Photo courtesy of PNA
Ilocos Norte is moving to strengthen its position as a film tourism destination as local filmmakers take the spotlight in the ongoing Lawag Ilocos Norte Film Festival.
Provincial tourism officer Aianree Raquel said the screening of entries at Robinsons Ilocos Movieworld gave Ilocano filmmakers a stronger venue to present their work and reach a wider audience.
Raquel said the province had long aimed to establish its own film festival while reinforcing Ilocos Norte’s role in Philippine cinema, noting that many previous productions shot in the province were created by filmmakers from outside the locality.
He said organizers were also studying ways to bring more screenings to commercial venues and connect local films with producers who could help expand their market.
The provincial government was preparing the next stage of its film tourism program under Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, with a Film Tourism and Media Incentives Conference set on July 10 to bring together local stakeholders and guests from the film industry.
Festival director Gabb Gantala said Ilocano culture offers rich stories that deserve to be highlighted on screen, especially through films that reflect the province’s identity, heritage and creative voice.
The first Lawag competition features narrative, documentary and student film entries from local filmmakers, including works by Edsel Harry Turda, Melver Ritz Gomez, Joseph Ansino, Benedict Jay Collado, Kim Angela Santos, Ryand Ugalde, Jhayzen Parañal, Clark Duldulao, Romel Pascua, Maurice Kim Camillon and Leizel Gantala.
The festival is supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines and JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel. In 2012, the provincial government created its Media Incentive Desk to promote Ilocos Norte’s landscapes and communities as film locations that could help generate tourism and business opportunities for residents.