"NGILNGIGA uy!”
Students are heard saying this during the recent school tour screenings of Davao Ngilngig Films (DNF) in Ateneo de Davao University on August 4 and Davao City National High School on August 12.
“Ngilngig” is a Cebuano term that can mean either “awesome” or “gruesome”. In 2010, filmmaker BaganeFiola explored how local stories can be told in a “ngilngig” way, by going both ways- awesome and gruesome- in execution and storytelling. His and fellow filmmakers' efforts resulted in the Davao Ngilngig Films omnibus, a collection of horror short films, which also eventually fuelled the creation of the Davao Ngilngig Films festival and film camp.
Two months ahead of the Davao Ngilngig Films festival, which opens on October 27, Pasalidahay, the Davao-based film appreciation club, is touring schools and screening harvests from previous DNF festivals, and conducting filmmaking workshops.
Pasalidahay is currently spearheading this year's Davao Ngilngig Films festival, which is presented by Malagos Garden Resort, and supported by Creative Ideas Prints and Ads Corporation, Morning Light Art Gallery and Shop, Mindanao Travel Channel, and Mindanao Times, as Minor Sponsors.
“We are aiming to forge ngilngig filmmaking with regional flavors and stories,” said Fiola, now the festival director of Davao Ngilngig Films 2017, and co-founder of film appreciation group Pasalidahay.
“We hope that through these workshops, students will be encouraged to make ngilngig films based on local tales, urban legends, and superstitious beliefs,” Fiola added.
Pasalidahay co-founder and film critic Jay Rosas also presents a talk on film appreciation in the school tours, providing students and teachers insight on ways of watching and analysing films.
In his review on the Davao Ngilngig Films in the online film journal New Durian Cinema, Rosas reconciles the dual meanings of ngilngig by writing “Awesome horror! Horror is awesome!”
Pasalidahay will be bringing ngilngig filmmaking next to Holy Cross of Davao College on August 17 (screening) and to University of Mindanao on August 26 and September 2 (screening and workshop).
The group is open to invitations to schools within and outside of Davao City. For inquiries and arrangements, message the Pasalidahay or Davao Ngilngig Films pages, or text 09323121552 (Bagsy). (PR)