‘QCINEMA’ OFFERS GRANT TO SUPPORT INDIE FILMS HALTED BY COVID-19

THE QCinema International Film Festival is offering a financial grant to support independent films halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival organizers announced the QCinema Completion Fund for independent films forced to halt production and post-production during the pandemic lockdown and a partnership with Inter-Guild Alliance (IGA) for QCinema Special Industry Assistance Fund.

Three grants will be awarded to Filipino citizens of legal age whose total film budget is over six million pesos. Principal photography for the feature film should not have started earlier than 2019 and the proponent can be the director or the producer.

The final film must be completed by 2021 and shall have its Philippine premiere at QCinema in 2021.

Application form and other details are available at QCinema’s website and Facebook page. The three selected projects will be announced during QCinema 2020.

“Since the start of the pandemic, Quezon City has been providing financial and humanitarian aid for those who need it most. It is high time we give at- tention to our film industry,” says Mayor Joy Belmonte.

QCinema is the flagship project of Mayor Joy Belmonte aimed at cementing Quezon City‘s brand as the film capital of the country. It is also regarded as the leading international film festival in Southeast Asia and voted for the third year in a row by local film reviewers as the country’s best film festival.

“These initiatives pave the way for a special #QCinema2020 edition. We will announce in a few weeks’ time a new filmscape that will allow us to reach more people across the country,” adds festival director Ed Lejano.

QCinema Special Industry Assistance Fund is a special assistance fund for Inter-Guild Alliance members. Under the agreement, QCinema will make available funds for COVID-related projects for 2021, which will be managed by Inter-Guild Alliance.

Some members of the alliance are the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Lupon ng mga Pilipinong Simematograpo, Filipino Film Editors, Soundspeed Philippines, Guild of Assistant Directors and Script Supervisors, Filipino Screenwriters’ Group, AKTOR (League of Filipino Actors), Soundspeed Philippines, Regional Filmmakers’ Network, and Stunts Association of the Philippines.

Sample projects identified by both organizations are safety officer certification; skillset augmentation, training and certification; and inter-guild collaboration workshops.

QCinema is also awarding P50,000 to six short films which depict the lighter side of quarantine life.

The film must have a minimum running time of three minutes and a maximum of five minutes including OBB and CBB can be narrative, documentary, animation, or experimental.

The films can be shot using a smartphone, webcam, or any digital devices and must be produced between September to October 2020.

The competition is open to Filipino citizens, living in the Philippines, 18 years old and above.

Deadline for submission is October 30 and details are avail- able at qcinema.ph or the festival’s Facebook page. (ROHN ROMULO)