DILG launches women empowerment film festival ‘CineMarya’

The Department of Interior and Local Government has partnered with the Film Development Council of the Philippines for a visual arts festival that specifically caters to empowering women. 

The competition is open to all Filipino citizens or a Philippine passport holder who are at least 18 years old, with filmmakers of any skill level tasked to create 10 to 20 minute shorts about women's issues. 

The inaugural themes for the short films are "battling violence against women", "Marawi women and the city's rehabilitation", or "Magna Carta of Women."

Applicants must accomplish a submission form and send their project proposals before June 30. Four proposals from Luzon, three proposals from Visayas, and three proposals from Mindanao will be selected. 

"CineMarya" doubles as an information campaign for women's rights and seeks to "make gender sensitization the way of life of every Filipino" and a competition for filmmakers to challenge them to create relevant and inspiring content for women.

"Gusto ko lang naman na ay mabigyan ng boses ang kababaihan, matanggal ang diskriminasyon, at magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na [ipaglaban] na ang babae ay equal sa lalake," DILG Assistant Secretary Marjorie Jalosjos told the press during the launch.

The 10 films will be seeded with P100,000 for their production and the following prizes will be handed out: Best Picture (P20,000); Josefa Llanes Escoda Award (P15,000); Marya Award (P10,000); and the People's Chopice Award (P10,000).

Philippine Commission on Women Commissioner Noreen Capili, Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Lady Legislators' League of the Philippines President Jo Kristine Revil, National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chair Virgilio Almario, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chair Maria Rachel Arenas, Film Academy of the Philippines Director General Leo Martinez, and Ginnie Oribiana of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines form the festival's executive committee.

Dr. Cristina Lim-Yuson on behalf of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines shared that they are honored that one of the awards was named after one of their founders, Josefa Llanes Escoda. 

"We really wish this first venture of DILG to be successful so that many of the young people, especially the young women, know that they have value in society, and they can learn that they can take the leadership role, as well as take as the role of a mother, a teacher, or lawyer," Lim-Yuson told the press. 

"CineMarya" will culminate in a 3-day festival, with the 10 films slated for screening via CineLokal and at the Cinematheque Center Manila.

Jalosjos has been assigned by DILG OIC-Secretary to handle the Department's Gender and Development advocacy and through "CineMarya" she hopes to not only pay tribute to the contributions of women to the film industry, but also to wield the power of the media to educate women about their rights, especially down to the barangay level. — GMA News

For more information, visit FDCP.ph/cinemarya.