• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod City is advancing its campaign to be a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City for film, with the Bacolod Film Festival (BFF) 2025 serving as a major showcase of its creative economy.
The centerpiece of this initiative is the release of eight locally produced short films funded by the BFF, which will be screened at two major cinemas from November 27 to 29.
Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions head Dr. Frances Mae Ferrer-Llamas confirmed on Monday that the festival aims to highlight the wealth of homegrown filmmaking talent.
“We are prospectively hoping to be able to work on this in time for the 2027 call for application/nomination for creative cities,” Llamas said.
The BFF 2025 will be officially launched at Ayala Malls on November 27 while the Awards Night, is scheduled for November 29 at SM Cinema 1, with participants expected to vie for 5 major awards.
The eight competing films are organized into two screening packages, Set A and Set B, with tickets priced at P200 per set.
She said that the proceeds of the ticket sales will go directly to the BFF Trust Fund.
“Becoming a UNESCO creative city enhances our global reputation, increases investment opportunities in this industry and raises the standards of business practices and talents in the film industry,” she added.
Llamas stated that if Bacolod is recognized as a Creative City, the benefits include increased tourism and the creation of new job opportunities.
Beyond the economic impact, it will elevate the city’s status as a global hub for filmmakers and creatives, fostering immense civic pride among Bacolodnons while showcasing local narratives, heritage, and culture to impact global change.
“We leveled up our Bacolod Film Festival because we are giving them the opportunity to be mainstream in the cinemas, and we’re actually connecting them to filmmakers,” she added.*
