RIYADH: Filipino film lovers in Saudi Arabia are being invited to enter a short film contest to capture the lives and experiences of Filipino expatriates living in the central region of the Kingdom. “Dokumentary 2010: Ang Pinoy sa Riyadh”, which is being held by Riyadh-based advocacy groups Patnubay and Juan! with film company Sine Caboloan, requires entrants of between 13 and 85 years of age to submit individual or group-made films of 10 to 13 minutes in length. The closing date for submissions is Jan. 15. “We wish to motivate and inspire aspiring as well as experienced video artists and filmmakers to dissect how we Filipinos go about our daily lives as guest workers and residents of Riyadh,” organizers said. “We want to showcase the ideas, stories, experiences and technical skills of the Filipino community in Riyadh.” Chris Gozum of Sine Caboloan - an independent film company “committed to producing cutting edge digital films about the Pangasinan region and its people in the homeland and in the diaspora” – said that anyone is welcome to enter the contest, whether amateurs or professionals. Gozum himself is an award-winning filmmaker, his work having received four accolades at the Cine Manila Film Festival, including the Digital Lokal Lino Brocka Grand Prize and the 2009 Best Director Award. “We hope that the competition will spur the passion and curiosity of the filmmakers taking part towards the people around them, particularly their fellow Filipinos,” he said. Contestants can register for the competition online at www.dokumentary.patnubay.com, a website to “guide Filipino youths to become future leaders of the Philippines” and which informs overseas workers of Saudi laws in Arabia and other host countries. Entrants are permitted to use any form of amateur and professional video equipment, from mobile phone cameras, surveillance and security cameras, and webcams, to professional film industry cameras, and those new to video documentary may also request video editing assistance, with photographers and videographers from the United Media International Foundation in Riyadh on standby to assist. Participants are advised to obtain official permission to shoot at certain locations and to be aware of restricted areas.
