MANILA, PHILIPPINES, NOVEMBER 23, 2021 — Following the success of the recently concluded 4th Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition last September, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is holding an open call for story concepts from young filmmakers starting November 19, 2021 for its fifth edition. 

Open to filmmakers ages 18 to 30 years old from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Sine Kabataan, now on its 5th edition with film labs exclusively for the participants, aims to provide a platform for the youth’s perspective on social issues, encouraging them to develop their creativity and originality in storytelling while touching on pertinent issues in society. 

The shortlisted twenty (20) story concepts will be required to undergo film labs. Ten (10) projects will be chosen as finalists by the Selection Committee through a pitching showcase. The 10 filmmakers will each be given a PHP 100,000 grant as funds to produce their short films. 

With the easing of restrictions, FDCP will be shifting its film labs and events to a hybrid on-site and digital platform to elevate their projects and further develop the filmmakers’ skills in film production. 

“Witnessing the effectiveness of conducting film labs from the previous edition of Sine Kabataan, we are now on the lookout for a new batch of young filmmakers with their creative take on relevant societal issues through filmmaking. Now that we are shifting the Sine Kabataan events to a hybrid format, the filmmakers can fully utilize the film labs to further enhance their skills and projects,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. 

Sine Kabataan is conducted alongside the FDCP banner project Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) as an accompanying youth film competition wherein the finalists’ short films are screened nationwide during the PPP duration. 

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/SineKabataan. 

Below are the SINE KABATAAN SHORT FILM LAB AND FESTIVAL Guidelines:

GUIDELINES:

1. The competition is open to all young filmmakers of ages 18 to 30 years old and must have produced at least one short film.

2. The applicants must submit concepts that depicts the youth’s perception on the following issues:

   HEALTH	SECURITY & PEACE BUILDING
   Teenage Pregnancy HIV/Aids  Mental Health Adolescent disability	Youth in conflict with the laws Youth in conflicted areas Youth in peace-building Digital or Online safety
   EDUCATION	FAMILY VALUES
   Out of school youth  Bullying Lack of access in education	Violence against children Abandonment Effects of migration

3. Twenty (20) concepts will be shortlisted and will undergo film pitching with the Sine Kabataan Selection Committee. From the film pitch, ten (10) projects will be chosen as finalists and will be selected for development and production. The chosen finalists will be given a grant to produce Sine Kabataan Short Film.

4. Film can be live action or animated. Experimental films and documentary films will not be accepted.

5. The completed film must not exceed the total running time of five minutes, including the opening and closing credits.

6. The completed film output will have its premiere during the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2022 under the Sine Kabataan category.

7. The rights of completed film output will belong to the proponent. However, the Film Development Council of the Philippines reserves the right to screen entries in various events and platforms.

8. The use of original literary sources, music materials, artwork, photography, etc. must have proper clearance from their respective copyright owners before they can be used in the final output. The Festival organizers shall not be liable for any costs related to claims of performing rights organizations.

9. By entering the Festival, the participants agree to abide by the Festival guidelines and rules. The FDCP shall be indemnified of any liabilities. 

10. In case of any violation of the guidelines and rules, the organizers and the judging Committee reserves the right to disqualify the participant and their film or remove them from the program.

11. The organizers and the selection committee reserves the right to disqualify any participant and/or to forfeit any prize from a participant who is found to have committed plagiarism or has undertaken fraudulent practice and/or activities harmful to the Festival or the Festival submission process.

12. FDCP reserves the right to create, revoke, and modify at any time, in any way its entry requirements, rules and regulations at its absolute discretion without prior notice. Finalists and submitted entries shall be bound by any amendments or addition to the entry requirements, rules and regulations herewith.

13. The decision of the Selection Committee is final and irrevocable. The organizers and the selection committee are not obliged to give explanation for the results.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

The following requirements must be submitted online in an organized google drive folder with shared viewing settings.

• DULY ACCOMPLISHED APPLICATION FORM with complete details (Complete name and contact details, Working Title, Synopsis, Director/Scriptwriter Intention’s Note, Concept and Financial Plan)

  Application form can be downloaded via this link: (Sine Kabataan Application Form)

• Online link to one (1) previously produced short film (if applicable). (Note: the online link must be set to private and the link and password must be uploaded via Vimeo or Google Drive).

• Brief resume, HD profile photo, and a copy of a government-issued ID of the filmmaker. 

• Story concept (in PDF) and/or script if available. 

SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES

Entries may be emailed to [email protected] with subject heading: Application for Sine Kabataan 2021.

Deadline of submission is until January 15, 2022.

GRANTS / FUND:

This competition consists of TEN (10) chosen finalists and will be given a production grant of P100,000.00 each to produce a maximum of 5 minute short film and shall comply with all the administrative and auditing requirements as advised by the Sine Kab Secretariat. The grant will be given in two (2) tranches.

FILM LABS:

The FINALISTS are required to send two of their members and shall undergo intensive film labs under the supervision and guidance of mentors from the film industry that would help them to develop their skills in story development, editing, technicalities, and other elements of filmmaking to better translate their stories.

FILM LAB 1 : Story Development and Technical Intensive Lab

In the Story Development Lab, FDCP will be inviting directors and writers from the industry to equip the finalists with the necessary tools and information they need to create truthful and insightful narratives that will translate into inspiring films. The lab will have a talk and separate mentoring for each finalist. After the story development lab, there will be a technical intensive lab where the finalists would be taught by experts on handling technical equipment during a shoot. The experts will be talking about handling cameras and audio equipment, it will also touch the basics of film editing. With this, we are assured that the films that will be produced are of good quality and ready for screening and distribution. 

FILM LAB 2 : Pitching  Lab

This Lab focuses on how to perfectly pitch a project to different kinds of investors, which contents are the most adequate to present, what information you can’t leave out of your presentation and how to communicate your ideas and your project in the best possible way. After the lab, there will be a Pitching Session where all the shortlisted participants will pitch their projects to the Selection Committee. Ten (10) projects will be chosen as part of the Sine Kabataan Finalist.

FILM LAB 3 : Safe Filming Lab 

The Safe Filming Program is a program by the FDCP in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which outlines the principles of safe production. It focuses on the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) released by the three (3) agencies on the Health and Safety Protocols for the Conduct of Film and Audiovisual Production Shoots and Audiovisual Activities During COVID-19 Pandemic. All participants are required to undergo this lab to comply with the new normal setting ensuring a safe working environment amidst the pandemic.

FILM LAB 4 : Editing Lab

The editing lab is a one-on-one session with industry experts. The finalists will bring the rough cut of their films and will be criticised and mentored for the betterment of their project. The two day workshop ensures that there is progress with the mentored projects. After this, they will be given ample time to polish their works and will be subject to submission in preparation for the screening and awards night.

FILM FESTIVAL:

The completed film output will have its premiere during the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2022 under the Sine Kabataan category.