The Benildean Animation Festival (BAF) 2024 brought a burst of creativity and collaboration to the Benilde’s animation community. Held on Aug. 1 to 2 at the 10th floor Green Room of the Benilde Design and Arts (D+A) Campus, this year’s festival was a vibrant showcase of emerging animators' talents.
A celebration of creative visions
The Benildean Animation Film Festival 2024, initially a fun student-led event, evolved into a healthy competition for students to showcase their love and skills in animations. The festival allowed them to present their compelling narratives and display the results of years of hard work in learning animation. The festival's journey began on July 23 with the “Vivid Visions: Benilde Animation Community Exhibit,” hosted in the 11th floor Animation Gallery. This exhibit provided a sneak peek into the artistic world of Benilde’s students, highlighting the diverse and innovative works emerging from the Animation program.
Adding to the excitement, the Benilde Animation Festival Art Market took place from July 31 to Aug. 2 at the 11th floor Hallway of the Benilde D+A Campus. This art market offered students a platform to display and sell their original artwork, fostering entrepreneurial spirit and connecting creators with the art community.
Spotlighting emerging talent
At the heart of BAF 2024 are the finalist films, each presenting a unique narrative through animation. One of the stand-outs from the entries was Rascal by ID120 Neil Zamundo. This animation features two opposite young men—a typical troublemaker and a bully-bait student—who work through their differences, revealing that they are not so different after all, culminating in their unlikely pairing.
Pagkilala by ID119 Sofia Ramirez focuses on a young girl struggling to accept her mother’s new partner while mourning her parent’s separation. Two entries about sisterhood with Jamie by Lizzette Real from ID119 and Lean on Me by Princess Bautista, also ID119, explored the world of sisterhood, competition, and miscommunication between two sisters. Both projects ultimately highlight that, regardless of the situation, sisters stick together and that blood is indeed thicker than water.
Lostalgia, the entry by ID119 Gillian Galvez reminded audiences that fury friends are also family. This project is a tribute to an old pet cat, with the main character creating an imaginary world with her old pet. The short explores themes of mourning and memory loss.
Janna Santos, an ID119 Animation student, presented her animation project Litrato, which explores the reality of being a closeted lesbian in a Filipino household. The project took her a year to develop and another year for production, spanning six terms.
Despite facing challenges in 2D animation, Santos expressed immense pride in seeing her completed film, stating, “I feel so proud of myself because […], Oh my God that took so long. So yeah I finally saw my film in good shape na.” The exposure helped her realize the value of creating meaningful stories that resonate with others, pushing her to address sensitive topics and engage more deeply with her audience.
These films are all carefully selected through a rigorous process, showcasing the exceptional talent and technical skills of the Benildean animators. As Animation professor and Animotion adviser, Mr. Jan Yolec Homeocillo noted, “The festival serves not only as a platform to showcase student achievements but also as a celebration of healthy competition and collaboration within our vibrant animation community.”
He also expressed that he’s looking forward to seeing more experimentation in animation styles in future editions of the Benilde Animation Festival, “I was hoping to try to focus on our roots, the experimental animation roots of the Filipinos and as well as the stop motion roots.”
Forging industry connections
The festival’s success is enhanced by partnerships with major industry players like Toon Boom, Icon Manila 2024, the Animation Council of the Philippines Inc. (ACPI), AEON Print and Design Co., and Wacom. These collaborations provide students with essential resources, networking opportunities, and valuable industry insights, enriching the festival experience.
For anyone passionate about the future of Filipino animation, the Benildean Animation Festival was an event not to be missed. Reflecting on the success of BAF 2024, Mr. Homeocillo shared, "The festival not only showcased the incredible talent of our students but also inspired the next generation of animators to continue pushing creative boundaries. It’s events like these that truly highlight the potential of our animators."
Jayson Malig, a finalist whose film Forge captivated audiences, also commented, "Being part of BAF was an incredible opportunity to see how our stories resonate with an audience and connect with fellow animators who are just as passionate about the craft. It’s something I’ll carry with me as I continue my journey in animation."
As the festival concluded, the sentiment among organizers and participants was one of accomplishment and optimism. "Every year, we see our students reach new heights in their creative journey. BAF is not just an event; it's a testament to the future of Filipino animation," Mr. Homeocillo added.
Missed this year’s festival? You can catch next year’s by following the Benilde Animation Festival Facebook page.
