Although far from the country's hub of Metro Manila, the local government of Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte in northwestern Mindanao, rolled out the red-carpet for filmmakers, cultural officers, local government officials, and guests in their Filipiniana finery. It could rival any major film event, complete with media interviews, merchandise at the lobby, a sumptuous dinner, celebrity hosts Ricky Davao and Ana Feleo, and a program with good production values.

The 9 September event that transformed the drab Dapitan City Cultural Sports Complex into a glittering venue marked the start of Cinemalaya 18 in Dapitan: Festival of Winners, which opened with 2022 Cinemalaya: The Philippine Independent Film Best Films, The Baseball Player, directed by Carlo Obispo, in the full-length category; and Black Rainbow, directed by Zig Dulay, in the short category.

Also screened at the festival, which ran from 9 to 13 September, were full-length films including NETPAC Jury Prize winner 12 Weeks, directed by Anna Isabelle Matutina; Blue Room, which won Best Direction for Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan aside from other awards; and Audience Choice Award winner Kargo, directed by TM Malones; as well as short films "Dikit," which won for Gabriela Serrano Best Direction and Special Jury Prize; and Audience Choice Award "Mga Handum Nga Nasulat sa Baras," directed by Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico.

Several short films were screened by the Dapitan Heritage and Arts Council, led by its president, singer and former TV host Svetlana Jalosjos-De Leon. Those were Raz de la Torre's Kwits, Xeph Suarez's City of Flowers, and Mark Moneda's See You, George. Leonor Will Never Dies, written and directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar, which won the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and which opened this year's Cinemalaya. Iska, which won Best Screenplay for Mary Rose Colindres at the 2019 Cinemalaya and was directed by Theodore Boborol, who hails from Dapitan, was chosen as the closing film.

The screenings were held at the first movie theater in Zamboanga del Norte, the Teatro de Dapitan, with its two 238-seater cinema houses, inside the Thea Mall, which was wrapped with gigantic event tarpaulins for the occasion.

The Dapitan screenings added more significance to one of the most prestigious and beloved film festivals in the country, which returned to onsite screenings at the Cultural Center of the Philippines this year, from 5 to 14 August, after two years of lockdowns and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Still the 'biggest and most influential'

Tess Rances, Cinemalaya deputy festival director, reminisced about the film festival's humble beginnings and journey.

"The Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. and the CCP launched the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival in 2005 as a response to the crisis in the film industry besieged by decreasing production rate, low quality content, piracy, dwindling audience, and the lack of support from the government," she related.

"Back then, we took a risk. When we were conceptualizing the film festival, we didn't have a template to follow, we had no idea how to go about it, but we had a strong vision, a determined passion to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. We aimed to invigorate the Philippine film industry by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers."

The first festival had only nine full-length films and six short films in competition, and about 20 films in exhibition. A total of 8,000 people watched the films for the five days.

"After 18 years, Cinemalaya continues to be the biggest and most influential independent film festival in the country. We have screened an estimated 2,500 films
— both full-length and shorts — in competition and exhibition, and we have supported and nurtured a total of 2,593 filmmakers in these 18 years," she boasted.

Rances told an anecdote about a viewer who travel all the way from Kidapawan City to CCP every year for Cinemalaya and hoped that the festival will pave the way for the next great film artists of the country. Now, the Cinemalaya experience is being brought to different parts of the county.

Future 'heritage and arts destination'

Chris Millado, Cinemalaya festival director who recently retired from his position as CCP vice president and artistic director, praised the preparations for the event despite being planned for a very short time, saying Dapitan "is more than ready for these kinds of events."

Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos said that it was apt that the city is spearheading the film event. He added that cinema aims to enlighten and awaken just like Dr. Jose Rizal, who was exiled in the city, for exposing Spanish oppression through his writings.

Dapitan is where Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled by the Spanish colonial government from 1892 to 1896 because of his criticism on Spanish rule. Jaloslos said they are very honored and proud to have this badge of historic significance, but envisions more for the city. He dreams of creating a film commission and making Dapitan a "destination hub for content creators, film directors, filmmakers" among others
An aspiring filmmaker himself, the mayor comes from a prominent political powerhouse in the province, which is also involved in the entertainment industry. One of their companies produces Eat Bulaga!, the longest running variety show in the country.

Jalosjos said that Dapitan has all the ingredients thst make it an ideal set location for films and videos, and the proposed film commission can assists creators especially in coordinating and making arrangements around the city as well as in the province, especially now that their aunt, Rosalina "Nene" Jalosjos, is the governor. He is also thinking of establishment a film school in the city, as well as creating a local talent pool and equipment for rent for filming needs.

He and sister Svetlana, who also works with the family-owned Dakak Park and Beach Resort, are set to bolster Dapitan City as a heritage and arts destination. They said that the film tourism that the latest endeavor may engender will promote not only Dapitan City but also the island of Mindanao in general.