THE local film scene is one of the best and booming places to discover the plethora of artistic talent Cebuanos have to offer.
“Cebu is sitting on a monster that is Cebuano art. We hide when we make our art because it’s so hard to find money for our art in Cebu,” shared Binisaya 2017 Festival director Ara Chawdhury, who said that although the biggest struggle most Cebuano artists face falls in the financial spectrum, there was never a lack of talent.
The seventh Binisaya Film Festival, launched last Sept. 22 at Ayala Center Cebu, celebrates the 10th year of Cebu Digital Film. The week-long program features films produced by up-and-coming local filmmakers in select venues and cinemas around the city. These works fall under Cinema One Originals Retrospective, Binisaya World Premiere, MindaNOW Cinema, New Philippine Cinema, Asian Shorts, and short films created for competitions and exhibitions.
Opening with the film “Martes Martes”—the fifth installment in Binisaya’s “Adlaw Adlaw” series, which started with “Biyernes Biyernes” in 2011—the cinema was packed. The festival is on its last day today.
“The beauty of film festivals is that you get to see films you don’t usually get to see. Most of these films were made—not to please audiences but because these people had to get these stories out of their head,” said the festival director.
“The Cebuano Cinema Movement has an audience. We are the audience—and we are hungry for familiar faces and familiar stories.”
It is known that Cebu is a hotspot for art and creativity. The community is rapidly growing while opportunities are growing as well. Support for local film festivals and art could mean wonders for Cebu as the Cebuanos who are oozing with talent are just waiting to be discovered.