Film festival in the name of health

Not all film festivals are created in the same mold. Some are just more deserving of your attention either because of their reputation or the noble cause they promote. Such is the distinction that best describes the First Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health, a nationwide documentary, experimental and short narrative filmmaking contest that seeks to open your eyes on the sad plight of the local health industry.

In a country where health facilities are ill-equipped and undermanned, where doctors study nursing to hunt for better jobs abroad, and where the doctor-patient ratio is 1:26,000 (the ideal is 1:6,000), prospects are grim for the ordinary citizen. As a response to the alarming health situation, the Mu Sigma Phi Medical Fraternity and the Health Futures Foundation, Inc., together with the Ayala Business Club, the Ayala Young Leaders, the Department of Health, the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and sponsored by Kenny Rogers Roasters and Studio Graphics, have collaborated on this project to reach and empower millions of Filipinos.

The film festival with the theme Malayo sa Bituka... (Far From the Guts) will feature outstanding works of amateur and professional filmmakers around the world. The theme invites an appraisal of Filipinos’ attitude towards health; and an in-depth examination of the complex factors that affect this attitude. 

The filmfest gathers documentaries, short narratives and experimental films that depict the health situation in our country using different creative and social viewpoints. It also celebrates the efforts of the Health Department and other nationalistic doctors and institutions, their triumphs  and  strategies they have devised to deal with the problems we encounter.

The film festival is a departure from the conventional approach of discussing health issues. Through the film festival, the organizers would like to present how the disease affects the individual, his family, his community, and how environmental, social, cultural and even political factors play a role in health. All these employ a creative treatment using a very effective and popular medium: Film.

It must be emphasized that the film festival is not just a contest, but a crusade for better health awareness for all. As soon as the film festival is concluded, films and documentaries will be compiled in video libraries all over the country, creating a network of resource centers, available for all.

The grand prize of P100,000 will be awarded to the top film. For Best in Documentary, Best in Short Narrative and Best in Experimental Film, prizes are P50,000 each. Each of the awardees will also get a trophy. Minor awards such as Best Script, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Direction will also be given away. The trophy is designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

Screening of entries will be held at the Cine Adarna in UP Diliman from Feb. 18 to 20, 5 to 9 p.m. You may get your free tickets at the venue. For seat reservations, call or text 0917-4917179, 0905-4289036, 0927-6991147 or e-mail at [email protected].

Winners will be awarded at the Philam Life Auditorium along U.N. Ave. on Feb 21, 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Apart from making an impact in the local shores, the Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health is proving to be a vital link of health advocacy to other countries as well. This early, the message of the festival has reached film enthusiasts from China, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Minnesota and Canada. Some filmmakers have already sent entries as guest presentation.

The film festival was named after two martyrs of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine: Dr. Quisumbing and Dr. Escandor.

Dr. Quisumbing (Batch 1945) manifested his gallantry when he continued to serve in the Philippine General Hospital during World War II even though most of his colleagues have fled the area. Dr. Escandor (Batch 1969), on the other hand, served as a barrio doctor during martial law and was accused of being a rebel-sympathizer. Both were killed in the line of duty. They both exemplified the ideals of the medical profession, which is to serve in the name of duty. Both are heroes.