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Pagdiriwang ng Alon ng Pelikula - Wave of Films Festival is the annual film festival and awards of the Mass Communication Department of the University of the City of Manila The festival is a component of the Finals for the Film Production & Directing course. It started as Cinematomika Film Festival in 1998 when Mass Communication was still a department under CLA. Four years ago, the name was changed to adopt to the Masscom's use of "WAVE" (Alon) as its official namesake and tagline when it became a college. Now back to being a department, Masscom strengthens its official film festival by tying up with reputable institutions like the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Film Development Council of the Philippines. ​

 

In the said festival day and awarding ceremonies, students get to screen their works in a professional venue and their parents, family, friends, actors and crew will have the chance to view their works and get honored by professionals in the film industry. Film Production is composed of four stages: Pre-Production, Principal Photography, Post-Production and Distribution & Screening. And the filmfest is the screening component, allowing parents to see the works of their children. ​

 

In the past editions, PLM Masscom students have honored National Artist Eddie Romero and all the best students during the Film Production term. Its student film competition has been judged by French film critic and international film programmer Max Tessier; Prof. Roehl Jamon of the UP Film Institute; Screenwriter and Director Armando "Bing" Lao (Biyaheng Langit); director and MTRCB Board member Joey Romero; producer Raymond Lee (Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan; Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros); filmmaker and URIAN & Cinemalaya winning editor Tara Illenberger; independent filmmakers Rosswil Hilario & Dennis Empalmado; Canadian actress and filmmaker Talia Pura; Filmmakers Ena Escasa, TM Malones, Jay Altarejos; and film professor Jag Garcia; etc. ​

 

Our student winners at the Gawad Alon para sa Pelikula (Wave Awards for Film) - the award's official name - have won at the prestigious Gawad CCP for Indpendent Film & Video and have competed in international film festivals and competitions. For the past years the awarding ceremonies have been staged in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the International Theater Institute. Because of this PLM-Masscom have been using the NCCA Tanghalang Leandro V. Locsin as its official awards night home since its first edition up to last year (2016). This year, there are three sections in Film Production & Directing classes and, through Director/Professor Elvert Bañares (the founder of the festival), it is the first time we have partnered with the Film Development Council of the Philippines to conduct the awards night at the prestigious Manila Cinematheque. PLM is the first university in Metro Manila to conduct their awards night at the said venue. The show would usually last two to three hours depending on the speeches of the winners and are given the chance to experience an actual event that honors student works. Faculty members and past winners usually attend to present the awards to the students.

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This year's awarding ceremonies and film screening is scheduled on March 7, 2017 (Tuesday).

 

Awards and Prizes: All awards are handed out for those officially enrolled students of Film Production & Directing classes of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila). Citations may be given to guest films from around the world on a case to case basis.