As part of this year’s Philippine International Arts Festival, the Cinema Committee of the NCCA, in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, once again brings the “other” Philippines in Cinema Rehiyon 2010.

This four-day event features the films from the “other” Philippines: Bacolod, Baguio, Bohol, Calabarzon, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Naga, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Samar – giving aspiring filmmakers and their works from all over the regions the opportunity to be recognized.

At the press preview held at CCP’s Silangan Hall recently, Teddy Co, vice head of the Cinema Committee of NCCA, announced that their second year is much bigger than last year’s. Festival Director Gabby Fernandez from Crossing Negros Cultural Foundation added that from seven regions who joined in last year’s Cinema Rehiyon, they now have 10.

A different kind of festival

Cinema Rehiyon 2010, unlike any other film fest, is a non-competition festival – no awards or money at stake.

As Fernandez described it, “It is a film festival but at the same time, a film camp where participants come from all over the country. It’s a networking thing. We want unity here.” He added that participants are mostly school-based like that from Baguio and Naga; from film communities like Cebu, Pampanga, Bacolod, Davao; and some are individual efforts.

Co, as he puts into words, expressed “They say that indie films are now the new mainstream. Well, I can say that these [films from the regions] are the new alternative.”

With that said, Cinema Rehiyon’s main aim is to highlight filmmakers outside Manila. It is a fact that regions in the country lack information about film festivals held in Manila. There are lots of talents waiting to be recognized but are hindered because of intimidation (from Manila filmmakers).

“That is the reason why we put up Cinema Rehiyon,” Fernandez continued. “We want to open doors for all filmmakers all over the Philippines and discover films never shown in Manila.”

A sneak preview

At the press preview, three short films were screened for the press to have an idea of what Cinema Rehiyon is.

“Allan” by Ted Ramasola (Bohol), is based on the short story of Edgar Allan Poe. “Chicken ala Carte” by Ferdinand Dimadura (CamSur), unknown to many, won the Most Popular Short Film in the Berlin International Film Festival in 2006. His work also has over 13 million hits in different sites like YouTube. He is an OFW and a musician by heart and now has gotten into filmmaking. Last but not the least, “Kurtina nga Pula” by Remton Siega Zuasola (Cebu) won 2nd place in the recent Sinulog Film Fest.

Other films to watch out for according to Fernandez are the full-length movies from Cebu, Cinemanila winner “Anacbanua,” Cinema One Originals 2009 winner “Wanted: Border” (which starred the controversial Rosanna Roces), and Erik Matti’s first indie film, “The Arrival.”

Collecting films since November 2009, the festival has a total of about eight full-length films and 56 short films from Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon, and crossing borders (films shot by OFWs in different countries) that will be screened. Some of which are done in their respective local languages and some will be screened in Manila for the first time.

Even the band The Dawn has their participation in Cinema Rehiyon 2010’s MTV by singing its theme, also shown at the press preview.

Cinema Rehiyon 2010 will culminate on Feb. 17-20, 10 a.m. at CCP’s Bulwagang Manuel Conde. All screenings are free. For screening schedules and the complete list of entries, visit www.piaf-ncca.com. For inquiries, e-mail cinemarehiyon2010@yahoo.com.

Co, in his end note said, “Cinema Rehiyon will expose films in the regions in one roof and will prove to people how diverse Filipino filmmaking is.”