Philippine Cinema’s Future: BLVCK Entertainment unveils top storytellers in first-ever scriptwriting contest
A beautifully written script is the foundation upon which a cinematic masterpiece is built. It breathes life into characters, sets the stage for compelling narratives, and ultimately transports audiences to worlds both familiar and fantastical. Recognizing this, BLVCK Entertainment and BLVCK Films launched the inaugural BLVCK Entertainment Scriptwriting Contest, seeking to unearth exceptional storytelling talent from across the Philippines.
The contest, which began accepting entries in April, garnered over 150 submissions from both seasoned professionals and aspiring wordsmiths. After meticulous deliberation, a panel of judges narrowed the field down to ten finalists.
On August 3, 2024, the awards ceremony was held at B Hotel Quezon City, attended by the finalists, BLVCK Entertainment and BLVCK Films founders Engineer Louie and Grace Cristobal, Project Creative Director Direk Roman Perez Jr., and other respected figures in the film industry.
The 8th to 10th place winners, James Ambito for “Memories of the Forgotten”, Kristofer Navarro for “GRRRBAGE”, and Nash Casino for “Drifters of Britannia”, were awarded by Direk Christian Paolo Lat and Direk Emmanuel Dela Cruz. Abet Pagdagdagan Raz for “Little Miss Hope” and Gian Arre for “Habang Tulog Ang Mundo” received the 6th and 7th place awards from Direk Bobby Bonifacio.
The Armando “Bing” Lao Script Writing Memorial Award was bestowed upon Ronald Batallones for “Mento”, who also claimed the 4th place award alongside Paul Singh Cudail for “Huling Korona”, both presented by Rey Langit. Mon Confiado announced Dustin Celestino as the 3rd Place winner for “Supremo”. The 2nd Place award, presented by Raffy Tejada, went to Joseph Abello for “Chester’s Eight Birthday Party”.
The coveted top prize was awarded to Mario M. Banzon for “Tres Marias”, announced by Vince Tanada alongside BLVCK Entertainment owners Engineer Louie and Grace Cristobal. Banzon was unable to attend the ceremony, with Abet Padagdagan Raz accepting the award on his behalf. The 1st place prize included a cash award of P100,000, with 2nd and 3rd place receiving P50,000 and P30,000 respectively, and P10,000 consolation prizes for the remaining finalists.
CEO Engineer Louie Cristobal delivered a heartfelt message to all participants, emphasizing the company’s commitment to nurturing both established and emerging writers in their pursuit of creating compelling stories for Philippine cinema and digital platforms. He affirmed their intention to produce all winning scripts into films and expressed enthusiasm for continuing the BLVCK Entertainment Scriptwriting Contest annually.
