FILMS by iACADEMY animation graduates and a faculty were shortlisted in the Cinema Rehiyon ’14, the flagship project of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts’ National Committee on Cinema.

Alumni Max Lubansky and Adelaide Go and iACADEMY’s Dean of School of Design and the Arts Jon Cuyson join the official list with films Until I Forget (2021) and Ang Panaginip ni Nanay Cleo (2021).

Cuyson’s Ang Panaginip ni Nanay Cleo tells the story of Nanay Cleo, a half-blind Babaylan or a pre-colonial Filipino shaman, who after seeing a vision of her seafarer son in danger, summons her ancient power to try and save him. Featuring the multi-awarded veteran Filipino actress Irma Adlawan in the lead role of Nanay Cleo, the experimental short film dramatizes the internalized emotional and psychological anxieties experienced by families separated by economic challenges.

“The films in this year’s festival prove that creativity along with persistence can outshine the limitations and challenges. I’m very happy to be in such a good company of filmmakers in Cinema Rehiyon 14, including our very own Game Changers from iACADEMY,” Jon Cuyson said.

Meanwhile, Lubansky and Go’s Until I Forget portrays the challenges and experiences of a college student dealing with loneliness and isolation due to a pandemic. Drawing inspirations from real-life experiences, the filmmakers took the opportunity to create a material that would resonate with others and help them understand their emotions.

“We were mostly inspired by witnessing how our peers and ourselves were affected by the early days of the pandemic. Our hearts especially went out to those who lived alone and ended up experiencing severe loneliness, like our main character Alice. While we all process feelings of loneliness differently, we hope that with our interpretation, viewers can still find themselves sympathizing with our film,” they shared.

Cinema Rehiyon ’14 aims to promote films that tell stories rooted in the culture of the regions.

In its second year holding virtual film festivals from Vimeo on Demand, the month-long event will provide an opportunity for regional filmmakers both amateurs and professionals to expand their networks and exhibit their films to a wider audience.

Cinema Rehiyon will run its 14th iteration from 25 February to 31 March, 2022 in Davao City, and nationwide through online video-on-demand platforms. It will follow the overall theme of the National Arts Month “Sining ng Pag-asa”, with special emphasis on Films with Social Commentary.

The project aims to present the best of more recent regional films coming from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and NCR, with online talkbacks and forums dealing with the same concerns.