PGLU FORGES PARTNERSHIPS WITH INAIG FESTIVAL FINALISTS; JURY MEMBERS INTRODUCED
By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: Wendell B. Tangalin, PIO | Date: May 12, 2021
Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III signs the Documentary Feature Proponent Award Agreement together with the top five local cinematographers and filmmakers as official festival finalists of the INAIG: Dokyu-Kalikasan Fest on May 12, 2021 via video conferencing. Each team will receive a financial incentive of Php50,000.00 from the provincial government which will be used to produce 15 to 20-minute documentary features focused on actual stories embedded in the beauty and importance of La Union’s natural endowments, resources and landscapes.
Anchored in the advocacy “Kalikasan Naman” and the ongoing celebration of the National Heritage Month 2021, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) forged partnerships with the top five local cinematographers and filmmakers as official festival finalists of the INAIG: Dokyu-Kalikasan Fest through signing of a Documentary Feature Proponent Award Agreement on May 12, 2021 via video conferencing.
INAIG is one of the three components of the program “TAWID TAOID: Bridging Arts and Nature, Building Sustainable Future'' targeting to increase local community’s environmental awareness by bridging the local arts community and PGLU-led, nature-inspired advocacy programs.
Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III congratulated the festival finalists’ team leaders and members who joined the virtual ceremony. He said that the program will engage local cinematographers and filmmakers in the promotion of the province’s natural heritage.
“Remember that coming together is a beginning.. Keeping together is progress... Working together is a success. I am grateful for everyone’s dedication and support to the INAIG: Dokyu-Kalikasan Fest. May our partnerships and collaboration bring us together in celebration and reverence of the beauty and magnificence of La Union’s environmental resources. Let us continue living up to our mission for our beloved province on raising awareness and preservation of our natural heritage and endowments to a Stronger La Union, a province worth living in,” Gov. Pacoy said in his message.
The festival finalists are represented by their team leaders which include Kelvin Villanueva of “Arapaap: The Pebble Picker”; Michael Eijansantos of “Ang Dagat ang Pinagmulan”; John Kirby Savellano of “Papel”; Marco Campos of “Pukkaw ti Napukaw”; and Vernon Albert Cabading of “Agsala”.
Each team will receive a financial incentive of Php50,000.00 from the provincial government which will be used to produce 15 to 20-minute documentary features focused on actual stories embedded in the beauty and importance of La Union’s natural endowments, resources and landscapes.
The festival jury members were introduced to the finalists including Vanessa Amante, a film producer, writer, production manager and director of the cult-hit documentary film “Beastmode: A Social Experiment”; Lester Valle, a grassroots film educator and producer known for his critically-acclaimed documenrary “Walang Rape sa Bontoc”; and Jun Sabayton, a satirist, TV actor and director, known for his character “Bayaw” and his long-running collaboration with Greenpeace and Coal-Free Philippines.
The jurors will select the best among the five entries during the festival proper which will officially open on June 14 – 28, 2021. INAIG will culminate with a festival awards ceremony on June 30, 2021 for the province’s observance of Philippine Environment Month.
