ToFarm Year 2 plants seeds of change

MANILA, Philippines - “In the previous (edition), we simply highlighted the trials and triumphs of our farmers. This (time), we are looking at planting the seeds of change,” replied ToFarm Film Festival project director Rommel Cunanan when asked to differentiate the film festival’s first edition, which concluded last July 20, from its next edition, which is set on July 18, 2017.

“It is something that farmers will be proud of doing their work,” he added. “(Let’s say) in a gathering and you ask them what they do (for a living), they will answer, ‘Farmer lang ako. (I’m just a farmer.)’ It is wrong (to think that way). They should be proud of what they do. We need social reforms and need attitude building.”

From that call-for-change theme comes “innovations” that people behind the one-of-a-kind filmfest look for in its final six script entries, which will get production grants amounting to P1.5M from the organizers. The deadline of submission is on Nov. 18, while the announcement of screenplay finalists is Jan. 20, 2017.     

“We wish to introduce new genres,” said Cunanan. “It is also possible to have a mix. There’s drama, a comedy portion and a little of suspense. And of course, we leave that to the creativity of our scriptwriters… The previous scripts were about the triumphs and trials of our farmers. May konting kiliti at may konting nakakatawa. If you look at the totality of (films), there was a bit of sadness and many (audiences) cried… Hopefully with this new batch of scripts, the audience will take away something cheerful and will go home happy — na maaliwalas ang kanilang napanuod. We know that Filipinos like comedy — nakakatawa. If you will notice, most of our hit films are comedy. (The story written in the comedy genre) is something (the farmers) can share with others and talk in their (small) get-together. At the end of the day, they like going to a videoke joint and have a few drinks.”

Aside from the entertainment value, Cunanan added that “we want the scripts to be a bit informative. You know the problem of farmers is, they (do not have access to) proper training. Oftentimes, when we do the rounds of 79 provinces and ask farmers who among them have attended free training on production given by the government, only five of 300 have (participated). It means the latest way of doing agriculture hasn’t reached them.”

The latest narratives should incorporate an educational aspect in them for a farmer “needs to open himself up to new visions and perspectives. He is encouraged to look for innovative approaches for farming and agriculture, fishing and animal husbandry” as shared in its official press statement. This is a way to plant the seeds of change as the battle cry of ToFarm 2017.    

Charo Santos-Concio as the titular character Lav Diaz’s Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left)

Will the ToFarm Film Festival committee open a documentary category in the future to educate farmers more about issues and solutions unique to their industry?Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.”

Meanwhile, entries (such as Free Range, Pilapil, Paglipay, Pauwi Na, Kakampi and Pitong Kabang Palay) of the first ToFarm will have screenings in Cebu from Sept. 14 to 20 and Davao next month.

(All interested amateur and professional writers, students, hobbyists, farmers and media practitioners are encouraged to join the full-length feature screenplay competition. They must submit the requirements on or before 5 p.m. of Nov. 18 to the ToFarm Secretariat Office, 10th floor of Harvester Corporate Center, 158 P. Tuazon cor. 7th and 8th Ave. Cubao, Quezon City. The form is available at www.TOFARM.org. For details, call 709-5001 to 02 or 0915-2614372, e-mail at [email protected] or log on to www.tofarm.org.)