THE FILM Development Council of the Philippines’ Sineng Pambansa (National Cinema) Film Festival went up to Ilocos Norte, Oct. 25-27, and MMSU was chosen as one of two main venues, along with Robinsons Mall in San Nicolas.

Director Brillante “Dante” Mendoza, the first Filipino to win the Best Director Award (Kinatay) in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, together with veteran director-actor Leo Martinez held acting workshops at the University Training Center. It was participated by 20 students from various colleges and high schools in the province.  Directors Soxie Topacio (Ded na si Lolo) and Martin Cabrera (Emir), likewise, attended the film screenings held at the Teatro Ilocandia.

The First Ilocos Norte Sineng Pambansa Film Festival featured films mostly of the “supernatural” or “horror” genre in keeping with the spirit of a province-wide celebration dubbed Semana ti Ar-Aria or Ghost Week. This Halloween-like festival, which is  held from Oct. 25-31, was popularized by the Ilocos Norte provincial government to “highlight the customs, traditions, and superstitions of the Ilocanos in remembering their departed ones.”