BAGUIO CITY – The 1st Montanosa Film Festival (MFF) will held in an outdoor cinema at the Loakan Airport Drive-in and Burnham Lake here from March 20 to 28.

Ten short films will compete in the MFF out from 25 film proposals – 10,000 Errors, 14 Days, Duron, Igem ni Nanang, Pukis, Panaginip, Pangsasan, The Highest Point, The Scaffold Farmer, and This Day.
The MFF celebrates independent filmmaking and highlighs the world's vast array of cultures and experiences all of which have evolved throughout the history.
Festival Director Ferdie Balanag, an independent and internationally awarded filmmaker, said MFF will present its international film categories, the Euro Cine and Cine Asya, with the theme “Crossing Borders.”
“For the inaugural staging of the Montanosa Film Festival, I decided to explore new normal methods of staging an event making sure that it conforms to health and safety protocols,” Balanag said.
He said that due to the pandemic, the 10 films will also be shown in several venues aside from the two outdoor locations.
Balanag said that while the cinemas are outdoors, the public is asked to pre-register for a limited slot.
The opening gala on March 20 will feature an exclusive screening of National Artist Kidlat Tahimik’s film “Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III,” and will be graced by performances from Ballet Baguio and Timpuyog Ti Gangsa at the Baguio Convention Center.
Also on March 20 and 21, the MFF, in collaboration with the City Environment and Parks Management Office, will offer screenings of the MFF’s TBA Studios Collection of films at the Rose Garden, in addition to screenings of French children’s film “Kirikou et la Sorcière” (Kirikou and the Sorceress).”
Films shown at Burnham Lake on March 27 to 28 will be projected from the observation deck with boats allowing a limited number of viewers to enjoy the films while observing social distancing.
The MFF is an official city event supported by Executive Order No. 6, Series of 2021 issued by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, which designates March 20-28 as MFF Week.