Piling Obrang Vidyo (POV), a week-long nationwide and intercollegiate film festival competition returned for its 18th edition from Mar. 12 to 18. The selected short films will be screened for free on MOOV of Cinema Centenario until Mar. 20.

A debut celebration

On Mar. 12, the opening program was hosted by Ivan Gentolizo, University of the Philippines (UP) Cinema Batch 28, and Wax Galang, UP Cinema Batch 30.

UP Cinema President Ace Balbarez shared an inspiring message to formally kick off POV XVIII, “UP Cinema currently celebrates its 18th year and POV has been its flagship program since its inception in 2004. Over the years, UP Cinema and its events like POV have served as a venue for cinematic ideas; ideas of future movers of Philippine cinema, as we aim to champion student filmmaking; particularly, what some would consider the purest form of the moving pictures一the short films.”

“Although we held POV 17 in 2021, that was only an exhibition of previous POV finalists and as a donation drive for our beneficiary. It’s the lockdown anniversary in a few days and come to think of it, we have adapted and persisted, or at least we try to manage and pretend along this new normal, as we must change with the times. But fortunately, not everything has changed. Piling Obrang Vidyo remains faithful to its purpose to showcase various works of student filmmakers from different schools and universities,” he added.

The POV opening program also showcased “Sa Bawat Nating Pag-abang” (As We Wait), by UP cinemasters Gentolizo Rona Bawa and Aiah Gertos. The film was one of the 45 films screened at the 2021 Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition.

A roundtable discussion talked about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the filmmaking industry. The panelists featured Mervine Aquino, Filipino filmmaker and freelance editor, Hector Calma, Filipino writer, cinematographer, and editor, and Pam Miras, Filipina director and screenwriter for film and television. The discussion was moderated by Maria Sophia Sibal and JT Trinidad, UPD film undergraduates and student filmmakers.

The animated short film Mahjong, directed by UP Cinemaster Coby Mercado, was also screened at the end of POV XVIII’s opening program.

Festival Head Jean Louise Javier gave his parting message, saying, “Tunay nating masasabi na buhay ang pelikula ng Pilipino. Lalo na ngayong natigil ang nakagawiang produksyon ng pampelikula, pati na rin ang pagpapalabas sa mga naghahari at kapitalistang sinehan. Tugon na rin sa hamon ng ating kasalukuyang sitwasyon, sa pagbabalik ng POV bilang patimpalak, masasabi natin ang pelikula ay patuloy lamang na umuusbong.”

And the award goes to…

During the awards night and closing program on Mar. 18, Jean Louise Lugtu, UP Cinema Vice President for External Affairs shared a message in lieu of another successful edition of POV, “Sa ika-labing walong taon ng Piling Obrang Vidyo ay kailangan nitong manindigan at maging mas matapang. Kaya naman with more than half a year of planning at sa kabila ng mga hamon na dala ng pandemya, ay talagang pinilit at ginapang ng mga [Cinemaster] ang POV 18, na kahit ito man ay online ay dinala tayo nito sa diwa ng lansangan.”

The following are the winners of the POV XVIII Awards:

• Lansangan Award - An Eidolon Named Night by Hans Piozon (UPD)
• Best Film - “RAMBUTAN” by Shayla Claire Perales (Mapua University)
• Jury Prize - Pig’s Game by ID 120 film student CM Bautista
• Cinemasters’ Choice - “Mga Salitang Inanod” by Gabriel Carmelo (University of the Philippines-Los Baños)
• Viewer’s Choice - “Taya” by DLS-CSB ID 119 film student Xyron Parapara
• Best Direction - “Nang Maglublob Ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag” by Kukay Zinampan (UPD)
• Best Performance - Tie between Pig’s Game and “Nang Maglublob Ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag”
• Best Production Design - “Nang Maglublob Ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag”
• Best Screenplay - Pig’s Game 
• Best Cinematography - Waltz of Qualm by Francis Tavas (Far Eastern University)
• Best Editing - “Salamin” by ID 118 film student David Collado
• Best Sound Design -  “Salamin”
• Best Music/Original Score - “Tara, Laro Tayo!” by Ben Francis De Lima and Patrick Demition (University of Santo Tomas)

The esteemed panelists who have screened the film finalists were film critic Jason Tan Liwag, actress Therese Malvar, and filmmakers Carla Pulido Ocampo and Ligaya Villablanca.

Since 2004, UP Cinema has cultivated a progressive culture through filmmaking, film appreciation, and film criticism. POV has been a platform for student filmmakers to share their various narratives through the medium.

To formally end the awards night and POV XVIII, Javier shared his closing remarks, “Busog ang aking puso dahil sa kahabaan ng isang linggo ng POV. Ngayong taon ay maraming nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Pagkakataon na mabahagi ang likha, mapakinggan ang kwento at boses, at maging bahagi ng isang espasyo na inaangat ang kabataan at pelikulang kabataan sa larangan ng pagpepelikula tungo sa masa. Habang ito ay nakapagbigay ng pagkakataon sa iba, nawa’y nakapaglahad naman ang POV ng pag-asa sa karamihan, lalo na’t nasa loob pa rin tayo ng pandemya at kasalukuyang lagay ng mapang aping politika [...] Kung kaya’t mananatili tayong lalaban; mula man sa ating obra, sa ating tahanan patungo sa lansangan, tayo ay lalaban.”

The finalists’ films are available for viewing on MOOV, today, Mar. 20, until 11:59 p.m.