The Tan-ok ni Ilocano Film Festival returns to the big screen with at least six short documentary films and two narratives highlighting the diverse culture, values, and traditions of the local community.
Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc assured local artists and talents that the Ilocos Norte provincial government is committed to revitalizing the multimedia industry in a brief speech before the film screening at Robinsons Movieworld Ilocos.
In a press conference on Saturday, provincial tourism officer Aianree Raquel expressed hope that more filmmakers will be inspired to participate in the local competition and showcase their creativity to the world.
The selected entries will be shown for free at Robinsons Place Ilocos Movieworld on February 11–12 and February 18–19, beginning at 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.
In the past, at least three documentary films produced by the Ilocos Norte government during the first-ever Tan-ok ni Ilocano Online Film Festival made it to various film festivals both locally and internationally.
Among these is "Panagwawagi" (Brotherhood) by Gabb Gantala, which won first place in the Rad Fest Short Film Competition 2021, a project of Blackbox Studios founded by Carlo Alvarez.
It was also nominated for "Film of the Month" at the Viddsee Shortee Award, which is presented by Viddsee, a Singapore-based video entertainment platform that recognizes and celebrates the most-watched, shared and discussed Asian short film on Viddsee each month.
Similarly, Kevin Jay Ayson's "Ang Mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa" (The Lost Sense of Hope and Taste) was named 2nd Best Film and one of 13 short feature finalists in the 2021 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Meanwhile, Melver Ritz Gomez's "Iyallatiw" (To Transfer) has been chosen as an official entry to the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) and will be screened at the Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle in Seattle, Washington, USA.
In addition, "Iyallatiw" was chosen for the Viddsee Juree Awards in 2021.
"Panagwawagi" depicts a brotherhood capable of withstanding disparate and timeless circumstances and trying times.
"Ang Mga Nawalang Pag-asa at Panlasa" depicts the battles and struggles of Ilocano food entrepreneurs in the midst of the pandemic, while "Iyallatiw" depicts an almost extinct oral tradition in the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and how a "manglualo" (prayer leader) will pass it on to the younger generation.
In support of the local filmmakers, the Ilocos Norte government provided a seed grant of PHP50,000 for each of the entries.
