ILOILO CITY – A film festival dubbed Cine Enkanto not only celebrated local folklore and supernatural stories but also indie filmmaking in Iloilo.

“It’s been sort of an impossible dream, but I wish that all Ilonggo filmmakers and Ilonggo storytellers will get to achieve what they want to achieve without the help from Manila,” said Raymund “Munding” Salao,  festival director.

ILOILO City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon watched the screening for Cine Enkanto at UPV Cinematheque at UP Visayas.  (Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon Facebook page)

Salao sought more support from the grassroots level to recognize the talents of Ilonggo filmmakers and storytellers.

Cine Engkanto from Nov. 8 to 9 featured eight Ilonggo films and was organized by Apassa Projects in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Visayas, particularly the Office of Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA), the Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS), and the UPV Cinematheque.

“Not only are we providing venue to encourage and support filmmakers, but we highly value films in reaching more people beyond the academe,” said Assistant Prof. Anthea Redison, CWVS director.

Films screened were Salao’s Animo, Ang Tinuga sa Espejo, and Liwat, Hila(U)was by Dennis Hubag; Amiel: Modern Surwan by Jayson Amiel Cineta; Taglugar by Vincent Montaño; Baylo by Ramjun Clemente Valasote, and Bilog ang Bulan by Tin Velasco.

The weekend film festival was backed by Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon who also watched the  featured films.