Indigenous Peoples Month 2016: Cinematheque Baguio To Screen Indie Films by Cordillerans

Cinematheque Baguio, under the auspices of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, will join the rest of the Cordillera region in celebrating Indigenous Peoples Month this October, by screening selected independent films made by filmmakers from the region.

Independent films about Cordillera, by Cordillerans

According to the Philippine Information Agency, among the films that will screened at the cinematheque from October 20 to 25 will include Kidlat Tahimik’s Balikbayan No. 1, Art Tibaldo’s Cordillera Ethnography, Jocelyn Kapuno’s Kanana-Kanu, Ferdie Balanag’s Walking the Waking Journey, Martin Masadao’s Anak ti Pating and Dave Montes’ 66th Infantry. There will be free admission to these screenings, according to the report.

Local language films

Aside from these films by known filmmakers, Cinematheque Baguio will also schedule screenings for new filmmakers, such as the Kankanaey drama feature “Padas Sin Biyag” (Trials of Life) by Nestor “Boyong” Daguines. The feature which is made in the Kankanaey dialect with English subtitles will be screened on October 7, 5:00 p.m., and October 8, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. There is an admission fee of 100 pesos. 

Daguines who previously made a living by driving a van, is a self-taught filmmaker who learned how to make films through YouTube videos and later on by attending seminars and workshops on filmmaking.

According to Cinematheque Baguio’s Facebook page, Daguines will be entertaining questions about his film after the October 7 screening, where aspiring filmmakers and film enthusiasts can ask him about his film and filmmaking process. 

Celebrating indigenous culture

Aside from films by indigenous filmmakers, the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Month in Baguio also includes an art exhibit, a regional youth assembly, public fora on the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act and a book launching. All throughout the region, there will also be IP month activities organized by the provinces.