MAKATI-based iACADEMY will hold its first online film festival that will showcase entries created by students during the lockdown.

The Ground Glass Film Festival 2020 will run from September 21-25, 2020 at the online Nexus Gallery of iAcademy.

The jury includes Raymond Red, the only Filipino who won the prestigious Palme d’Or from Cannes Film Festival for his short film “Anino,” two-time URIAN short film and best picture winner Sari Dalena, National Artist and recent film maker Nick Joaquin, and award-winning filmmaker John Torres.

Students are invited to submit their entries inspired and made during the lockdown period. It can be a narrative, documentary, experimental, animated film or in hybrid form.

“At this challenging time, we are compelled to create a platform for our students where they can best express themselves and their sentiments on our current situation. This film festival is also an opportunity for them to see their works in a festival-type environment under the guidance and mentorship of Filipino film icons,” said Jon Cuyson, Dean of iACADEMY’s School of Design and Arts and Chairperson of the Film and Visual Arts program.

Festival Director Keith Sicat said “it was amazing to see how these students were not just able to cope with the sudden life-changing shift during the lockdown, but muster up the energy to create.”

“As a practitioner, it’s humbling to see these students’ ability to unleash their creativity despite what the world is going through,” she added.

Taking its cue from online screenings, the Ground Glass Film Festival 2020 will be a part of iACADEMY’s annual SODA or School of Design and Arts Week, where the school creates exciting online activities for the Multimedia Arts, Animation, Fashion, and Film programs.

SODA Week 2020 is “part of the school’s efforts to continue educating and engaging our diverse students’ interests with online activities,” Cuyson said.

“This is the kind of platform that we give to our students where they can showcase their creativity and talent, and be truly exposed to the ins and outs of the creative industry. Our students have been participating in local and international competitions to showcase their amazing works, and this event is another opportunity for them to highlight these achievements,” Vanessa Tanco, iACADEMY’s President and CEO said.

The SODA Week will also host lectures and screenings to expose and educate participants on current issues and trends in the world of film, fashion, animation and multimedia arts.

The Nexus Virtual Gallery will also feature interdisciplinary artist Dex Fernandez’s work, Nexus Gallery Online Talks which is a podcast-style series of interviews with industry professionals, local and international artists, and experts, Animation Film Festival, and MMA Hacks — a live workshop style event about industry shortcuts.

iACADEMY is a school known for its specialized programs in computing, business, and design.