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| (Image Source: Philippine Online Student Tambayan/iAcademy Ground Glass Festival) |
iAcademy's School of Design and the Arts helmed the second edition of the Ground Glass Film Festival as part of its Soda Week, a weeklong celebration of talks, screenings and events. Inspired by the excellent continued output of the students amidst the global pandemic, the iAcademy Ground Glass Film Festival is a celebration of their creativity and enables them to enjoy a festive experience even in the safe comfort of their own homes.
“It’s inspiring to see how clever and resourceful these young filmmakers have been despite the safety limitations in filming. As a practitioner, it puts wind in your sails to witness the next generation of filmmakers show their grit and determination in continuing to create," said Festival Director Keith Sicat. The name of the festival is based on the "ground glass" element in a camera that aids in focus. Sicat explained, “The name is meant to provide historical context for the young filmmakers. The students are a part of this artistic continuum of capturing images.”
The participating entries in the said festival were judged and analyzed by an esteemed panel comprising of acclaimed filmmakers Rae Red ("Birdshot", "Babae At Baril"), Ice Idanan ("Sakaling Hindi Makarating"), and Dodo Dayao ("Violator", "Midnight In A Perfect World"). Sicat expounded, “What’s great is that they each are coming at film from a different route. Having these jurors come at the practice of filmmaking from these unique starting points can show the spectrum of possibilities to the students as they prepare to navigate these cinematic waters.” The festival culminated in an awarding ceremony held last September 25, 2021 following a Masterclass Workshop with the festival jurors.
With the help of iAcademy's Nexus Gallery, School of Design and the Arts Dean Jon Cuyson and fellow filmmaker and educator Hector Calma (who is also behind the independent cinema venue Cinema Centenario and the online streaming platform MOOV), the Ground Glass Film Festival is a testament to the strength of spirit of the next generation of young filmmakers.
