TO promote local films, the Cebu City Council has approved the measure creating the Cebuano Cinema Development Council (CCDC).
In his ordinance, Councilor James Cuenco, who chairs the committee on tourism, said CCDC is tasked to formulate and implement policies and programs to upgrade the art of filmmaking and encourage the production of Bisayan language films.
“There is a need to promote and preserve the Cebuano culture through film in order to establish a prosperous and unified film industry that produces high quality motion pictures which encourage social and cultural transformation,” the ordinance reads.
Under the powers and functions section of the ordinance, the council is mandated to conduct research, restore, archive and preserve old Cebuano films that would serve as basis of study for filmmakers, student and the academe.
Festivals
CCDC is also mandated to establish, launch and organize local and international film festivals, such as the annual Cebu City Film Festival and other similar activities that will promote the growth of the Cebuano film industry and endorse it to local and foreign markets.
The council will also develop and promote programs to enhance the skills and expertise of Cebuano filmmakers and recommend to the local chief executive the granting of financial and other forms of assistance to accredit them and those who will make films that will highlight the Cebuano film industry.
CCDC will be composed of nine members, which will include the chairman of the committee on tourism, two representatives from the cinema education sector, two representatives from the filmmakers’ organization, two representatives from the independent cinema, a representative from the film archives sector and a representative from the media.
The mayor will serve as chairman of the council or he may appoint his representative to sit in the group.
To help the film industry get funds, the ordinance requires that all the donations to CCDC must be received by the City Government with a deed of donation signed by the mayor and approved by the council.