Check out these nine original short films from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Dominating the awards was Juvy Ann Clarito from Davao de Oro, an accountancy senior getting ready for her board exams! The nine short films from the 7th Sine Kabataan Short Film Festival 2024 delivered strong voices from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as we saw the dreams of our young filmmakers on the big screen recently at the Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong. Dominating the awards was Juvy Ann Clarito from Davao de Oro, an accountancy senior getting ready for her board exams! Her film, Sa Ilalum sa Balabal sa Alitaptap (Beneath the Firefly Veil) won the awards for best short film, best director, and best cinematography. Aside from being the writer and director, she also played Joy, the lead actress of this 20-minute-film tackling land harassment and mixing it with the myth of supernatural fireflies.
“Land grabbing is happening, especially in the rural area,” says Juvy Ann. “Noon yung mga taga-bukid, madali lang sila utuin ng mga opportunistic people (Those who live in the fields, they are easily fooled by opportunistic people).” Aside from the story, Juvy Ann and her producer, Emman Clarion, wanted to showcase their hometown, the majestic Maragusan in Davao de Oro.
From Quezon province, Gio Alpuente won best screenplay for High Tide or Low Tide? “I’m gay and I am bipolar,” he confesses to the audience. “This film is a love letter to my youth.” In a homophobic commun.