MANILA, Philippines — Actor Dingdong Dantes is the ambassador for this year’s Istorya ng Pag-asa (INP) Film Festival.
In a video posted on INP’s Facebook page, Dantes invited Filipinos to send their entries for the film festival, which is being organized by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Ayala Foundation, and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
“Inviting you all to join the Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival 2019. Open ito sa lahat ng mga Pinoy, kahit pa non-professional filmmaker ka o nakatira sa ibang bansa,” Dantes said.
The 38-year-old actor-producer, who is a known advocate for the arts and the youth, first went onboard the INP Film Festival in 2018 when he hosted the event’s gala night and awarding ceremonies.
On its second year, INP Film Festival organizers offer bigger prizes to participants, whose works would also have the chance to be shown at Ayala Malls Cinemas.
This year’s winner for Best Film will take home P80,000 while the 1st and 2nd runners-up will get P50,000 and P30,000, respectively. There will also be special prizes for Best Script, Best Director, and Best Cinematography as well as a People’s Choice Award and a special award from Ayala Foundation.
“It is our hope that through Istorya ng Pag-asa—lalo na iyong Istorya ng Pag-asa Film Festival—Filipinos will be united around the common values of hope, of perseverance, deep faith, and the goodness of humanity. Kasi iyon iyong talagang (Because those are really the) underlying theme ng bawat kuwento (of every story),” Vice President Leni Robredo said in a statement.
OVP will be accepting 3- to 5-minute short film entries for this year’s film festival until March 25, 2019. For full contest mechanics and other details on submission of entries, interested participants may go to www.istoryangpagasa.ovp.gov.ph.
The INP Film Festival is a nationwide competition for original short documentaries featuring extraordinary stories of ordinary Filipinos.
It aims to “spread the perseverance, dedication, and warmth of ordinary Filipinos amid life’s adversities” and inspire people.
Last year, a story of an Uber driver who has Tourette syndrome bagged the grand prize with its director Florence Rosini taking home the P50,000 cash prize. /kga