Since its inception, the SalaMindanaw International Film Festival (SMIFF) remains faithful to its objectives and truly promotes Mindanao cinema not only to the Filipino audience but also to the international scene. This three year old festival showcases promising filmmakers not only in Southeast Asian countries but also in the Philippines especially in Mindanao.

The festival is anchored on its mission to be a mirror (salamin) of peace (salam) in Mindanao, thus the name SalaMindanaw. As the first and only international film festival in Mindanao, SalaMindanaw remains strongly committed on its mission to raise awareness and promote international cinema with emphasis on strengthening the cultural ties between Mindanao and its Southeast Asian neighbors, to support the nascent film movement in SOCSKSARGEN and its neighboring regions, and to engage the public in both popular and critical discourse on art and cinema and their transformative power to shape ideas about society, thus encouraging cultural diversity and the plurality of creative expressions. General Santos City is the home of SalaMindanaw. Since its creation in 2013, the festival showcased different filmmakers that have promising films.

From November 18 to December 2, 2015, various film activities will be held in GenSan. On November 18, there will be photo exhibit in SM City GenSan showcasing the contemporary Southeast Asian Cinema and Region XII as film destination. “The Exhibit shall feature photos stills from various films shot in different locations around Central Mindanao. It aims to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the region’s landscapes and colorful cultural traditions, as well as raise awareness about potential of film tourism to boost economy and tourism arrivals in the region.” The said activity is in partnership with the Department of Tourism XII.

On November 21-25 there will be Mindanao Screen Lab with nightly screenings. The screen lab will be attended by emerging Mindanao filmmakers and their mentors are award winning filmmakers namely Kan Lume, John Torres and Sheran Anthony Sanchez. “The Screen Lab is designed as an intensive learning program that provides emerging Mindanao filmmakers, with special concentration on young cinephiles from the Moro and Lumad communities as well as out of school youth and young professionals, hands on training as well as project development sessions that will transform ideas into films. Aside from skills development, the workshop is also aimed at making young filmmakers ambassadors of peace and cultural diversity by instilling a critical appreciation of the issues and challenges to peace in Mindanao.”

There will be film screenings until December 2. Furthermore, SMIFF also expand its reach because there will be film screenings in Cotabato city. Various filmmakers from ASEAN countries participate in the film competition. There are three main sections in the film competition, namely - Asian full-length film competition, Asian short film competition and Mindanao short film competition. It is expected to have local, national and international guests who are eager to watch the films and meet the filmmakers from Asia.

Note: We'll post the final schedule of film screenings soon.

 CREATE. SHARE. INSPIRE.