SM Cinema, in its continuing efforts to champion the advancement of film literacy in the country and to promote Philippine cinema as a vehicle for cultural identity, spearheaded project Bigshot – SM Cinema’s Search for Student Filmmakers. The project was conceptualized in 2010 after movie exhibitors including SM Cinema received a 10% reduction on amusement tax. The project was SM Cinema’s way of giving back to the film industry by means of supporting independent movies.
Bigshot, which garnered over 50 script-entries on the theme “Modern Day Heroism” from various schools nationwide, officially kicked off last December 2, 2010 with the announcement of the Top 15 student-finalists at The Podium. The said event was later followed by The Grand Announcement of the Top 3 Bigshots two weeks later on December 15, 2010 at Director’s Club and bagging the coveted top three spots are: Archie Dimaculangan of UP –Diliman for his entry “Balang Araw”, Bianca Catbagan and Jose Antonio De Rivera, both from UP – Diliman, for “Suntok sa Buwan” and Krizzie Syfu of DLSU for “Tahanan”.
SM Cinema together with The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and three of the most respected and prolific film practitioners in the country: Mr. Raymond Lee, writer-producer of award-winning films such as Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington and Anak; two-time Palanca awardee and award-winning director Mr. Mark Meily and film historian and director of Center for New Cinema Mr. Nick Deocampo screened and chose the top student film makers. As a prize for coming up with the best script-entries, the Top 3 Bigshots were awarded a generous P600,000 which aided them in producing a full-length piece.
The Top 3 Bigshots, all budding young filmmakers, have impressive film credentials under each one’s belt.
Krizzie Syfu, director of “Tahanan”, is a New York Film Academy graduate and later a DLSU alumnus where she received a University Cultural and Arts Award for Film in 2011. “Tahanan” tells the story of college student Samantha Benitez who goes on a life-changing journey to find inner peace in the company of orphaned children. Written by Krizzie Syfu, Ramon Prieto and Jason Gloria, “Tahanan” stars young actress Lauren Young as Samantha Benitez alongside veteran actor Mark Gil who plays Samantha’s father. “Tahanan” also features child stars Sabrina Man, Miguell Tafelix and Khen Aldovino, among others.
Archie Dimaculangan of the UP Film Institute is a member of the prestigious UP Cineastes’ Studio, the first student film organization in the country. Dimaculangan’s film “Balang Araw” is about a petty crime in a convenience store which escalates and weaves the lives of a call center agent, an expectant mother, a working student and a neophyte thief that ultimately examines their notion of heroism. “Balang Araw” is co-directed by Franne Cheska Ramos and Jono de Rivera with Ice Idanan as the film’s Director of Photography. The film stars actor Jao Mapa, TV actress Aleera Montalla, indie film actress Shielbert Manuel, beauty queen-turned actress Tarhata Rico and Alex Vincent Medina.
Lastly, the duo of Bianca Catbagan and Jose Antonio de Rivera, both of UP – Diliman, are prolific film competition veterans. Catbagan was a recipient of UP-Diliman’s 2010 Film Institute Excellence in Narrative Awardee while de Rivera was previously awarded the Gawad Mag-aaral by UP-Diliman’s College of Mass Communication. Their winning Bigshot movie “Suntok sa Buwan”, a drama which centers on the defining bout of two boxers—one, young and talented; the other, older albeit passionate, is co-produced by Digitank Studios. The production team of “Suntok sa Buwan”, which stars award-winning actors Daniel Fernando, Nonie Buencamino and Joem Bascon, has celebrated film director Jim Libiran on tow as its creative producer.
This January 2012, SM Cinema will officially launch the 1st Bigshot Film Festival—an event which will showcase and celebrate the final masterworks of the Top 3 Bigshots. A press conference scheduled to happen on January 17 at the SM Mall of Asia shall be followed by film screenings from January 25 to 31 at the following SM Malls: SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, SM Manila and SM Cebu.
Apart from the works of the Top 3 Bigshots, the 1st Bigshot Film Festival will also feature the masterpieces of the three Bigshot mentors: Mark Meily’s Cinemalaya 2011 entry under the Director’s Showcase entitled “Donor” (2010), a film about a desperate woman who resorts to selling her kidney so she can afford to work abroad and completely break away from poverty and her do-nothing lover; “Endo” (2007) of Raymond Lee, winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Cinemalaya 2007, is a film which tackles short-lived romances, the sick cycle of impermanent jobs and the connection between the two. Lastly, Nick De Ocampo 
examines the origin of Philippine cinema relayed through three dimensional story-telling in his Cine/Sine (2009), the country’s first full-length 3D animation documentary.
Furthermore, in its efforts to engage students and young cinephiles in supporting up-and-coming young filmmakers in the local independent film industry and to promote film literacy among the youth, students are entitled to a special discounted rate of P50.00 per ticket. Moreover, SM Cinema is coming up with a special Bigshot promo from January 1 to 31, 2012 where lucky moviegoers who purchase a Bigshot movie ticket have a chance to win exciting prizes.
To know more about the 1st Bigshot Film Festival, the Top 3 Bigshots and their respective winning films, please visit www.smcinema.com and SM Cinema’s Facebook Fan Page.
