TOFARM Film Festival is the brainchild of Dr. Milagros O. How, President and CEO of Universal Harvester, Inc. This festival aims to uplift the farmers as well as his professional development. It is most worthy and significant since this is the only film festival that showcases the lives, journeys, aspirations, trials and tribulations – failures and successes of the farmers and other stewards of agriculture.
The festival will give them the acknowledgement, honor and the respect due them as caretakers of our resources from the Great Creator.
VISION: To highlight the aspiration of the Filipino farmers and journey to success
​
MISSION: To stimulate the agriculture environment with the help of film medium in order to promote awareness in the life of Filipino farmers
About the Trophy
The woman represents Philippine agriculture. She is responsible for the whole nation’s nourishment. She cultivates the land, takes care and harvests the crops and delivers produce to feed the Filipino families.
She raises the TOFARM plate to acknowledge and give recognition to the noble champions of agriculture – our farmers.
She also leans forward to encourage advancement in agriculture. She uses the film strip as an “alampay.” The beauty and power of cinema is a tool to put a spotlight onto the farmers’ lives – their triumph and tribulations, challenges and success.
Best Picture
2nd Best Picture
3rd Best Picture
Special Jury Award
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
​
Best Screenplay
Best Story
Best Music
Best Sound
Best Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Production Design
​
​
CATEGORIES
Mechanics:
​
-
All interested amateur and professional writers, students, hobbyists, farmers, and media practitioners, producers, directors must submit the following requirements on or before 5pm, Friday (December 16, 2016), to the TOFARM Secretariat Office, 10th floor, Harvester Corporate Center, 158 P. Tuazon, cor. 7th & 8th Ave., Cubao, Quezon City
-
Duly accomplished TOFARM FILM FESTIVAL form available here.
-
Synopsis written in Filipino or English (1 page, 12 pts. font size, Arial, Double Space) on a letter sized bond paper. The synopsis and screenplay must not contain the name of the writer. Writers name will have to be declared on a separate sheet with the title of the screenplay
-
Full length screenplays in Filipino (in 12 pts. font size, Arial, Double Space on a letter sized bond paper)
-
Resume of the proponent/writer/director/producer
-
Samples of previous work (if any) in DVD format
-
-
Four (4) copies of each entry must be submitted properly labeled with the following information:
-
Title of the film entry
-
Participants’ name (Director/Writer)
-
Contact details
-
Proposed Production Team Line-up
-
-
Each of the six (6) finalists will receive a seed production grant in the amount of Php 1,500,000.00 to be released in three (3) tranches at Php 500,000.00 each.
-
The director/producer is encouraged to solicit additional funds to augment his production costs in which TOFARM shall not be liable for reimbursement.
-
Director/producer of the films must submit the following materials to the festival committee for promotional and exhibition purposes:
-
Behind the scenes materials (BTS)
-
Teaser and trailer of the film (in HD format)
-
Major credit titles (soft and hard copies) of the film
-
Vertical posters in CD jpeg format
-
-
The deadline for submission of the completed full-length film is on Friday, June 2, 2017.
-
The film festival awarding ceremony will be held at 7PM, July 18, 2017, at a venue to be announced later. The following prizes will be awarded:​
Rules and Regulations:
​
-
The film shall not be less than 75 minutes. This year’s theme is “Planting the seeds of change”. Story can be original or fiction but must be inspired by true accounts of a farmer, livestock raiser, fisher folk or other related individuals to agriculture.
-
The members of the organizing committee are disqualified from joining the competition.
-
Interested participants may submit a maximum of two (2) entries. However, only one entry per proponent shall be considered as a finalist.
-
All finalists must have their premiere screening during the TOFARM Film Festival.
-
All works must be strictly independent films and not produced by commercial producers.
-
Encourage are different genres: comedy, drama, romance, action, suspense, horror and fantasy or combinations
-
All entries must be submitted in a data file HD format
-
The total production budget for the film may exceed Php 1,500,000.00. The proponent shall submit the copy of detailed financial statement/expenses of the grant. Additional expenses solicited from sponsors, donors, etc. by the director/producer shall be the sole responsibility of the director and TOFARM will not be responsible for any reimbursement or pay-offs.
-
Due to copyright laws, the music used in any entry must be original, licensed or public domain
-
Dialogue should be in Filipino or in any Philippine dialect as deemed appropriate. All entries must be subtitled in English upon submission
-
Ownership of the film rights shall be on a 50% / 50% basis between TOFARM and the director/producer. The same system of sharing will be applied in all ancillary rights and pertinent negotiations, whether the film is sold, rented or leased in the Philippines or abroad.
-
Proponents should assign a single representative to act on behalf of his team. All official communications shall be addressed to said representative. The TOFARM Festival committee shall not be liable for any controversy regarding the sharing of awards among the members of the team.
-
TOFARM shall ensure the safety of the films throughout the period in which the materials are in the custody.
-
The decision of the Board of Judges is final.
-
The organizer and its agencies reserved the rights to use the entry/s name and/or materials for the purpose of publicity, advertising, and/or promotion without prior compensation or notice.
-
The organizer reserves the right to cancel, change or amend this contest its Rules and Regulations
-
All films already in production phase prior to April 2017 are disqualified.