Organizers of the Three Shots Film Festival revealed the finalists to its new and unique competition.

Media Underground or MUD Studios challenged students 16 to 25 years old to make a short film – fiction, documentary, or animation – using only three shots and three cuts for a story composed of a beginning, middle and end, with a minimum running time of one minute and a maximum of 15 minutes.

Making it to the Top 20 are Cedric Dalangin (“Sa Tanan Nga Adlaw”), Calvin Ponteblanca (“Feelingerong Feline”) and John Thomas Trinidad (“Boom Tiyaya”) from University of the Philippines-Diliman; Mark Wilson S. Catindig (“Ip-”) and Christine Anne C. Crisostomo (“Kabtang”), Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila; Lyka Calingasan (“Lamang Lupa”) and Janina Cortez (“4:00 p.m.”), De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde; Angelo P. Gillo (“Ninong, Enge Arep”) and Mark Jhon Villanueva (“Living”), University of the East-Caloocan; and Rainner S. Cion (“Sakaling Makalipad”), Far Eastern University-Manila.

Mark Wilson S. Catindig “Ip-”

Christine Anne C. Crisostomo “Kabtang”

Rainner S. Cion “Sakaling Makalipad”

Completing the list are Jhody Alessandra Sacramento (“Laruan”), St. Dominic College of Asia; Jermaine Tulbo (“Bulawan”), Meridian International College; Ma. Aizil Blues Turen (“Alpas”), San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Manila; Peter Solano (“Do or Die”), Universidad de Manila; Alyssa Maxine B. Balayo (“Nilaga”), University of Santo Tomas; Faith Carisa Lacanlale (“Bagito”), UP Baguio; Francis Lester S. Lacambra (“Per Kilo”), Gordon College, Olongapo City; Francis Ryan Basa Pabiania (“Paghibi sang Langit”), Silliman University, Dumaguete; Preanne Nicole Parojinog (“Kalat”), Malayan Colleges Mindanao, A Mapúa School, Davao; and Dominic Howell Dumogho (“Sumalangit Nawa”), Father Saturnino Urios University, Butuan City.

Jhody Alessandra Sacramento “Laruan”

MUD Studios founder and director August Lyle Espino was inspired by a workshop he attended a few years ago, “where they were challenged to think outside of the box and create an even shorter version compared to what was usually required for a short film.”

“Lumalabas ang pagka-artist mo pag nali-limit ka. Doon ka mag-iisip,” Espino shared, talking about his experience from the said workshop. “Now is the best time to create art,” he added.

The 3SF festival finalists will be available for viewing on MUD’s website (https://www.mud-studios.net/) from November 5 to 11. The site is “an alternative content platform that offers a catalog of independent films, festival entries, and original content dealing with a wide variety of real-life themes.”

Awarding ceremonies will be held on November 12, 8 p.m. The Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Cinematography winners will receive cash prizes and plaques of recognition. The festival will also hand out a People’s Choice award.

Kase Lens PH will award a four-lens kit worth 12,000 pesos, including a travel case bag, 7.5mm fisheye lens, 16mm wide-angle lens, 25mm macro lens, 65mm telephoto lens, two clip mounts, and cleaning cloth, as a special prize. Three pieces Selens Redhead lights with light stand kit also await the winners.

Prior to the competition, 3SF organizers conducted a Creative Visioning Workshop last September 30, with Espino and fellow filmmakers Arvin Belarmino, Tristan Cua, and Mina Cruz as speakers.

The 3SF festival jury is made up of Belarmino, Cua, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and Peter Mackie.