THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao is pushing film and digital content in the city’s UNESCO Creative City bid.
Romel Aquino, DTI Davao focal person for creatives, said this is the main focus for this month’s celebration of Philippine Creative Industries Month under DTI’s Malikhaing Pinoy.
The two-day “Creative Exchange 2026: Reel Stories Unveiling Davao’s Culture and Heritage through Film and Digital Content” will happen on September 24-25.
DTI Davao has opened 20 free slots for the upcoming Impact Writing Workshop to freelance digital creators, independent filmmakers, and students from local schools offering multimedia arts programs.
The creative exchange is in partnership with the Davao City Office for the Culture and the Arts, Davao Historical Society and Cinematheque Centre Davao, and the Davao City Inventions and Innovations Council.
Aquino said this year’s workshop theme is anchored on Davao’s culture, heritage, and customs, in line with the city’s push to gain international recognition for its cultural identity.
“Yun ang aim natin sa ating creative bid to the UNESCO, to be known for our culture and customs here in Davao City,” he said.
Aquino said DTI is coordinating with the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center to shape local policy direction.
He said DTI’s roadmap for the creative sector centers on formalizing informal creative practitioners into registered businesses and promoting intellectual property registration to protect creative works and their creators.
“Dun magfo-focus ang DTI, yung pag-boost ng local economy [at] pag-promote ng ating intellectual property registration para sa mga business na under creatives,” Aquino said.
The free impact writing workshop aims to increase awareness among filmmakers to craft powerful, resonant scripts for short films, digital content, and advocacy materials inspired by local culture and heritage.
Meanwhile, it will also incorporate animation and digital production insights, including industry trends for animated films and digital media.
Meanwhile, the Cinematheque Centre Davao program is holding free film screenings throughout September in observance of both Creative Industries Month and Philippine Film Industry Month.
The lineup began with pre-war Philippine films, including the restored Ibong Adarna; classics from the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema: among them Insiang, “Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo Ngayon?,” “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,” and “Manila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag,” marking the movement’s 50th anniversary.
From Sept. 18 to 21, Cinematheque will screen entries to the Philippine Film Industry Month Short Film Competition, including “Sikwate: Worm with Illness“ by Davao filmmaker Frankie Aroccena, alongside the Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition, which includes “Asa Mutugpa and Paglupad?” by University of the Philippines Mindanao Emmanuel Pamaylaon, among others.
Cinematheque will host the DTI-led Creative Exchange forum on Sept. 24 and 25, and will close out the month-long celebration with the Films for Peace competition screening on Sept. 28.
Screenings are held daily at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., free of charge and on a first-come, first-served basis.
