The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Oscar M. Lopez Center launched the 2021 Klima Film Festival (KFF) on Friday, October 29. The KFF competition is open to Filipino youth interested in telling climate stories from their perspective.

First launched in 2020, the KFF is a filmmaking competition that aims to increase awareness and understanding of climate change among the Filipino youth. For 2021, the KFF theme is “Adapting for a Sustainable Future: Stepping Up Local Climate Action in a Post-Pandemic World”, highlighting the importance of local climate action and proactive measures that could build and support sustainable communities. 

In welcoming participants, CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman referred to the youth as a source of inspiration and hope for the nation especially during difficult times, and urged them to “make a world of difference in building a healthier, safer and more secure future for all Filipinos”. 

Jerome Pineda of Aquarian Eye Media, which produced KFF 2020’s Best Film “Our World”, looked back on their journey last year, sharing how the film festival encouraged him in filmmaking despite personal hesitations and restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Eligibility

Interested participants shall form a team with a maximum of ten (10) members, including actors. Eighty (80%) percent of the team must be between 16 (born in the year 2005) to 25 years old (born in the year 1996). The remaining twenty percent (20%) can be of age 26-30 years old to play acting roles.

Participants must submit proof of age (any government-issued ID with photo). For those below 18 years old, a school ID (AY 2019-2020) with birth certificate will suffice. Each team member below 18 years old should submit a consent form signed originally by a parent or legal guardian. 

Participants are also expected to submit their synopsis and their team information through the official registration of the KFF which can be accessed through this link https://bit.ly/KFF2021TeamRegistration. All entries must adhere to the theme, must be originally made, and may be in any Philippine dialect, but must have English subtitles.

Present during the launch were Mary Liza B. Diño of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and Butch Ibañez of the National Committee on Cinema of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Ibañez, vice head of the National Committee on Cinema of NCCA, shared his message of support to the participants, hopeful that the films to be helmed by the youth can inspire action. Diño, chairperson of the FDCP, explained to the participants that “Great films can change other people’s perspectives, attitudes towards things”. “Putting the film cameras in young hands affords us points of view that we most likely have been missing,” she added, expressing eagerness with what the youth can achieve through KFF 2021. 

The Klima Film Festival Secretariat also awarded certificates of recognition to the 18 youth partners of KFF 2020 during the launch. Wendell John Ramos of the Environment and Climate Change Division of the Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management delivered an acceptance speech on behalf of the youth partners, expressing anticipation for the entries in this years’ KFF.

Dr. Rodel Lasco, executive director of the OML Center, closed the digital launch, reminding the youth that they will inherit the planetary climate and the importance of their voice in the climate conversation.

To sign up or learn more about the competition and the mechanics, visit the CCC’s website.

Watch a recording of the launch via our Facebook page.