Indie Music and Film Artists Shine at PHILDIGI Awards 2009

Independent and commercial filmmakers and music artists received their well deserved spotlight at the first Philippine Digital Music and Short Film Festival and Awards (PHILDIGI Awards) held last March 11 -12, 2009 at the World Trade Center in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

This music and film festival, organized by Isys Business Solution and Thumbsinteractiv, in cooperation with Blue Fish Asia and Business Mirror aims to serve as an avenue for independent filmmakers and music artists to showcase their talents and works, encourage consumers to fight piracy, give equal opportunities for artists to earn while they broadcast their music and films online and other platforms, and to give record labels and publishers borderless earning avenue in selling music and videos to consumers.

The two-day event was filled with music, film, and animation seminars and workshops. Areas of discussion include artist development and management; stage performance; copyright infringement and publishing rights; anti-piracy; marketing and distribution; trends and opportunities; short film making, directing, and making; and internet marketing and e-commerce.

Over 300 music entries and 40 short film entries from rising Filipino artists competed in various categories and the following works stood out as the best:

Music Categories Best Digital Album - Access 2 Love Best Jingle Entry - Kamandag Theme by First Circle Promising New Artist - 2 Days Ago Promising Male Artist - Njel De Mesa Promising Female Artist - Debbie Nicodemus Best Male Artist - Brenan Espartinez Best Female Artist - Yeng Constantino Best Composer - Arne Martelino Best Composition - Ang Tanging Patnubay by John Paul Dabon Best Independent Group - Sensitivo Best Music Video - Call to Life By Salamankero Best Indie Music - Isa’t Kalahating Araw by Sensitivo Best House/Electronica Music - Frequency by Emorej Best Gospel/Praise Music - Alay sa Iyo by Era Ann Oblefias Best Contemporary Christian Music - Sagip Song by Rommel Gojo

Film Categories Best Short Film - Fantasy/Horror - Parihaba by Engelbert Paculangan Best Short Film – Comedy - Salingpusa by Antoinette Jadaone Best Short Film – Documentary - Namamaybay by Erwin Escalante Best Animated Short Film - Bas Bayabas by Kid Best Animated Short Film - Fantasy/Horror - Kumot Ng Panaginip by Jedd Chris Dimaguina Best Short Film - Action/Drama - Pirata by Al Eduardo Best Independent Solo Artist - Lynman Bacolor

Sponsored Categories Entertainment Central (ETC) Category Winner - Nosebleed by Jason Paul Laxamana Jack TV Category Winner - Buy the Book: Gabay sa Ordinaryong Taong Katulad Mo by Timmy Harn

The First Philippine Digital Music and Short Film Festival and Awards is supported by 6Underground, ERAS Equipment Rental and Setup Services, Ballyhoo Records, Rode Microphones, Promac and the following media partners: Business World, Circuit Magazine, ETC, Jack TV, Muse Magazine, The Manila Times, Philstar.com, Jam 88.3, NU 107, GMA-7, The Edge Radio, TV5, and Sport Radio (DZSR 918 kHz). Online partners are hotoccasions.com, Yehey.com, ClicktheCity.com, Digijooze.com, and Musikko.com.