Inaugural Santa Maria Music and Film Festival Set to Debut on December 2
The first Santa Maria Music and Film Festival (SMMFF), a one-of-a-kind mix of music and movies, will start on December 2. The event is on top of a mountain in Laguna's northernmost town. From there, you can see famous sights like Mount Banahaw, Mount Cristobal, Mount Sembrano, Laguna de Bay, and the windmills of Pililia.
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| Inaugural Santa Maria Music and Film Festival Set to Debut on December 2 |
The festival will start with a beautiful performance by the Santa Maria Academy Dance Troupe. There will then be local singers and a film showcase with seven short films that have been praised around the world. During breaks, famous artists Miro Valera and Jeff Bolivar will play music that will keep everyone interested.
Twenty short films from all over the world were sent to SMMFF, and after a tough selection process, only thirteen will be shown. The three-hour event, which runs from 3 pm to 6 pm, will show the top seven flicks. The selection process, which took place through FilmFreeway from October 5–20, 2023, was based on a clear set of criteria. The filmmakers were given helpful comments to help them improve.
People who go can look forward to tastes of wine from Barefoot Wine & Arbor Mist, as well as samples from Conzace, Nafarin, and Immunpro. People are asked to bring their own tumblers to the water refilling points because the event promotes eco-friendly habits.
The festival is at the top of Sierra Madre, and even though there is a structure that looks like a tent, people are told to dress properly for the cold winds and rain that might happen. A PDF guide with directions to the event and information on where to stay can be downloaded from the festival website.
The event was put together by Zero-In Concept & Production, Stories We Tell, Trees for the Future, the Tourism Department of Santa Maria Laguna, Turismo Marilag, the local government of Barangay Pao-o, and the Philippine National Police of Santa Maria Laguna. It shows how committed and dedicated the organizing committee was, which was led by Jennifer Maliwanag, who has won many awards for her work as a director and writer of short films.
The Santa Maria Music and Film Festival is free to attend, but there are only so many seats available. Visit www.santamariafestival.com/events/santa-maria-music-film-festival-2 to secure your spot at this one-of-a-kind music and film event.