Mga Kwento ng Klima Short Films Competition (Philippines)

This initiative is part of the Center’s Balangay Project, which aims to engage a broader network in the discussion on climate change to enable collective action.

For the MKK Shorts 2024, the Center partners with the GIZ Philippines, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Objectives

• The MKK Shorts 2024 targets to increase awareness and documentation of the impacts of climate change in the country through a short film competition that encourages the generation, visualization and documentation of lived experiences of local climate realities.

General Assembly and Climate Film Labs

• General Assembly
  • All qualifying participants to the MKK Short Films will be invited to attend a General Assembly (GA) organized by the Center and other potential partners.
  • The GA will focus equally on the power of visual storytelling in propelling and enabling societal change, and on the completion of pre-film production processes and documentations (e.g., co-ownership agreement, release of production seed grant).
  • Aside from inputs from an inspirational speaker, content may also include rationale of the competition, mechanics, submission requirements and judging process, introduction to the Climate Film Labs, and the importance of the Co-Ownership Agreement.
• Climate Film Labs
  • The Climate Film Labs (CFL) is a workshop-type laboratory that provides filmmakers with the opportunity to be matched with resource persons and mentors who can aid them in climate science, storytelling, and filmmaking.
  • For the MKK Short Films 2024, the independent and professional filmmakers will be provided modules that focus on matching them with climate science mentors with whom they can consult on the climate aspects of their stories, experienced climate filmmakers/storytellers who can provide inputs on how to tackle science-based stories, experts who can provide advice on the technical aspects and best practices of mobile filmmaking, and resource persons who can provide insights on film audiences and distribution.

Funding Information (Seed Grant)

• This year’s edition aims to provide increased funding to participating filmmakers to help cover a range of film production costs–from pre-production to post-production.
  • Preliminary Screening
    • All submitted film pitch decks will undergo preliminary screening by a panel composed of the OML Center, film consultant, and partner representatives. The screening will be evaluated based on the climate lens, story concept, director’s vision, and proposed creative approach.
    • The Top 15 pitch decks will qualify for the MKK Shorts 2024 and will receive a Production Seed Fund of Php30,000.00 stribution.
  • Second Screening
    • After the Climate Film Labs, the Top 15 participants will submit their final film entries. From these, the Top 10, selected for their technical excellence and strong climate storytelling, will advance to the final judging and awarding ceremony.
    • All Top 10 films shall receive an additional P70,000.

Prize Information

• On top of the seed grants, the MKK Shorts 2024 will also award cash prizes to the Top 3 films of the competition during the awarding ceremony.
  • Best Film: Php100,000 cash prize
  • 2nd Placer: Php70,000 cash prize
  • 3rd Placer: Php50,000 cash prize
• The following Special Awards will also be given to receive Php10,000 each:
  • Best Director
  • Best Editing
  • Best Performance
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Production Design
  • Best Musical Scoring and Sound Design
  • Audience Choice Award

Requirements

• To join the competition, interested filmmakers must submit a film pitch deck that will result in a 5-minute film that has the following specifications:
  • Live-action film in narrative format;
  • Film may be in any of the following genres: drama, comedy, musical, action, suspense, historical or science fiction. Documentary and animated films will not be accepted;
  • Film narrative must have a strong climate lens. Narratives may address climate change impacts and risks, such as on local communities, agriculture and fisheries, forestry, biodiversity, health, freshwater resources, ecosystems, and sustainable development, among others.
• Narratives on the environment, biodiversity, and other similar topics with no climate lens will not be accepted.

For more information, visit Oscar M. Lopez Center.