Sine Institute to hold Filipino film festival in Toronto

Sine Institute to hold Filipino film festival in Toronto

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.

The Sine Institute, a cinema and creative organization in Canada will hold its first Filipino International Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario. Dubbed Sine Film Fest, the inaugural festival and industry conference will be held from April 12 to 14, 2024 at Hotel X Toronto, a downtown premier hotel at 111 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto. This is Sine Institute’s contribution to celebrating 75 years of Philippines and Canada, Bilateral Relations. It will be an event considered by film professionals and enthusiasts proudly pioneering and trailblazing developments in the history of the Filipino diaspora in Canada.

Envisioned by Agnes Miranda, a prominent Filipino-Canadian leader and business executive, the Sine Institute was formed and launched on September 12, 2023, by Filipino filmmakers, producers and actors based in Canada’s largest city. The Sine Institute is a not-for-profit outfit serving as a collaborative platform for people in the film and art industry.  It aims “to build and lead a community of Philippine excellence in creative endeavours,” according to its co-founder and president Michael Masangkay. As a creative platform, it is offered for Filipino talents who are searching and seeking to realize their skills and potential in the art, science and business of acting, producing, and directing on film projects.

Its vision is to become a leading organization for present and future Filipino actors, filmmakers, and producers in the creative world through contemporary and strategic movie-making, theatre arts, film production, marketing, promotion, and distribution. In pursuance of its laudable initiative, Sine Institute invites people to appreciate the Filipino culture and explore business and employment opportunities for many kababayans and Filipino Canadians in this part of the world.

The Sine Institute Group

The 3-day event will include feature movies, short films and docu screening time, a red carpet walk, an awards ceremony, a gala and banquet, film industry seminars, press conferences, and city sightseeing tours. The Institute’s visionary and leadership team is composed of Agnes Miranda as chairman and co-founder, Michael Masangkay as president and co-founder, Rosary Escano as vice president as well as Rhia Alcantara,  BK Jimenez, Ed Joaquin,  Danny Orbilio, Francis Rementilla,  and Kim Villafuerte.

At a pre-event press con held at Hotel X Toronto on March 25, 2024, the Sine Institute management team led a tour of the festival venue’s facilities and function rooms. Among those in attendance were Marita Lee of Atin Ito, BK Jimenez of Balita, Joey Baking of LM Confidential, Joy D’Aoust of Pinoy News, Joe Damasco of Filipino Bulletin, Ryan Orlanda of Pinoy Vibes World, Tony A. San Juan, a freelance journalist, and the reporters from FTV.

Working hard to make its first film festival an enviable success, the team is focused towards planning and preparation for the April event. With desirable support, encouragement and appreciation, Sine Institute hopes to notch a mark, achieve its dream, and have a meaningful place in the sun. “Halina na kayo, manood tayo ng mga pelikulang Filipino.”          

PRESS RELEASE

Fil-Can media members with Sine Institute Film Festival organizers at Hotel X Theatre.
Photo: Joey Baking