Seven science films feted in 3rd Indie-Siyensya

Seven films that capture the role of science and technology in addressing the some of the country's most pressing issues reaped recognition and awards in the 3rd Indie-Siyensya film making competition.

According to the Department of Science and Technology -Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), the seven winners who bested 300 film concept proposals and 45 film entries were feted in a ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on November 28.

The first prize for the Open Category went to "Dagem," a film by Hector Badis of Cordillera Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (CorCAARD) which tackled issues on agriculture, environment, and food security.

It was followed by “The Land Will Grow, The Food We’ll Eat" by Brian Sulicipan of the Ambag-Ambagan Collective, and "Sugbuanong Alibangbang" by Edward Laurence Opena of the Cebu Normal University.

Meanwhile, bagging the top prize for the Youth Category was "Manglares" (Buhay at Peligro), a film on disaster mitigation by Patrick Pimentel from the Cavite National High School.

It was followed by the film “Lambat” by Cavite National High School students Cyah Angela Somblingo, Johan Villanueva, and Norie Bautista on second place; and “Akuwakultura” by a group from the Rizal National Science High School led Angelo Cruz  on third.

The moviemakers who won "Best Film" earned trophies and cash prizes amounting to P100,000, whereas the cash prize for second and third place was P50,000 and P25,000 respectively.

A trophy and a P10,000 prize was also awarded to the Viewer’s Choice Award-winning film “Bakas” by Kiano Bacolod from the Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus.

According to the DOST-SEI, the Indie-Siyensya filmmaking competition organized in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) aims to promote a culture of science in the country using film as a medium.

“Malaking kontribusyon ito sa larangan ng science communication na isa sa mga isinusulong ng DOST-SEI,” DOST-SEI director Dr. Josette Biyo said.

“Ang inyong mga film entry, magwagi man o hindi, ay tunay na nag-ambag na sa pagpapaunlad ng komunikasyong agham sa ating bansa kaya binabati ko kayo sa inyong mga obra,” she added. —Margaret Claire Layug/ LDF, GMA News