OUT of the many filmmakers nationwide who joined the C-1 Minute Student Film Competition, these two films of Dabawenyo filmmakers titled Pamana and Once Upon a Selfie made it to the top 10, the only ones from Mindanao.
SunStar Davao was able to interview the people behind Hundredfolds Studio about this victory. Director JP Calis was kind enough to answer all our questions:
What are these two short films that you made all about?
Ang pamana kay storya sa isa ka bata nga taga bukid, in the short film he shares how sentimental the place he grew up for him and his family. Nag sulti pod sya sa film nga if ever given a chance to live a better life sa city, he would stay sa bukid kay that’s the only gift his parents gave him before dying. Pamana's goal is to show to people that home isn’t just a comfortable four cornered place. It’s a feeling that you experience with someone or anyone who makes you feel safe and loved.
For Once Upon a Selfie, it basically represents teenage girls and how they perceive beauty in the digital ages. The goal of the film is to promote self-love and acceptance and to avoid comparison between two girls or more. And that real beauty isn’t measured by how many likes you get on social media. Being yourself without changing into someone you’re not, is a more golden definition of beauty.
Is this your first time to join this competition?
Yes first time namo mag join. We first started by joining local Film Festivals diri sa Mindanao. Pero mahadlok pa mi kay feel namo dghan kaayog hawod. For this particular contest under Cinema One, mao ni among first ever film fest na giapilan na kami nag spearhead. Naka-join nako actually og Mindanao Film Fest, pero gamay ra akong role ato behind the camera and I wasn’t as hands on ato na time compared ani nga competition.
When were you notified that you made it to the Top 10 and how did it make you feel?
Winners were emailed last October 5. Debbie and I were constantly refreshing my email hoping nga unta bisag isa sa among films makuha kay lampas yata hundred ang nag-join. When she refreshed my email again at the nth time, naga-start na syag hilak and that's the time nga nituo nako. I thought isa ra ka film but when I got the phone sa iyang kamot, nalipay kog maayo to see 2 JP Calis on the screen. Meaning duha diay sa among film nakuha. Among feeling ato is super happy ug blessed kay we were constantly praying ani na opportunity. Thankful pud mi sa mga tao nga nisalig ug nitabang sa amoa. Without them, impossible ni tanan.
To help vote for the local movies of Hundredfolds Studio, just go to Cinema One official youtube channel, search for "Pamana" and "Once Upon a Selfie", click like and share. Voting is until October 18 while awarding is on October 21.