We’ve covered local films that allowed indie filmmakers to develop their skills and shine a light on the issues that the LGBTQ+ community continues to face… but what about films that promote Bangsamoro heritage?
This is what the Bangsamoro Short Film Festival (BSFF) hopes to achieve. With the slogan #HeritageWithoutBorders, the film festival will illustrate the challenges and victories that the Moro community has faced this pandemic while allowing young Moro artists to hone their talent in directing, cinematography, video editing and acting.
Filmmakers who identify as Moro can submit entries to [email protected] or drop them off at The Office of MP Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph, 2F IPDM Building, Mindanao State University, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The deadline for submission of entries is on July 25, 11:59 PM. Entries should not be longer than five minutes and can be shot with smartphones as long as they are in high definition.
Winning entries will be screened through the BSFF Facebook and YouTube accounts from Aug. 5 to 12. Filmmakers will also receive cash prizes and a chance to re-exhibit their works at Fringe MNL Festival next year.
“When we talk about Moros or Bangsamoro art, we are typically boxed as traditional craft-makers,” says festival director and filmmaker Rhadem Musawah. “I believe that the Moros can go beyond that and I want to change that by helping give them the platform to kick-off and showcase their creative storytelling through short films.”
Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph, executive director of the BSFF, also hopes that the film festival will shed light on stories from the Moro community. “This will also promote awareness of the Bangsamoro stories that illustrate our rich heritage as well as our unique identity as a Bangsamoro. The Bangsamoro has its very unique identity and this uniqueness needs to be shared with the whole world.”
Header photo by Kushagra Kevat on Unsplash
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