With the celebration of National Arts Month by the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office (PTCO) taking place in February, the awarding ceremony of the 1st-ever CineVizcaya: Nueva Vizcaya Film Festival was conducted on February 20, 2026, in the FTM building near the Peoples’ Museum, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
The film festival awarding was duly attended by Hon. Eunice Galima-Gambol, Chair of the Committee on Tourism and Culture, Saniata ti Nueva Vizcaya 2025 Karen Mae Guieb, Director Mes de Guzman and Producer Rhea de Guzman, and Provincial Tourism and Culture Officer Marichelle O. Costales, and the PTCO staff. The student production teams from Nueva Vizcaya State University Bayombong (NVSU), King’s College of the Philippines, Inc. (KCP), Saint Mary’s University (SMU), Solano High School (SHS), Diadi National High School, Bintawan National High School, and Santa Fe National High School.
As part of the PTCO’s efforts in aiding the creation of a film culture in Nueva Vizcaya, the CineVizcaya film festival was launched during the “Linggo ng Kabataan” celebration in September 2025, and was followed by a series of workshop-seminars with speakers such as acclaimed director Mes de Guzman and UP film student Aries Ferrer imparting practical knowledge and filmmaking techniques to the participants. These participants largely consisted of students from high schools and higher-education institutions from all over the province. The festival was made possible through the collaboration of the PTCO with the Department of Trade and Industry, Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Local Youth Development Office, and the Department of Education.
The HEIs of the province would be well-represented, with NVSU Bayombong’s Kuriya Productions would clinch the Best Short Film award with their project “Pordiya” (The Wage), which would also take home the Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Actress awards. Saint Mary’s University’s Veltiono Productions would gain second place with their film “Tahan Nan”, whose lead would also win Best Actor. KCP’s TKH Productions would earn the Best Production Design award for their film ANG TAGAPAG-ITAN, while Best Story would go to Bintawan National High School’s Dalisay Productions for their film “Imbitasyon”. Special Mentions were made and consolation prizes to the other participants for their efforts.
BM Gambol and Director Mes de Guzman urged the budding filmmakers to ‘follow their dreams’, with the former assuring them that future opportunities would be with the support of the Governor, and the latter drawing from experience and stating that the struggle justifies the results.
Through extensive collaboration and support, the PTCO has managed to add another innovation to its roster alongside the growing tourism industry and the mainstreaming of cultural heritage. The Cine Vizcaya film festival is only the first step in the formation of a thriving film industry in Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb
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