Cinemarehiyon filmfest starts at GMall today

IT'S all systems go for the third staging of the Cinemarehiyon Film Festival in Davao City, starting today until February 13.

Part of the celebrations of the Philippine International Arts Festival, the film festival gathers 40 filmmakers from different regions across the country, the festival will showcase about 50 full-length and short-length films each spanning different cultures and languages.

Gaisano Mall Cinema 6 will be the venue of the theatrical screenings and will be open to the public free of charge.

"The festival is a celebration of the growth of our regional filmmakers," Dax Canedo, festival director of Cinemarehiyon said.

Canedo, the organizer of the Mindanao Film Festival, one of the country's longest running regional film festivals, said that various regional filmmakers who have been featured in the past Cinemarehiyon festivals reaped acclaim here and abroad.

Among these artists included Sheron Dayoc, a Zamboangan filmmaker whose full-length film Halaw won the best picture award (New Breed Category) in the 2010 Cinemalaya Film Festival, and John Paul Seniel, a Davao City-based TV reporter whse short film Latus won the recent New York International Film Festival award for best short film.

According to Ricardo de Ungria, Piaf 2011 Festival Director, Seniel will be among the 33 artists to be given recognition by President Aquino this February for his achievements internationally.

One of the highlights of the Piaf is recognizing homegrown and home-based artists who have given honors for this country in the global arena.

Boy Abunda, PIAF arts ambassador exhorted the public to come and watch the festival entries. The famous talk show host was recently in town to help promote the activities of the Piaf.