keynote speech of FDCP Chairperson Liza Diño.

Cinema Rehiyon 8 will comprise screenings of different films as well as forums and talks by filmmakers and film scholars. Directors Peque Gallaga and Nick Deocampo will grace the event.

The closing ceremony will feature Nardong Putik, Kilabot ng Cavite, starring Ramon Revilla. The 1972 film is about a local folk hero who is said to possess powers because of his anting-anting.

Now on its eighth year, Cinema Rehiyon has been focusing works of Filipino filmmakers from all over the Philippines, especially outside of Metro Manila, raising awareness on the efforts on and progress of filmmaking in the different regions. It becomes a platform for these films from the regions, most of which in local languages and showing culturally-rooted narratives, to be exhibited and appreciated by a wider audience, and for the filmmakers to interact with fellow filmmakers and stakeholders.

Cinema Rehiyon has been a major part of the Philippine Arts Festival, NCCA’s celebration of the National Arts Month every February. The first two years of Cinema Rehiyon was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City. Since 2011, it was held in different parts of the country—Davao City in 2011; Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, in 2012; Los Banos, Laguna, in 2013; and Cagayan de Oro City in 2014. Last year’s Cinema Rehiyon was held in Cebu City, highlighting Cebuano filmic achievements.

The NCC is composed of its head William Mayo; vice-head Teddy Co; Rosanni R. Sarile, secretary and Cinema Rehiyon 8 festival director; Ramon Sixto C. Nocon, assistant secretary; and members Tito G. Valiente, Patrick F. Campos, Archi R. Adamos Ramon F. Ramos, Ellen O. Marfil, Katrina Ross A. Tan , Lou Rafael B. Canedo and Martin R. Masadao .

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