Cinema One DigiFilm Contest

Digital film competition now open for bets

Cinema One, a Filipino movie cable channel, has opened its doors for entries to the "Third Annual Cinema One Originals Digital Movie Competition."

This year's competition will include entries from Filipino filmmakers based overseas.

This year's theme, "Ang Kwento ng Pinoy sa Buong Mundo," aims to create an anthology of stories of Filipinos from all over the world.

Stories could range from mothers who endured the pain of leaving their children behind to become nannies to somebody else's children; menwhose ultimate dream is to land a job in the Middle East; expatriates who long to be back home; and Filipino-Americans who wish to know their roots, among other present-day Filipino tales.

Spearheaded and produced by the ABS-CBN subsidiary Creative Programs Incorporated since 2005, the competition's production incentive has been increased from last year's P700,000 to P1 million this year.

"We've adjusted the money grant for the chosen films' production to augment and cover more filming expenses. We're also opening the festival to Filipinos who are interested to venture into filmmaking even while their living or working abroad to cover a wider market this time," said Ronald Arguelles, head of Cinema One.

Entries must include a detailed synopsis of the movie's title, character descriptions and a full screenplay or script. These should be submitted on or before the deadline on March 28, 2007. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.cinemaone.tv and www.abs-cbn.com.