SOUTHERN VOICES FILM LAB
The Southern Voices Lab (SoVo Lab) aims to discover indigenous stories and empower the voices of the filmmakers from Mindanao which is in the Southern region of the Philippines.
In 2019, SoVo Lab selected seven (7) 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-time filmmakers with film projects in an advanced stage of development to work with international and local mentors and consultants to develop and refine their screenplays. Each project received a P100,000.00 development fund to produce their pitch trailer for the final pitch showcase.
The first lab session was conducted in June 2019, while the second lab session was held in February 2020. In between labs, the projects focused on developing and improving their scripts, treatment, and pitch trailers with their international and local mentors.
The final lab session of the SoVo Lab was held in May 2021 and focused on how the projects will move forward with what they have and equip them to produce their local stories. Among the topics included essentials of pitching, getting into partnerships, and acquiring international distribution for their projects.
The first iteration of SoVo Lab culminated in a final pitching showcase to local and international decision makers last June 2021 where FDCP awarded project development and co-production grants to the projects.
CANGREJOS
Director: Zurich Chan
Producer: Gale Osorio
DANCING THE TIDES
Director: Xeph Suarez
Producer: Alemberg Ang
DEVILS IN PARADISE
Director: Joe Bacus
DIWALWAL
Director: Jarell Serencio
Producer: John Torres
MISERY MOUNTAIN
Director: Orvil Bantayan
Producer: Joan Bantayan
THE WIDOW
Director: Ryanne Murcia
VIRGINS OF THE RIVER
Director: Julienne Ilagan
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT LAB 1
June 7-9, 2019
Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
The first leg includes international mentors Raymond Phathanavirangoon, the Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (SEAFIC) for producing, and Maggie Lee, the Chief Asia Film Critic for Variety for script development, as well as Bianca Balbuena, an award-winning producer for creative producing, and Mindanaoan filmmaker Sheron Dayoc.
MENTORS:
- Raymond Phathanavirangoon
- Maggie Lee
- Bianca Balbuena
- Sheron Dayoc
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT LAB 2
February 19-22, 2020
Davao City
The second leg of the Southern Voices Film Lab (SOVOLAB) kicked off in Davao City this month, continuing the tradition of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) of boosting regional cinema by creating an exclusive platform for filmmakers from Mindanao. SOVOLAB is an intensive script and development lab for Mindanaoan filmmakers that aims to discover indigenous stories from the South and empower the voices of Mindanao.
SOVOLAB 2 began with a presentation of projects followed by the one-on-one consultations which happened for two days. The mentors’ feedback greatly helped the delegates in improving on their treatments. A roundtable discussion with mentors and delegates was held before the closing ceremony.
MENTORS:
- Dodo Dayao
- Yeonu Choi
PRODUCERS LAB
April 16-18, 2021
Online
The final lab session of the SoVo Lab focused on how the projects will move forward with what they have and equip them to produce their local stories. The mentors touched on topics of essentials of pitching, getting into partnerships, and acquiring international distribution for their projects.
MENTORS
- Bianca Balbuena
- Weijie Lai
- Isabelle Glachant
FINAL PITCH SHOWCASE
June 26, 2021
Online
As the culminating activity, the SoVo Lab filmmakers presented their projects in seven-minute pitches to the Selection Committee and the Decision Makers. The Selection Committee was composed of Diño, Dayao, QCinema Festival Director Ed Lejano, public anthropologist, film critic, and film educator Tito Valiente, and international producer and trainer for several institutions, Izabel Igel.
The Decision Makers, that pledged special awards, are Center Stage Productions represented by Brillante Mendoza, Cinemalaya represented by Jay Abello, Directors’ Guild of the Philippines represented by Roni Bertubin, Solar Entertainment Corporation represented by Butch Ibañez, and Wildsound Studios, Inc. represented by Albert Michael Idioma.
FDCP AWARDS
| SOVO LAB CO-PRODUCTION GRANT (PHP 1,000,000.00) |
CANGREJOS Directed by Zurich Chan Produced by Gale Osorio |
| SPECIAL JURY PRIZE WITH A CO-PRODUCTION GRANT (PHP 500,000.00) | DANCING THE TIDES Directed by Xeph Suarez Produced by Alemberg Ang |
| SOVO LAB SCRIPT AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT (PHP 300,000.00) |
DEVILS IN PARADISE Directed by Joe Bacus |
| SOVO LAB SCRIPT AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT (PHP 300,000.00) |
DIWALWAL Directed by Jarell Serencio Produced by John Torres |
SPECIAL AWARDS
| SOLAR SINAG AWARD FILM DISTRIBUTION SERVICE (worth PHP 750,000.00) |
CANGREJOS Directed by Zurich Chan Produced by Gale Osorio |
| CENTER STAGE PRODUCTIONS SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION MENTORSHIP GRANT (worth PHP 500,000.00) |
VIRGINS OF THE RIVER Directed by Julienne Ilagan |
| WILDSOUND STUDIOS INC. AUDIO POST-PRODUCTION GRANT (worth PHP 100,000.00) |
DEVILS IN PARADISE Directed by Joe Bacus |
| CINEMALAYA INSTITUTE PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP | THE WINDOW Directed by Ryanne Murcia |
| CINEMALAYA INSTITUTE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR'S WORKSHOP FOR FILM AND TELEVISION | VIRGINS OF THE RIVER Directed by Julienne Ilagan |
| DIRECTORS' GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES MENTORSHIP GRANT & PHP 20,000.00 CASH | VIRGINS OF THE RIVER Directed by Julienne Ilagan |