MMSU student filmmakers win 13 awards at DAR Region 1 film festival

Student filmmakers from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) brought home 13 awards and six nominations at the PelikulAgraryo: Department of Agrarian Reform Central and Regional Film Festival held October 2 at Pangasinan State University-Santa Maria Campus.

The MMSU entries came from two teams: Arapaap Creatives of the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy and Tignay Productions of the Department of Communication under the College of Arts and Sciences.

Arapaap Creatives won Best Film in the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) category for its short film “47 Hectares Away,” which was inspired by the story of Ruffino Bacong, an agrarian reform beneficiary from Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte.

The film also received awards for Best Teaser, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Screenplay and Best Director for Gniro Vinz Pablo.

It was nominated for Best Poster, Best Actor for Paul Joshua Taasan, and Best Actress for Precious Elysha Tabangcura and Vie Santiago.

Meanwhile, Tignay Productions won Best Film in the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) category for “Pasado,” based on the story of a member of the Camguidan Multi Purpose Cooperative in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

“Pasado” also won Best Teaser, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Actor for Christian James Garcia, Best Actress for Andrea Lheiye Cabinan, and Best Director for Joseph Asino.

The film received additional nominations for Best Poster, Best Editing and Best Actress for Chloey Madarang.

The second edition of PelikulAgraryo carried the theme “Ubra ken Obra: Aldaw ti Pammadayaw,” highlighting the experiences of agrarian reform beneficiaries and organizations while encouraging youth participation through filmmaking.

The regional competition drew nine schools and 14 teams. “47 Hectares Away” topped eight other entries in the ARB category, while “Pasado” emerged over four other entries in the ARBO category.

Both films will represent DAR Region 1 in the national leg of PelikulAgraryo.