SineSaySay Documentary Film Lab and Showcase

The SineSaySay Documentary Film Lab and Showcase is a project of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) that aims to empower documentary filmmaking and filmmakers in the country. With the words sine (film) and saysay (meaning), the program combines the power and beauty of filmmaking with meaningful and real stories of our people, society, and the world. For the 2018 edition, FDCP is in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to showcase creative documentary films focusing on often unvisited events in our history that helped shape our country to what it is today.

SineSaysay has two categories: the Bagong Sibol Documentary Lab and the Feature Documentary Showcase.

BAGONG SIBOL FINALISTS

Ang Huling Kaharian
by Bryan Kristoffer Brazil

Mga Bayaning Aeta
by Donnie Sacueza

El Caudillo
by Khalil Joseph Bañares

Patay Na Riles
by John Christian Samoy

A Memory Of Empire
by Jean Claire Dy

Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez – A Filipino Leprologists’ Journey
by Micaela Fransesca Rodriguez

Noong, Sa Aming Pagkabata
by Darlene Joanna Young

Kachangyan Wedding Redux
by Lester Valle & Carla Ocampo
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE

Untitled Project
by Cha Escala

Daan Patungong Tawaya
by Kevin Piamonte

Looter
by Jayson Bernard Santos

Heneral Asyong
by Victor Acedillo

This is geared towards emerging filmmakers working on their first and second full-length documentary feature films with the passion and vision for filmmaking and telling real stories of our people’s past, struggles, and victories. There will be an open call for pitches for qualified applicants. Eight (8) project proposals were selected and each team’s director and producer shall serve as fellows to the world of documentary filmmaking in the Philippines by introducing them to film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of documentary filmmaking while providing support and insights as they ready their projects for production.

What is the Bagong Sibol Project Development Fund?

The eight (8) chosen projects in the Bagong Sibol Documentary Lab were given seed money of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 100,000.00) to create their 10-20 minute short films representing the fellows’ vision for their projects.
What is the Bagong Sibol Production Fund?

Getting funding for film production is a real challenge especially for emerging filmmakers today. This crucial element spells the difference between finishing one’s film and halting its development altogether.

With the Bagong Sibol Production Fund, filmmakers will be given the push they need to keep moving forward with their projects. The Production fund will provide up to Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 700,000.00) in production and post-production funding to two (2) selected projects from the Bagong Sibol Documentary Lab to complete their full-feature documentary films. Activities for the Fund may include travel, shooting, editing, and related to mild-to-completion production activities.

The selection of the two (2) projects to receive the production fund will be done during an Industry Pitch Showcase where Lab fellows will be presenting their pitch along with their short films to an audience and a Selection Committee. A Closing Ceremony will follow where the projects will be awarded Seven hundred Thousand Pesos (P 700,000.00) each to produce the feature versions of their documentary projects.
What are we looking for in projects?

STORIES. We are looking for projects in development that are compelling, authentic, and focusing on often-unvisited events in our history that helped shape our country into what it is today.

Projects must have the unique power to inspire a sense of nationalism in our audiences so they would give value to our history and be motivated to be the change that they want in our country. 

Now more than ever, we need documentaries that reflect our actual stories and their many facets and perspectives. The tradition of documentaries made by brave filmmakers is a tradition of truth and acceptance of reality. This format is as moving and thoughtful as it is informative and educational and the Filipino audience could certainly benefit from a widening of perspective of this type of filmmaking. Though the Feature Documentary Showcase, FDCP and NHCP hope to bring documentary filmmaking closer to the Filipino people by tapping our top local documentary filmmakers and broadening their appreciation of not just the craft, but of the stories that they tell.

What is the SineSaysay Feature Documentary Lab?

This is geared towards professional filmmakers working on their full-length documentary feature films, with the passion and vision for filmmaking and telling real stories of our people’s past, struggles, and victories. There will be an open call for pitches for qualified applicants. Four (4) project proposals were selected and each team’s director and producer shall serve as fellows of the Documentary Lab. Through a series of meetings and workshops, the Lab will expose the fellows to the world of documentary filmmaking locally and internationally by introducing them to international film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of documentary filmmaking while providing support and insights as they ready their projects for production. This documentary lab is also open to documentary filmmakers working on their full feature documentaries outside the SineSaysay scope.
What is the Feature Documentary Grant?

The SineSaysay Feature Documentary Grant is a co-production grant for experienced filmmakers who have produced at least two (2) full-length films to their credits. There will be an open call for submissions. Interested filmmakers are required to submit a five-minute trailer demo or edited sequence of their proposed project and theme. Four (4) filmmakers will each be awarded a 1 Million Pesos (P 1,000,000.00) Co-Production Grant to produce their film project. During the production stage of their projects, international speakers will be brought in to conduct master classes for the filmmakers.
What are we looking for in projects?

STORIES. We are looking for projects in development that are compelling, authentic, and focusing on often-unvisited events in our history that helped shape our country into what it is today.

Projects must have the unique power to inspire a sense of nationalism in our audiences so they would give value to our history and be motivated to be the change that they want in our country. 

SINESAYSAY BAGONG SIBOL GRANTEES
(Php. 700,000.00)

  • El Caudillo - Khalil Joseph Bañares

  • Patay na Riles - John Christian Samoy

  • The Last Sea Nomads - Bryan Brazil

  • Pag-ibig, at mga Umiiyak na Baboy - Carla Pulido Ocampo & Mark Lester Menor Valle

FDCP DEVELOPMENT GRANT
(Php. 100,000.00)

  • Father of the Lepers - Micaela Rodriguez

  • Mga Bayaning Ayta - Don Sacueza

FDCP MENTORS' CHOICE AWARD
(Php. 150,000.00)

  • Red Clouds - Darlene Joanna Young

BEST LIVE PITCH
(Php. 20,000)
  • Red Clouds - Darlene Young

NCCA AWARD
(Php. 250,000.00)

  • A Memory of Empire - Dynadik Research & Manuel Domes

  • Pag-ibig, at mga Umiiyak na Baboy - Carla Pulido Ocampo & Mark Lester Menor Valle

  • Father of the Lepers - Micaela Rodriguez

BLACK MARIA AWARD
(Co-production)
  • Red Clouds - Darlene Young

CENTRAL DIGITAL LAB AWARD
(Digital Cinema Package)

  • Pag-ibig, at mga Umiiyak na Baboy - Carla Ocampo & Lester Valle

  • The Last Sea Nomads - Bryan Brazil & Lea Torre

DGPI AWARD
(Php. 40,000.00 and Creative Consultancy)

  • Pag-ibig, at mga Umiiyak na Baboy - Carla Ocampo & Lester Valle

  • Red Clouds - Darlene Young

TOAST AND BREW AWARD
(Co-production & Post-production assistance)

  • El Caudillo - Khalil Joseph Bañares 

  • Red Clouds - Darlene Young

UNITEL PRODUCTIONS AWARD
(Php. 20,000.00)

  • Pag-ibig, at mga Umiiyak na Baboy - Carla Ocampo & Lester Valle

  • Red Clouds - Darlene Young