Kids’ perspective underscored in video-making contest, fest

Celebrity endorsers show their support for Sinebata’s young filmmakers.

Anak TV, the advocacy group pushing for child-friendly programming, launched recently a video-making contest through its “Sinebata” initiative, an undertaking of local television stations.

Sinebata is a competition, festival and showcase of works by Filipinos aged 7 and above, according to Mag Cruz Hatol, Anak TV secretary general. He told the Inquirer that “professionals and broadcasters who have done child-centric works may participate, even as guests.”

Hatol said, “The festival will be at the QCX in Quezon City Memorial Circle on Dec. 8 and 9, and the awarding will be on Dec. 10. TV station members of Anak TV are deeply involved in the planning, preparation and promotions of the endeavor.”

The December project, he added, was considered “a major dress rehearsal” for a larger festival that would involve Southeast Asian partners, eventually.

“That fest next year is slated in November, to be held in the Philippines, and will usher in the creation of the Southeast Asian Prix Jeunesse, to further encourage the capabilities of broadcasters in the region to create more quality programs for children,” he said. “It’s an avenue for regional broadcasters, TV producers, writers and like-minded professionals to generate more content for the Southeast Asian child.”

Now on its third year, Sinebata is one of Anak TV’s efforts to provide more media space for the youth. The contest aims to involve participants who can offer empowering messages and solutions to present-day challenges.

“We are encouraging them to create works that will concretely reflect their sentiments, perspectives, aspirations and angst,” Hatol said. “It will encourage the use of readily available technology—gadgets like mobile phones and low-end digicams—to record their observations…much like the trend now of videotaping anything of interest and uploading them on YouTube. Sinebata encourages media users to create content themselves, rather than rely on TV producers.”

Categories include: fiction; nonfiction for age groups under 7, preteens aged 8 to 12, and teens aged 13 to 18. There will be 12 “equally important” grand prize winners and special awards. Entries can be 30-second shorts to 90-minute features and must focus on the theme “Ang Nais Ko.”

Individuals or groups are allowed to submit multiple entries. (Visit anaktv.com for other details.)

To get the word out on the advocacy group’s projects Sinebata representatives from local TV stations are being involved. “Each member network selected their own Sinebata ambassador, who will act as its own spokesperson for the project and push the call for entries nationwide,” Hatol said.

Ambassadors from the different networks include Jodi Sta. Maria, Mark Neumann, Joyce Ching, Kristofer Martin and Robi Domingo.