The National Commission for Culture and the Arts established the seventh medium- film, to aid in the promotion and appreciation of our Filipino identity. Films are great and dynamic medium, which can showcase local culture as theme for its content and showcase artistry through the use of film elements (camera, sound, design, etc.).

In North Luzon, the North Luzon Cinema Guild, Inc. thru partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts has established an avenue to showcase films themed on the cultures and languages existing in the region through the project- North Luzon Film Festival. It aims to encourage filmmaking in the region by using narratives and materials from North Luzon and at the same time extend their services by conducting film workshops, with the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines and local filmmakers.

The North Luzon Cinema Guild in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the local partner agencies will hold the third edition of North Luzon Film Festival entitled Cinema Padday on March 2018. The film festival advocates reliving the Ibanag culture and the Northern stories thru Cinema. This year, the festival will also advocate local languages and cultures to promote vibrant socio-cultural development and heritage preservation.

Awards to be given are

Best Short Film Php 20,000.00 + Cinema Padday Trophy

Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, Best Production Design, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress

Winners will be given the Cinema Padday Trophy and cash prizes during the North Luzon Film Festival Awards Night.

North Luzon Film Festival aims to discover, encourage, and support the filmmakers from the region that articulate, interpret and express the Filipino cultural heritage. The festival is open for all students, amateurs and professional filmmakers who were born and/or is currently residing in North Luzon & Central Luzon (Region 1, 2, 3 and CAR).

Film entries should have been shot within North & Central Luzon areas and must be in any Philippines languages. Entries must reflect the Filipino cultural heritage, issues and identity with a running time not more than 15 minutes including the opening & closing credits. Films may be in any genre. Also, film entries must be subtitled in English and must not be posted in any online platform prior to their screening in the festival.

North Luzon Film Festival value works* that:

· have high regard for the narrative, characters and its technical aspects and how these elements are creatively weaved together into one coherent whole using elements of cinema;

· visually represent the Filipino heritage and what is current in our regional culture; folklores, characters, local stories, beliefs and legends; explore the boundaries of originality, creativity and independence in presenting the film; and,

· explore new ways to excite audiences and enrich their regional film experiences.

Mail your Entries at
No. 7 Mabini corner Luna Streets,
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan- 3500

or E-Mail at
nlffentries@gmail.com

You may also send your entries via Dropbox. The regional short film finalist will be announced on January 31, 2019 and will be screened during the North Luzon Film Festival 2019: Cinema Padday.

North Luzon Film Festival 2019
I. GENERAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Film entries may be of any genre but should be in narrative, documentary, experimental and animation form.
2. Film entries must not be longer than 15 minutes, including opening and closing credits.
3. If selected, film entries cannot be withdrawn from the festival after selections have been announced.
4. Film entries must be subtitled in English.
5. Film entries must not be posted in any online platform prior to their screening in our festival.
6. Films must use original musical score or licensed music. If the music used is licensed or authorized, include the license agreement in the submission of the entry. Unauthorized use of musical score shall be grounds for disqualification from the competition.
7. Filmmakers may choose between competing and non-competing categories.

REQUIREMENTS FOR NORTH LUZON FILM FESTIVAL
1. Open to all students, amateurs and professional filmmakers. The director of the film must have been born or currently residing in North Luzon (Region 1, 2, 3 and CAR).
2. Your short film should have been shot within North Luzon areas.
3. Your short film may be in any Philippine Local Language.
4. Your film must reflect North Luzon cultural heritage, issues and identity.
5. Your film‘s running time must be between 2 minutes (minimum) to 15 minutes (maximum) including the opening & closing credits.

II. WHAT TO SUBMIT
1. MP4 file of your film (H.264 recommended) Digital Copy
2. HI-RES STILLS OF FILM AND HI-RES PHOTO OF FILMMAKERS’ IN JPEG format(at least 16X9, 300 dpi)
3. DIGITAL COPY OF ACCOMPLISHED ENTRY FORM.
4. DIGITAL COPY OF SYNOPSIS. Synopsis must be in English or Filipino.
5. DIGITAL COPY OF FILMMAKER’S PROFILE.

III. WHEN & WHERE TO SUBMIT
1. The North Luzon Film Festival: Cinema Padday 2019: accepts entries on or before January 12, 2019. Mailed entries must be postmarked on or before the said date or they will not be eligible for competition (late entries may be considered for next year’s festival as non-competing entries as deemed by festival organizers). There will be no deadline extensions.
2. Mail or deliver your entries to: North Luzon Cinema Guild Inc. Office, Unit 7, Mabini corner Luna Streets, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
3. Or, you may send your entries via Google Drive to cinemaguildluzon@gmail.com.

IV. GENERAL CRITERIA for COMPETING & NON-COMPETING FILMS
We value works that:
a. have high regard for the narrative, characters and its technical aspects and how these elements are creatively weaved together into one coherent whole using elements of cinema;
b. visually represent North Luzon heritage and what is current in our regional culture; folklores, characters, local stories, beliefs and legends;
c. explore the boundaries of originality, creativity and independence in presenting the film;
d. explore new ways to excite audiences and enrich their regional film experiences.

V. WINNERS, AWARDS & DECISION OF THE BOARD OF JURY for COMPETING FILMS
1. Finalists for North Luzon Film Festival shall be announced on February 1, 2019.
2. Winners of the Competition shall receive trophies and a cash prizes for competing category.
The awards to be given are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, Best Production Design, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress for each category. Winners will be given the Cinema Padday Trophy and cash prizes during the North Luzon Film Festival Awards Night on March 2019.
3. All winners shall be selected by appointed Board of Judges. The Board of Judges comprises of filmmakers, film experts & professionals who will judge the competition work based on a set criteria. Before the films get judged by the final jury, a preliminary jury will have to select the final films for competition.
4. If no best short film is deemed worthy by the jury in a particular province, the festival will respect the collective decision and not declare winners.
5. The decision of the Board of Judges is final, irrevocable and not subject to question. Like in all professional film festivals, judges’ decisions are determined by way of deliberations moderated by the Chairman of the Board of Judges.
6. The organizers will not entertain protests of any kind nor will they be required to justify the winning films which were judged and deliberated by appointed film experts & professionals.