A recent graduate from the Far Eastern University Department of Communication represented the Philippines as one of the delegates for the Platform Busan in South Korea from October 10 to 13.
Zarrina Fernandez also earned recognition as a scholar of the Film Development Council of the Philippines under its International Film Festival Assistance Program.
Organized as part of the Asian Contents & Film Market during the 31st Busan International Film Festival, Platform Busan serves as a global networking space for emerging filmmakers to collaborate, pitch projects, and learn together with their peers from other parts of the world.
Fernandez’s path to Busan was built on persistence and a deep commitment to storytelling. Coming from a household where choosing a creative field carries unique risks and uncertainty, earning a spot on a major international platform served as a significant personal milestone.
“Platform Busan made me experience a world I had only ever dreamed of being part of, a world where I could learn from filmmakers across the globe, share stories, exchange ideas, and see just how far a love for cinema can take you,” Fernandez shared.
For Fernandez, being part of an international program was a testament to overcoming self-doubt and pushing past local boundaries, “It’s for the younger version of me who could only dream of making films… and for every Filipino filmmaker who dares to dream beyond the borders of our own country, carrying our stories with us wherever we go,” she added.
Fernandez applied through Platform Busan’s official international call, seeking a venue to showcase her creative portfolio beyond domestic shores. Shortly after being notified of her acceptance, she learned that she had also been named an FDCP and IFSAP scholar, a grant designed to support local talent as they represent the nation in international film markets.
“I was in shock when I received the news! Of course, I felt incredibly grateful and excited, too. Being selected for Platform BUSAN was already a meaningful milestone for me as an emerging filmmaker, and learning that I was also a Platform BUSAN Scholar and an IFSAP scholar made the experience even more special,” the young director recalled.
Fernandez gained creative momentum during her time at FEU with “Oguima,” which she wrote and directed. Set in a remote farmland, the film examines guilt, suppression, and accountability through a dark lens as a predatory farmer is confronted by a mythical goat-legged entity.
“Oguima” won 2nd Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Actor for Bodjie Pascua in the All Tamaraws Division at Sinepiyu XVIII student film festival.
After its success at Sinepiyu, the short film headed to Davao de Oro as part of the official selection to the 13th Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition or NABIFILMEX last September.
As Fernandez continues her journey as a director and storyteller, her experience at Platform Busan reinforces that Filipino narratives hold a distinct, resonant place on the global screen.
Seymour B. Sanchez
Seymour Barros Sanchez is an advocacy filmmaker, communication and film lecturer, freelance writer, creative producer, technical consultant, and a former producer for news and current affairs programs. He served as Bacolod Film Festival director in 2024 and Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages of the Film Development Council of the Philippines from 2022 to 2025. He is a member of the Academic Film Society Advisory Committee of the FDCP, a representative of the Education Sector to the National Committee on Cinema Executive Council, and Secretary of the NCC.
