Globe Studios, the original content production arm of Globe Telecom, recognized and awarded bright, young Filipino talents in its recently concluded Globe Independent Film Festival (GIFF).

Launched towards the end of 2016, GIFF is the first ever online film festival that changed the landscape of independent film fests. GIFF maximized the online platform to rally amateur filmmakers to share quality films and reach a wider audience.

“When we started GIFF, we really wanted to do a different type of film festival. Something that is more fun, friendly, and most importantly, inclusive. We also aimed to make it more accessible and cost-effective for our audience as it is free and can be seen whenever, right on their devices,” said Quark Henares, Director of Globe Studios.

GIFF accepted over 200 hundred entries for 6 major categories: Documentary, Experimental, Animation, Webisodes, Narrative, and Music Video. Each winner per category brought home up to P200,000.

The first ever GIFF winners are as follows:

DOCUMENTARY

1st: Nothing Too Supreme by Felman Jay Jr. Hernandez

2nd: Pelikula Ni Rey by Dino Placino

3rd: Panginabuhi Namo, Sa Kaong Na Giluto by Romel Lozada, Tatiano Molarto, and Jori Mae Samillano

EXPERIMENTAL

1st: Isda by Mark Glenn Doroja

2nd: Penafrancia by Gab Mesina

3rd: Girl Magazine by Anna Meer

ANIMATION

1st: Lakas Ng Lahi by Arnold Arre, Emil Flores

2nd: The Well by Juan Alcazaren

3rd: Momo by Avid Liongoren

WEBISODES

1st: Dota Dad by Karlo Policarpio

2nd: Bilucao Warriors IV by Gariendo Encarnacion, Jr.

3rd: Hugot Sword by Karlo Policarpio

NARRATIVE

1st: All Your Algorithms by Alec Figuracion

2nd: TransParent by Adel Clemente

3rd: The Harvest by Brian Patrick Lim

MUSIC VIDEO

1st: BP Valenzuela - Building Too by Christine Joyce Silva

2nd: Nanay Mo - Absent Mind by Gio Puyat

3rd: Escuri - Sepia by Dominic Bekaert, Quintuin P. Cu-Unjieng

There was also a bonus award for the most number of views online on both the website of Globe Studios and its YouTube channel. Penafrancia by Gab Mesina was awarded the winner for the Audience Choice Award.

Globe Studios opened GIFF to all amateur filmmakers. They were evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges from the entertainment industry namely, acclaimed film director Antoinette Jadaone, TV personality Bianca Gonzalez, film critic Philbert Dy, and renowned TV commercial director Sid Maderazo.

“Globe Studios’ GIFF Awards Night definitely proved how we gave our brand a whole new way of bringing wonderful entertainment to our customers,” added Henares. “With the event, our vision for Globe Studios has been realized – to advocate local talent and eventually collaborate with them for content. GIFF has allowed us to fuel creativity among filmmakers and we are very proud of these entries that brought these amazing films closer to every Filipino.”

At the GIFF awards night, guests also sang to their favorite tunes from renowned indie artists such as ESCURI, Nanay Mo, B.P. Valenzuela, MOONWLK, Olympia, Taken By Cars, and Pedicab.

To watch the finalists and winning entries, visit Globe Telecom’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/globeph or on www.GlobeStudios.ph.

Globe VP for Content Jil Bausa-Go's opening remarks

Documentary 1st Prize Winner Nothing Too Supreme’s Award was received by Felman Jay Hernandez Jr. 's family

Experimental 2nd Prize Winner Penafrancia by Gab Mesina and 3rd Prize Winner Anna Meer of Girl Magazine awarded by Sid Lucero

Film critic Philbert Dy and Film Actress Annicka Dolonius awards 1st Prize Winner under the Animation category Lakas Ng Lahi by Arnold Arre and Emil Flores

Webisodes 1st Prize Winner Dota Dad by Karlo Policarpio, 2nd Pprize Winner Gariendo Encarnacion Jr for Bilucao Warriors IV awarded by  TV Commercial Director Sid Maderazo, and 3rd Prize Winner Hugot Sword by Karlo Policarpio

Narrative 1st Prize Winner All Your Algorithms by Alec Figuracion, 2nd Prize Winner TransParent by Adel Clemente, and 3rd Prize Winner The Harvest by Brian Patrick Lim

Music Video 2nd Prize Winner Nanay Mo's Absent Mind by Gio Puyat and 3rd Prize Winner Escuri's Sepia by Dominic Bekaert and Quintuin P. Cu-Unjieng

Indie artist Olympia performing with Nothing Wrong

Indie band Nanay Mo performs featured song Absent Mind

Erwin Romulo and TV personality Bianca Gonzalez

Clockwise from top-left: Actress and TV Host Gee Canlas with Head of Globe Studios Quark Henares; Quark Henares with host Jaz Reyes and co-host Jun Sabayton; TV Commercial Director Sid Maderazo, Director Sam Lee, and Bea Constantino; and Quark Henares with Chesca Ambrosio, Sid Lucero, and Paul Soriano

From left: TV personality and GIFF judge Bianca Gonzalez, Kiray Celis, film critic Philbert Dy, and Ping Medina