The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) continues its developmental programs for the empowerment of regional cinema with the first-ever Southern Voices Film Lab (SOVOLAB), which aims to advance and develop feature film projects from Mindanaoan filmmakers.

Seven (7) projects in script development from first, second, and third-time filmmakers from Mindanao have been selected for the SOVOLAB, including “Diwalwal” by Jarell Serencio, “Mga Yawa sa Paraiso” by Joe Bacus, “The Widow” by Ryanne Murcia, “Virgins of the River” by Julienne Joy Ilagan, “Cangrejos” by Zurich Chan, “Misery Mountain” by Orvil Bantayan, and “Dancing the Tide” by Xeph Suarez. These projects will undergo the first leg of the Lab from June 7 to 9, 2019 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Producer Bianca Balbuena

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.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño expressed her excitement to meet new regional filmmakers and to help more unique tales from Mindanao come to life on the big screen. “As we celebrate the Sandaan, this is the perfect time to bring a film lab to the regions to let filmmakers from the South express their stories through films. We are looking forward to discovering more fresh voices from the regions through SOVOLAB.”

Through the labs, the selected filmmakers and producers will work with international and local mentors and consultants over the course of eight (8) months to refine their stories and to learn key industry practices to guide the production of their films. During the final session, the participants will be presenting a 7-minute pitch of their project to the jury. Two (2) projects will bring home the SOVOLAB co-production grant worth of One Million Pesos