Students Screen Works at Fourth 61 Short Film Festival

A total of thirteen short films by Silliman students were showcased at the Fourth 61 Short Film Festival held March 11 at the Cyber Lecture Hall of the Instructional Media and Technology Center. 

The Festival, which was sponsored by the College of Mass Communication, Societe des Cinephiles and Cultural Affairs Committee, brought together the works by students enrolled in different courses. 

It featured Jennis Miranda’s John, Henzonly Alboroto’s Shutterlife, Nolan Rhey Sarana’s Evelyn, Paolo Yuan Torrevillas’sLetters to Heaven, Handen Cadiente’s One Way Out, Greena Pesalbon’s Trust, Therene Mari Quijano’s Cattura, Johannes Simone Vale’s Ugma Na Lang, Melissa Pal’s Jeepney, Raymond Vincent Cutillar’s F*ed, Tara de Leon’s Temperomine, Pamela Lazalita’s Sinking Hearts, and Stephen Abanto’s Dagit: Have You Got Time For a Story?

According to Festival programmer Ian R. Casocot, the event marks another turning point in creating a film community in Dumaguete City.

“I believe many of the entries of this year’s festival ups the ante in terms of quality and imagination,” Casocot said. “It is high time that Dumaguete starts becoming known as a film hub in the region.”

Film from previous editions of the festival, such as Mahogany Rae Bacon’s Marry Me, Stephen Abanto’s Café Les Back, and Razceljan Salvarita’s I Am Patience, have represented Dumaguete City in CinemaRehiyon, the annual festival of regional films.

The jury for this year’s festival included CMC Dean Dr. Maria Cecilia Genove, entrepreneur Annabelle Lee-Adriano, Alumni Office Officer-in-Charge Moses Joshua Atega, local artist Earnest Hope Tinambacan, literature professor Sonia SyGaco, photographer Brian Arbas Rimer, Department of Fine Arts Chairperson Yvette Malahay-Kim and TV production instructor Marx Itturalde. The winning entries will represent Dumaguete in next year’s CinemaRehiyon.