Students from Visayas State University in Leyte and Philippine National University South Luzon in Quezon province led the winners of the Klima Film Festival, a competition that aims to spotlight the effects of climate change using short films written and produced by young Filipinos nationwide.
KFF, a joint initiative of the Climate Change Commission and the Oscar M. Lopez Center, with support from its official media partner iWantTFC and GIZ Philippines, aims “to mobilize the youth in amplifying the importance of local climate solutions to further increase their influence on local climate policy-making and generate local climate adaptation stories as viewed by young Filipino filmmakers by providing a venue for the production and promotion of climate science-based short films.”
The second edition of the KFF with the theme, “Adapting for a Sustainable Future: Stepping Up Local Climate Action in a Post-Pandemic World,” emphasizes “the importance of local climate action that will optimize our nation’s future—to plan, build, and support sustainable communities.”
The KFF 2021 short films were judged by science, gender, and film experts Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Dr. Rolando Tolentino, Liza Diño, Honey Castro, and Sari Dalena for their cinematic attributes and technical execution, story, and content, impact, as well as gender considerations.
Sci-fi films from climate advocate
Science fiction film “Viridescent” by Mikone Joshua Calungsod bagged four trophies for Best Film, which comes with a cash prize of P70,000, and an additional P15,000 for each major prize—Best in Climate Advocacy, Best Production Design (Camille Flores), and Best Cinematography (Darwin Palermo).
The sci-fi drama focuses on scientist Dr. Leila Montesclaros (Leila Amore Galvez) and software engineer Noah Bolfango (Calungsod). They must work together to retrieve crucial biological data to save humankind from the verge of extinction. As they experience a breakdown of communication. Dr. Montesclaros must draw upon her ingenuity to fulfill a dream of securing planet Earth for humanity.
Calungsod, Palermo, and Galvez are also behind “Verdant” of Ang Maharlika Productions (now known as MCDP Films), which won first runner-up in the first KFF two years ago. Flores, who served as a production designer in “Viridiscent,” completes the grand prize-winning team this year.
“We have successfully made two short films that enabled us to send a message to the world about our environment. This win is not just for the production team but for everyone,” Calungsod, a second-year BS Environmental Science major at VSU, shared.
Against all odds for a clean environment
“Sigalot: Sa Pagitan ng Tao at Kalikasan” by Quezon-based filmmaker Erwin Adupe received three trophies and P80,000 for winning first runner-up, Best Direction (Adupe), and Best Musical Scoring.
In the film, three siblings, Luntian (Michael Japone), Benilda (Vhenalyn Balanon), and Bagwis (John Jenard Magaoay), make a difference in their community near the sea by doing good things for the environment. As they clean their community together in preparation for a coming typhoon, they unexpectedly earn criticism and opposition from their neighbors and colleagues for their actions.
Adupe also worked with assistant director Abegail Carullo, scriptwriters Dane Khryssel Severa, Khaysel Oliveros, and Ma. Alea Cabiles, production designer Veranice Julia Valenciana, makeup artist Rea Lyn Barrameda Forbes, lights and sound director Angelo Gulifardo, videographers and editors Vince Cloude Reyes, Miguel Balanon, and Daniel Deocales, production manager Lhea Mae Capistrano, talent manager Eishah Kaye Oliva Limbo, location manager Lovely Marie Leogo, researcher John Carlo Flores, and background talents or extras Aderyne Diaz, Cyrene Lachica, Trixie Manalac, and Angelie San Juan.
More student filmmakers for climate justice
Student filmmakers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde secured a total of five awards from KFF.
“Tanaw” directed by Kaila Ysavl Bergonio of Playback Multimedia brought home four trophies along with P30,000 for winning second runner-up, P15,000 for Best Screenplay, P15,000 for Best Performance (Andrea Marie Bool), and P5,000 for bagging the Gender-Responsive Award.
On the other hand, “Modern Stray” by Rayshelle Lozada of Trianggulo Productions won the Audience Choice trophy and P5,000 plus an additional P15,000 for being one of the four KFF finalists.
In “Tanaw,” Aira Mendoza (Bool) is a teenage student raised by her mother, a retired barangay captain, and an environmental activist. A school requirement brings her onsite in a quarry for a research project.
Content creator with concern for nature
Meanwhile, in “Modern Stray,” Sunny De Vera (Fern Santos) has been called ill-mannered and materialistic. She devises a plan to showcase her roots in Batangas as she creates new content for her YouTube channel. In her province, she retraces her past with childhood friend Nanoy (Justine Jay Daanoy). Sunny’s realizations and reflections push her on a new path as an environmental advocate.
Lozada remembers how often she obsessed with how time works, recalling how her mother also used to say that her type of story is about time travel. “What inspires me to conceptualize the film ‘Modern Stray’ is about the idea of your past selves merging into this future self you wanted to portray. Like we’re basically our real selves as a child but as time progresses, we learn to fabricate our own truths.”
Making a difference as young filmmakers
Bergonio revealed that she and her co-writer, Fred Autor, “aim to tell through our film that a simple task can lead to a piece of greater knowledge and understanding that could cause a spark in future generations to stand up for themselves and their future.”
She and her team intended “Tanaw” to show that they can still make a difference for the environment and society, no matter how little or small their efforts are. “To break the stigma of pointing fingers at those suffering and who cannot choose, we must remember to act and never remain silent, particularly when we have the power zand access to education and information. It is easy for our generation to look past important issues as such or to be easily swayed in our opinions,” the young filmmaker emphasized.