MANILA, Philippines—Celebrating two decades of championing Philippine independent filmmaking, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. proudly announce the opening of submissions for the Short Film Category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2024.

Mark your calendars! The submission deadline is on or before 6 pm on March 8, 2024. This premier independent film competition invites all Filipino filmmakers to participate, allowing a maximum of three (3) entries per participant, with only one (1) entry per proponent eligible for finalist consideration.

Image Courtesy of CCP.

Eligible entries must have been produced between March 3, 2023, and March 8, 2024. Cinemalaya welcomes short film submissions that have previously participated in other local and international festivals and competitions. However, if a film is selected as a finalist in both Cinemalaya and Gawad Alternatibo, it will automatically be withdrawn from the Gawad Alternatibo lineup in favor of Cinemalaya.

Submit your entries either ONLINE or OFFLINE. For online applications, complete the requirements through https://forms.gle/gb4csK1rcDqFwnhs7, including a duly completed entry form, an English synopsis, a brief resume with 2×2 photo/s of the filmmaker/s, and the final work in MP4 format, complete with a violator/watermark for screening purposes only. Ensure proper labeling with the title, production company, address, contact numbers, production date, director’s name, and running time not exceeding 20 minutes, including credits.

For OFFLINE submission, send entries to the Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division office at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Annex Building, Vicente Sotto St., Pasay City. Film entries must be submitted on a thumb drive (USB), along with the entry form, synopsis, and filmmaker’s profile, all enclosed in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, film title, and contact details.

The Cinemalaya Selection Committee will meticulously shortlist 10 film finalists, which will be featured at the 2024 Cinemalaya Film Festival from August 2 to 11. These finalists will have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Balanghai trophies.

Since its inception in 2005, Cinemalaya has remained dedicated to fostering the development and promotion of Philippine independent cinema. By providing a platform for creating cinematic works that boldly express and interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity, Cinemalaya has been a driving force in the industry. With the call for submissions for the 2024 short film competition, Cinemalaya continues to breathe life into the Philippine film scene, nurturing a new generation of Filipino filmmakers.

For a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics, please visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and the Cinemalaya website (www.cinemalaya.org). Stay updated by following the official CCP and Cinemalaya social media accounts on Facebook, [X], Instagram, and TikTok.