Cities are constantly reinventing themselves. Streets change, neighborhoods evolve and familiar landmarks slowly disappear. In Bacolod, a growing film festival is inviting local storytellers to capture those changes before they become memories.
The Bacolod Film Festival returns from November 27 to 29 with a new edition centered on the theme “Pag-angot: Celebrating Heritage, Shaping Our Future.” Rather than treating heritage as something confined to museums or history books, this year’s festival encourages filmmakers to explore how Bacolod’s identity continues to shape everyday life.
The competition is looking for original live-action short films that draw from the city’s people, traditions, communities, food, festivals and historic places. Entries are open until August 21, with selected filmmakers receiving financial support and mentorship to bring their projects to life.
For festival director Tanya Lopez, film is more than entertainment. It is a way of preserving moments that might otherwise disappear as the city continues to grow. She said the festival hopes today’s stories will become part of Bacolod’s cultural memory for future generations.
Unlike many local film competitions, the Bacolod Film Festival is designed specifically to develop homegrown talent. Directors must be city residents, and at least half of every production team must also come from Bacolod. Films are likewise expected to be shot primarily within the city, ensuring that the stories reflect local experiences from the perspective of the people who live them.
Eight to 10 projects will move on to production, with each finalist receiving a P100,000 grant, script development support, workshops and production mentoring before the films premiere during the festival.
The event is backed by City Ordinance No. 1061, making it a continuing cultural initiative rather than a one-time program. Organizers hope it will help strengthen Bacolod’s growing creative sector while creating more opportunities for local filmmakers to develop their craft close to home.
The festival’s previous edition showcased eight short films, with Tonton by Charlene Tupas winning Best Picture and Dranreb Cimatu earning Best Director honors for Tililing.
Now in its third year, the Bacolod Film Festival is steadily carving out its own identity. It is not trying to be the country’s biggest film event. Instead, it is building something equally valuable: a space where Bacolod can continue telling its own stories, in its own voice.