The University of the Philippines Cineastes' Studio, also referred to as UP Cineastes' Studio or UP Cineastes, is a student film organization located at the

UP Film Institute The University of the Philippines Film Institute, also known as the UP Film Institute or UPFI, is a film school located in Quezon City, Philippines. It is attached to the UP College of Mass Communication and engages in theater and extension serv ...

of the

University of the Philippines Diliman , image = University of The Philippines seal.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = Official Logo of UP Diliman , motto = Honor and Excellence , established = February 12, 194 ...

. UP Cineastes' Studio focuses on promoting film literacy and critical thinking as its primary advocacy. The organization initiates various activities and establishes partnerships to support these goals. These activities encompass film literacy workshops designed for high school students, film production workshops for communities, the publication of SPLICE (the official publication of UP Cineastes' Studio), contests, screenings, thesis exposures, and collaborations with academic institutions.

Cineastes

The organization acquired its name from the film term '' cineaste'', which originated from the combination of the French words ''cinematographe'' and ''enthusiaste'' in the 20th century.

History

U.P. Cineastes' Studio (pronounced as si-ne-yasts) is the pioneering film organization for students in the Philippines. It was established on September 24, 1984, predating the film department of the

UP College of Mass Communication The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 2008) ...

. Initially formed for film students at the

, it later expanded to include students from other colleges. Over the past decade, UP Cineastes' Studio has actively promoted Philippine independent cinema to the student community. They have hosted the university leg of major independent film festivals in the country, including

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film festival in the Philippines held annually during the month August at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and various cinemas. Its aim is the development and promotion of Fi ...

Cinema One Originals The Cinema One Originals Film Festival, a division of ABS-CBN Films commonly known as Cinema One Originals, is an independent film festival in the Philippines held annually in the month of November in Quezon City. Its primary goal is to showcase ...

, QCinema, and the CineFilipino Film Festival in 2013. The organization has also participated in smaller film competitions sponsored by companies like

Maynilad Water Services Maynilad Water Services, Inc., better known as Maynilad, is the water and wastewater services provider of cities and municipalities that form the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area in the Philippines. It is an agent and contractor of the Metro ...

and

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. Through their flagship event, ''Cineastes Presents'', they collaborate on premieres and special screenings of independent films such as Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington,

Citizen Jake ''Citizen Jake'' is a 2018 Philippine noir crime drama film which featured Atom Araullo directed by Mike de Leon. Plot When journalist Jake Herrera (real life journalist Atom Araullo, in his film debut) investigates the murder of a student, ...

Signal Rock ''Signal Rock'' is a 2018 Filipino independent drama film produced and directed by Chito S. Roño, starring Christian Bables together with an ensemble cast. The film was produced by CSR Productions and distributed by Regal Entertainment on August ...

, '' ICYMI: I See Me'', and Kuwaresma, featuring talkbacks with the filmmakers. U.P. Cineastes' Studio has nurtured notable individuals in Philippine media, including directors

Cathy Garcia-Molina Catherine Rosales Garcia-Molina (born November 28, 1971) is a Filipino film and television director best known for directing romantic comedy and family drama films produced and distributed by Star Cinema. She has also directed a few TV series, wh ...

and Irene Villamor, broadcasters and television personalities

Kim Atienza Alejandro Ilagan Atienza (; born January 24, 1967), known professionally as Kim Atienza or Kuya Kim, is a Filipino television host, actor, weather anchor, YouTube vlogger and former politician. He is formerly a resident weather anchor in ABS-C ...

and

Christine Bersola-Babao Christine Peji Bersola-Babao (; born October 30, 1970), known professionally as Tin Tin, is a Filipina multi-media personality. She is best known for starring in the educational television program '' Sine'skwela''. Life and career Christine ...

, as well as musician

Ely Buendia Ely Eleandre Basiño Buendia (born November 2, 1970), popularly known as Ely Buendia, is a Filipino musician, singer, songwriter, author and film director who gained fame as the guitarist, lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the famed Fil ...

, former frontman of

Eraserheads Eraserheads (sometimes stylized as ERASƎRHEADS or ƎRASƎRHƎADS) are a Filipino alternative rock band formed in 1989. With a line-up comprising Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro, and Raimund Marasigan, the band became one of the most ...

. It has also served as a platform for emerging directors and filmmakers such as

Jade Castro Jade Francis Castro (born August 21, 1978) is a Filipino film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for writing and directing ''Endo'' (2007), and '' Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington'' (2011). Early and personal li ...

Petersen Vargas Petersen Vargas is a Filipino filmmaker. He is best known for directing the Cinema One Originals Best Picture winner ''2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten'' (2016) and the web series ''Hello Stranger'' (2020). Early life and education Vargas was born and rais ...

Carlo Francisco Manatad Carlo Francisco Manatad (born October 4, 1987) is a Filipino filmmaker and editor. He is one of the most prolific editors in the Philippines and has edited the film''Ruined Heart''(2014), '' A Gentle Night'' (2017), ''Balangiga'' (2017) and ''W ...

, Glenn Barit, and

Martika Ramirez Escobar Marta Marrero (born May 18, 1969), better known by her stage name Martika ( ), is an American pop singer and actress. She released two internationally successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which sold over four million copies wor ...

Membership

Membership in UP Cineastes' Studio is open to all students of the

, regardless of their degree program or home college. The membership application process takes place over a two-month period each semester. For the first semester, it begins in September, and for the second semester, it starts in February. During this process, applicants participate in various film workshops and activities. Upon acceptance, members are assigned to specific committees and are expected to contribute to the organization's events throughout the year. Membership can be renewed each semester until graduation. At its peak, UP Cineastes' Studio had over a hundred active members in a single semester, making it one of the largest academic organizations in the university.

References

{{University of the Philippines Film organizations in the Philippines 1984 establishments in the Philippines Student organizations established in 1984