Puregold CinePanalo Grant Awarded to STI Cubao Student
By: Graceline Marcelo , January 12, 2024
Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival has taken a significant step in nurturing young filmmaking talents by awarding 25 student filmmakers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with grants worth PhP100,000 each. These recipients stood out from a competitive pool of 245 entries in the festival's debut edition.
Among the recipients is Jenievive B. Adame, a 4th year Bachelor of Multimedia Arts student at STI College Cubao, who received the grant for her film “Smokey Journey.” Driven by her aspiration to become a director, Jenievive, along with her team, actively joins in several short film competitions.
Initially submitting her entry to Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival with modest expectations, she was surprised by her selection, echoing the festival's theme of "Mga Kwentong Panalo ng Buhay" by portraying heartfelt family-oriented narratives.
As Jenievive saw the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, her first thought was “Gusto ko lang subukan,” so she submitted her entry to the competition.
Jenievive’s “Smokey Journey” is based on her personal experience as the film is about a family who struggles financially. According to her, the film has a simple narrative yet there’s weight in each scene because her goal is to cover the complexities of human emotions using the smoke as a symbol throughout the film.
Award-winning filmmaker Christopher Cahilig, the festival director for CinePanalo
Chris Cahilig, the festival director for Puregold CinePanalo, emphasized the significance of the festival's theme, aiming to evoke emotions and inspire audiences through compelling storytelling. “CinePanalo aims to leave audiences with the warm and fuzzy feeling that truly great cinema can inspire,” Cahilig stated. “On this note, we look forward to seeing the wonderful stories our local directors will earnestly share with the public.”
Given the festival's emphasis on family-oriented, inspiring, and wholesome film concepts, Jenievive explained that the audiences can anticipate witnessing the profound bonds, love, and unity inherent within a typical Filipino family in her film titled "Smokey Journey."
Adame deliberately crafted a straightforward narrative, intending to emphasize symbolism and juxtaposition throughout the film. Above all, she expressed that if her film's message manages to resonate with even a single individual, she would feel immensely fulfilled as that remains her ultimate objective. “Viewers should brace themselves for moments of comedic relief amidst turmoil, frustration, doubts, and raw drama, and glimpses of hope.” Adame added.
A panel of experts, including award-winning director Lemuel Lorca, film critic Tito Valiente, Puregold's Senior Marketing Manager Ivy Piedad, and Chris Cahilig, meticulously evaluated the entries, ensuring that the selected projects showed innovation and promise in the cinematic landscape.
As part of the award, the selected short films will be showcased at the Gateway Cinema in March 2024, granting them a platform to captivate audiences. Moreover, these films will find a digital audience through Puregold's official social media platforms on YouTube and TikTok.
Behind the scenes of Jenievive and her classmates who are part of the production team
Behind the scenes of Jenievive and her classmates who are part of the production team
Behind the scenes of Jenievive and her classmates who are part of the production team
Behind the scenes of Jenievive and her classmates who are part of the production team
Behind the scenes of Jenievive and her classmates who are part of the production team
Behind the scenes of Jenievive and her classmates who are part of the production team
“Just do it,” she exclaimed when asked about her advice to aspiring filmmakers. “Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect equipment. Take the first step, and momentum will follow,” she added.
Furthermore, Jenievive also highlighted the invaluable role of notes as her constant companion when making a film.
“My Notes app is my best friend,” she said. “All random ideas, titles, words of wisdom, one-liner, your ‘what if's’, and everything --- just write it down! Story is the queen in filmmaking.”
But most importantly for her, it’s the passion that every aspiring filmmaker must keep on burning. “Do it with passion. Not for money nor for fame, but for the arts. Para sa sining,” she said.
By recognizing talents like Jenievive B. Adame, the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival has illuminated the promising future of Philippine cinema.
As we eagerly await these cinematic tales at Gateway Cinema and Puregold's digital platforms, it's evident that the Filipino spirit of creativity thrives. With passionate visionaries at the helm, the horizon of Philippine cinema looks bright and inspiring.
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