MMFFP DOCU CONTEST DEADLINE EXTENDED TO OCT. 16

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has extended up to October 16, 2006 the deadline for those interested to submit their intent to join the two-category digital documentary contest to supplement this year’s filmfest. The subjects of the documentary entries will focus on the history of Philippine cinema and the Metro Manila Film festival.

A grand winner for each category will receive a P800, 000 prize as well as the expenses for transferring the winning documentaries to 35 mm film. Four honorable mention entries will also be chosen for both categories and will each receive P50,000. The prizes will be awarded during the filmfest awards night on December 29, 2006.

Since the filmfest began, this will be the fist time that a documentary contest on the history of both Philippine cinema and the film festival will be undertaken, according to Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

The contest—titled Ebolusyon…Rebolusyon ng Pelikulang Pilipino—has four objectives as drawn up by the MMFFP execom. These are: to increase the level of public awareness about the MMFFP and the Filipino movies in general; to educate the public on the history of the film industry and that of the MMFFP;
to reach out to the academe, the literati and the public at large; and to promote and market the short independent film industry alongside the MMFFP.

According to the rules and regulations drafted by the execom, the docus to be submitted must be in digital video format though the eventual winners will be uploaded to 35 mm for theater distribution during the filmfest.

The docus can be straight documentaries, docu-dramas, docu-musicals (MTV) and variations or combinations thereof. They must have a maximum running time of 20 minutes. Narration or language medium can be English, Tagalog or Taglish.

Submitted docus must be newly produced and must not have been previously submitted for any competition or exhibition.

The docu contest is open to all Filipinos except MMFFP execom members and their immediate relatives (up to the first degree of consanguinity).

Those interested in entering the contest must submit the following general requirements not later than 5 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2006:

--List and profile of the team producing and making the documentary.

--Synopsis of the documentary video.

--Copy of the script or sequence treatment or narration with possible references.

--Name and backgrounder of proponents staff, crew and cast.

--Budget breakdown.

--Technical information, re camera to be used, etc.

--Distribution and dissemination plan for the submitted docu.

The proponents and contestants must finance the docu project.

Entries must be submitted on or before November 15, 2006.

A seven-man board of judges will decide the two grand winners and the eight consolation winners. The judges will include two documentary filmmakers, a mainstream filmmaker, a representative each from the MMFFP execom, the academe, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.