All systems go for 2023 Montañosa Film Festival
BAGUIO CITY – (March 1, 2023) – It’s all system-go for the 2023 staging of the Montañosa Film Festival month this March. The film fest is part of the avenues for local artists to nature their craft and seamlessly blend art creations in the metropolitan landscape and creative economy of Baguio a Creative City in the field of crafts and folk art by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network since 2017.
This year’s film fest theme is ”Divergence + Convergence” aligned with the city’s government’s objective to establish an interwoven creative and tourism endeavor of Baguio as a Creative City.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong has issued Executive Order No. 24 series of 2023, declaring the whole month of March as the Montañosa Film Festival 2023 in the City of Baguio – a privately driven and government-supported activity.
The Baguio Tourism Council was designated as the co-presenter and lead implementer with the integration of activities under the National Arts Month of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Cinema Rehiyon 15.
The festival will formally open on March 25 at the SM City Baguio. March 26 is scheduled for the launching of online film screenings while March 27 will be the launching of Cinema Rehiyon Best of the Regions.
A filmmaker’s forum is scheduled on March 28 followed by workshops and tasks by renowned filmmakers of the country: MMF 2023 semi-finalists will also get to meet their mentors for film pitching.
Outdoor film screenings are scheduled from March 29 to 31 at the Malcolm Square People’s Park with Sinemusikain (film, food, music fair) at the Rose Garden in Burnham Park.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines outreach program, Lakbay Sine in partnership with the MFF Campus Caravan will tour various schools in the city. Aside from Lakbay Sine, the CCP Cinema Under the Stars (CUTS) shall once again be held in Baguio.
Vivistop Baguio will also launch a 9-month program for 18 and under aspiring filmmakers dubbed: Zoom! The Young Filmmakers Acceleration Program will culminate with a movie that will premiere in MFF 2024.
The Cordillera School of Digital Arts on the other hand will be launching the animation section of MFF and will lead the animation films in the competition category for MFF 2024.
A filmmaker’s night will cap the month-long affair on March 31 followed by a festival closing night with bonfire dubbed “Pagliyab” on April 1 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center grounds including the awarding of prizes for Montañosa Film Festival 2024 finalists.
Pre-event activities started in December last year with the selection of MFF 2023 finalists. ### JMPS
