Two Soccsksargen Filmmakers Among Finalists in Sinag Maynila 2024

 

The Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival has announced its seven full-length feature finalists. Two filmmakers from Soccsksargen are among the finalists for this year’s festival.

"Salome" by Gutierrez 'Teng' Mangansakan II and "Banjo" by Bryan Wong are expected to have their world premiere in the 6th edition of Sinag Maynila. The festival will run from September 4 to 8, 2024, featuring full-length films, short films, and documentaries in select cinemas.

Mangansakan is a filmmaker and writer from the southern Philippines, known for his work in the Regional Cinema New Wave Movement. His films, such as “Forbidden Memory” and “Qiyamah,” often explore the history and culture of Mindanao, focusing on the experiences of the Moro people. Mangansakan is now based in GenSan.

Wong is an independent filmmaker from Glan, Sarangani Province. He is known for his action indie films based on local stories. He also collaborates with other filmmakers to uplift the filmmaking scene in the region.

The festival aims to provide a platform for Filipino filmmakers to showcase their talents and tell their stories.

Founded in 2015, Sinag Maynila is a non-profit film festival born from the vision of Solar Entertainment president and current festival CEO Wilson Tieng, and Cannes-winning director Brillante Mendoza.

After a four-year hiatus, this year’s Sinag Maynila is even better. The return is made more significant as the festival is partnering with the Department of Tourism, Culture & Arts Office of Manila (DTCAM) to support Filipino filmmakers and invigorate the local movie industry.

The festival's run coincides with the City of Manila's Tourism Month, which aims to enhance the cultural landscape and tourism of the Philippine capital.

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