NAPAKARAMING kuwento ng kabayanihan sa ating kapaligiran na hindi man lang nabibigyan ng pansin at pagkilala kahit man lang sa simpleng paraan.
Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit nabuo ang Kidlat Tahimik’s Unsung Sariling Bayani (USB) Short Film Competition.
Pormal na inilunsad ang filmfest na ito kamakailan sa pangunguna ng Film Development Council of the Philippines sa pangunguna ni Chairperson Liza Diño in partnership with the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) and the Bureau of Learner Support Services-Youth Formation Division of the Department of Education.
Siyempre, present sa naganap na virtual launch ang National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts na si Kidlat Tahimik.
“Balik tayo sa simple storytelling. I think we are all, even at a high school age, we are intelligent enough to see a positive value in somebody older or chosen as a hero who can really bring out the best in us,” sabi ng ating National Artist patungkol sa Kidlat Tahimik’s Unsung Sariling Bayani (USB) Short Film Competition.
Isinabay pa ang launching ng event sa 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan kaya sabi ng 78-year-old nating tunay na Pinoy Henyo, “I think it is very timely, itong 500 years after to let this be a catalyzer. Para sa akin, magandang catalyzer itong pang-udyok para maka-focus tayo on heroism but maybe also on redefining ‘Ano ba talaga ang heroism?”
Base sa panuntunan, tatanggap ng kahit anong short story/genre basta’t tinatalakay dito ang kuwento na nagpapakita ng kahit anong uri ng kabayanihan at may habang 5 to 8 minutes, kabilang na ang credits.
Ang USB ay may three categories: Youth Category – Senior High Student (Public School), Youth Category – Senior High Student (Private School), and Adult Category (Aged 18 and above). Ang deadline for the submission of entries ay sa Oct. 11, 2021.
The FDCP Channel will host the USB Online Film Festival from Nov. 11 to 17 at magkakaroon ng streaming ang Awards Ceremony na gaganapin sa Nov. 14.
Bukod sa festival proper, magsasagawa rin ang USB ng FDCP Film School Basic Workshops on Filmmaking at “Storming with Kidlat: Usapang Bayani Forum”.
“Sa dami ng mga bagong kuwento, I think yayaman ang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas and we, the small filmmakers, can contribute to the archives of our relevant local history,” pahayag pa ni Kidlat Tahimik.
Finalists will receive cash prizes and free access to all educational events to aid in their filmmaking process. After the competition, USB winners and finalists will get the chance to attend more free training sessions and workshops to be conducted by the FDCP.
“Through the guidance of National Artist and Father of Philippine Independent Cinema Kidlat Tahimik together with other esteemed Filipino filmmakers, I am confident that the USB finalists will take inspiration and motivation from Tatay Kidlat’s ‘bamboo camera filmmaking’ to promote the appreciation for lesser-known local heroes through short films,” sabi naman ni FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.
Ang “bamboo camera” ay naging simbolo na ng kakaibang istilo ng pagkukuwento ni Kidlat Tahimik sa loob ng napakahabang panahon.
For more information and to download the application form, visit www.fdcp.ph/sariling-bayani and for inquiries, contact Mr. Mark John Pamintuan at sarilingbayani.fdcp@gmail.com with the subject heading “Query: USB 2021.”