After two decades of celebrating Philippine independent filmmaking, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation Inc. call for entries to the Short Film Category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2024. The deadline for submissions is on or before 6 p.m. on 8 March.

This category of the country’s biggest independent film competition is open to all Filipino filmmakers. Interested participants may submit a maximum of three entries but only one entry per proponent may be considered as a finalist. Submitted entries must have been produced from 3 March 2023 to 8 March 2024. Short film entries that participated in other local and international festivals and competitions are qualified to join. However, if an entry is submitted and is selected as a finalist in both the Cinemalaya and Gawad Alternatibo, the said entry will automatically be removed from the Gawad Alternatibo lineup, in favor of Cinemalaya.

Entries may be submitted online or offline. For online application, submit all requirements through https://forms.gle/gb4csK1rcDqFwnhs7. Requirements include a duly completed entry form, synopsis in English, a brief resume with two-by-two-inch photo/s of the filmmaker/s, and the final work in MP4 format, with violator/watermark (for screening purposes only) and properly labeled with title, production company, address and contact numbers, production date, director’s name, running time which should not exceed 20 minutes including credits.

For offline submission, send entries to the Film, Broadcast and New Media Division office, located at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Annex Building, Vicente Sotto Street, Pasay City. Film entry must be submitted on a thumb drive (USB), with the entry form, synopsis and filmmaker’s profile. All must be submitted in a long brown envelope properly labeled with the proponent’s name, title of the film and contact details.

The Cinemalaya Selection Committee will shortlist 10 film finalists which will be screened at the 2024 Cinemalaya festival from 2 to 11 August and will have the chance to compete for the coveted Balanghai trophies.

Since 2005, Cinemalaya has been committed to the development and promotion of Philippine independent film. At its core, it provides an avenue for the production of cinematic works of Filipino independent filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. With its call for submissions for the 2024 short film competition, Cinemalaya continues to invigorate the Philippine film industry by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers.