‘A feat for Cebuano cinema’: Cebu’s ‘Sunog sa Sugbo’ wins big at Sine Kabataan festival

A Cebuano short film, "Sunog sa Sugbo," recently captivated audiences and judges at the 8th Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival, earning three significant accolades out of seven total awards presented on Friday, September 5.

The student-led production achieved the Special Jury Prize, Best Cinematography, and the coveted Best Director award for Owen Lepiten. This accomplishment marks a historical moment for the University of San Carlos (USC), as Lepiten is the first student from the institution to reach the festival's finals while still enrolled, and notably, the first to claim the Best Director title before graduation.

Reflecting on his success, Lepiten expressed that the win "feels like a testament to my growth at this time of my life." His film, "Sunog sa Sugbo," draws inspiration from his observations of fire incidents in Cebu and a personal loss. The narrative powerfully portrays a teenage breadwinner who, after being displaced by a devastating fire, turns to arson as a desperate measure to rebuild his family's home.

Despite being Lepiten's original concept, he emphasized the crucial contributions of his USC BFA Cinema classmates and schoolmates in bringing the film to fruition. The team navigated a tight budget, even hand-building sets and then intentionally burning them down to create authentic fire sequences. Lepiten affirmed that the awards were "truly deserved after seeing what the people behind the film went through."

As one of only three regional entries selected for the festival, "Sunog sa Sugbo"'s triumph is particularly significant. Lepiten proudly declared the recognition "a feat for Cebuano cinema," highlighting its impact beyond the competition. The team plans to make the film widely accessible by holding screenings throughout Cebu, reaching the very community it was created for.

Beyond "Sunog sa Sugbo," the festival also celebrated other emerging talents. Michael Angelo Pogoy's "Coding Si Papa" received a special mention, while Cedrick Valenzuela's "When It Rained Malunggay Leaves" took home Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and the festival's top honor, Best Short Film. Organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines during Philippine Film Industry Month in September, the Sine Kabataan festival continues its mission to spotlight original stories from the nation's promising young filmmakers.