MANILA, 10 July 2020 —The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center held the Klima Film Festival Press Launch on Wednesday, 8 July 2020, encouraging more of the youth to sign up as teams and participate in climate film labs, in an event streamed via Facebook Live through CCC’s Facebook Page.
 
The KFF, a joint initiative with the OML Center as part of its Balangay Project, aims to reach out to various young filmmakers all over the Philippines and inspire them to tell stories from their own communities.
 
“We conceptualized the Klima Film Festival, together with the Oscar M. Lopez Center, by putting emphasis on the biggest challenge of our time that is climate change, and the vital role of our youth in driving climate action. This project will not only give our youth a platform to exhibit their creativity but also enable them to champion climate justice and sustainable development,” said Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera of CCC during her welcome remarks.
 
“The genesis of this activity is really the realization that we, the Oscar M. Lopez Center, as a science organization, needs to be more than just about science. We need to communicate. We need to tell stories - not just one story. Because if you think about climate, there are a lot of local stories. So what we want to do is use science while interacting with various sectors of society to help them effectively tell their various narratives, especially the youth from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” said Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, Executive Director of the OML Center.
 
Rep. Edgar M. Chatto of the 1^st District of Bohol, Chair of the House Committee on Climate Change, graced the launch and expressed his full support to the project.
 
“Dalangin ko na sana ay maging makabuluhan ang inyong mga maikling pelikula na siyang magmumulat sa ating mga kababayan, maging sa ating mga pinuno sa gobyerno -- kamulatan na siyang pupukaw sa kanilang isip at damdamin upang kagyat na kumilos upang mabigyan ng lunas ang climate change at maisalba ang inang kalikasan at ang sangkatauhan,” said Rep. Chatto.
 
House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda, who authored several environmental laws including the Climate Change Act of 2009 which created the CCC, also expressed her support to the KFF.
 
“To our youth, use this platform to make your voices be heard. I believe that you are the most active partners in challenging development norms, politics, governance, and leadership. Each of us has opportunities to make a difference for our future. We must take hold of the opportunity to responsibly manage our environment and lead the way towards resilient and sustainable development,” said Rep. Legarda in her message.
 
Open to all young filmmakers aged 16-22, the KFF opened its registration on June 30 and will end on July 31, 2020.
 
The full guidelines, mechanics, and submission requirements can be viewed at https://climate.gov.ph/events/klima-film-festival, or through the Facebook accounts of the Climate Change Commission at facebook.com/CCCPhl, and the Oscar M. Lopez Center at facebook.com/OscarMLopezCenter.
 
Watch the replay of the Klima Film Festival Digital Press Launch through this link: https://www.facebook.com/CCCPhl/videos/665185324077361/.