DLSU-D hosts Cinema Rehiyon 8 for the first time
In collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Foundation Incorporated, and UPLB Pelikulab, DLSU-D spearheaded Cinema Rehiyon 8 for the first time in Cavite from November 28 to December 2.
The annual film festival Cinema Rehiyon exhibited independent films by Filipino film makers across the Philippines.
With its theme, “Creating Cinema Communities, Celebrating Cultural Legacies,” Marketing Communications Office (MCO) Director and Cinema Rehiyon 8 festival director Rosanni Sarile said Cinema Rehiyon 8 aims to promote one community and the cultural legacy of the Philippines.
According to Sarile, the NCCA Committee on Cinema chose DLSU-D as the venue for Cinema Rehiyon 8 since they noticed the University’s potential in hosting the film festival.
“We were chosen this year because they have seen the Pelikultura at La Salle last year and they saw a potential of holding Cinema Rehiyon at DLSU-D,” Sarile said.
Sarile furthered that numerous DLSU-D students are also engaged in productions and filmmaking, such as the AB Communication Arts and AB Broadcast Journalism students.
“We’re no longer trying to say that independent Philippine cinema original films matter. It’s the cinema community that needs to be built up now,” Cinema Rehiyon 8 Events Coordinator Aurora Quadra-Balibay asserted.
Through Cinema Rehiyon 8, the three Cavite icons in Philippine Cinema, namely Edna Luna, Leopoldo Salcedo, and former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr., were tributed for their contributions to the film industry.
Luna was the first actress to play the role of Diyesebel in Philippine Cinema, Salcedo is known as the great profile from Noveleta City, Cavite, and Revilla is known for one of his famous movies, Panday.
She said the DLSU-D students may benefit from Cinema Rehiyon 8 since they can watch various films for free anytime at Ugnayang La Salle, Tanghalang Julian Felipe (TJF), Luis Aguado and Cabeza viewing rooms, Salrial Hall, The Backyard, SM Cinema 5, and the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management courtyard from November 28 to December 2, respectively.
The Cinema Rehiyon 8 serves as an inspiration for DLSU-D students to become more focused in terms of a film’s content and visual aspects regarding how they are going to create films, as per Sarile.
“It’s actually an honor for DLSU-D to be the host of Cinema Rehiyon 8 in collaboration with UPLB Pelikulab,” Sarile expressed.