Talisay City has officially launched its inaugural TaliSine Short Film Festival, establishing a new platform for student filmmaking and local storytelling in Negros Occidental.
The festival kicked off last August 17 at Don Simplicio Lizares National High School with the program “Pamukaw: Handuraw sang Kultura kag Istorya,” organized by the DepEd Schools Division Office, the TaliSine Festival Organizing Committee, and local government offices.
The event was formally opened by Asst. City Administrator Ismael Penado on behalf of Mayor Rowena Guadalupe Lopez-Lizares, with DepEd OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jen-Ann V. Rosal, City Councillor Martin Gerard C. Lizares, and festival director Jonathan Jurilla.
Jurilla, who is also a filmmaker and UP Visayas Associate Professor, said, “This event is only the beginning. Seeing the positive response from Talisaynons and witnessing young students with no previous experience in filmmaking create and produce their own stories, then seeing audiences resonate with them, has been truly heartwarming. I’m fully motivated to push this event as an annual tradition, and I hope that, in the future, we can also welcome filmmakers from outside Talisay to join us.”
Following a cultural performance by the Salinlahi Dance Troupe, the festival showcased nine films exploring family, identity, culture, resilience, and youth experiences, namely “Bitso-Bitso” by director Camerone Jean G. Realubit and from producer Ma. Yolanda Diongon; “Dabo-Dabo” by Julia Joy Treyes and from Ma. Nadeil Rivera and Kevin John B. Lamio; “Dutan-on” by Rijannah Louisse A. Kubota and from Sir Kirk Joy B. Padios; “Limbong” by Rei Edriane Amihan and from Patricia Mae T. Tingson; “Padayon” by Cheslene Rae Valdevieso and from Diana Jean Perez; “Palapak” by Thea Megan Capili and from Ms. Maribel Lastrado; “Panublion” by Reuben James Bolo and from Ralph Vincent Garbanzos; “Sincerely, Dos Hermanas” by Sophia Mae T. Dela Cruz and from Kezandra D. Gentelizo; and “TaGu (Tanum nga Gugma)” by Franco Amier Piz and from Ma. Jessadel S. Quinoñes.
Rather than confining screenings to a single venue, TaliSine operated as a citywide short film caravan from August 17 to 24. Local high school spaces were transformed into temporary cinemas with daily morning and afternoon sessions to reach students directly.
Participating schools included Don Simplicio Lizares National High School, Dr. Antonio A. Lizares Memorial High School, Efegenio Lizares National High School, Inocencio V. Ferrer Memorial School of Fisheries, Colegio San Nicolas de Tolentino – Recoletos, Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School, and Notre Dame Talisay.
Each screening featured talkback sessions where student directors, cast, and crew interacted with their peers to share their creative journeys and advocate for storytelling.
The foundation for the films was laid in a May 12-14 workshop where students received training from industry practitioners, including Jurilla, visual artist Tey Sevilleno, theater artist Mary Jane Quilisadio, production designer Kathryn Baynosa, and cinematographer Aldwin Juson.
Entries are being evaluated by a jury composed of Helen Arguelles-Cutillar, tourism/cultural development advocate and Festival Director of Sagay City’s Margaha Film Festival; Leonard Ian Billones, filmmaker, screenwriter, and contributor to regional and national film projects; and Daniel de la Cruz, award-winning Ilonggo filmmaker and founder of BDABDA Studios.
The festival will culminate at the TaliSine 2026 Awards Night on September 4, 7 p.m. at the Talisay City Public Plaza, where the top student filmmakers will be recognized.
