Still. “Sans Nomenclature.” Cola Salva Cruz, 2024. Courtesy of Tarzeer Pictures
Still. “Sans Nomenclature.” Cola Salva Cruz, 2024. Courtesy of Tarzeer Pictures
Creative production group and gallery Tarzeer Pictures invites Filipino directors and producers to apply for its grant for short films.
When you walk into Tarzeer Pictures’ gallery, it’s easy to be immersed in the space, where Derek Tumala’s solo exhibition, “Phantom Limb,” currently runs. Thunder and lightning, a fish, ocean waves, and a skull are some of the videos playing on the screens. Primarily, this is what they’re known for: developing and presenting new photography and video works. Though, as of late, there seems to be a growing interest in tapping into the film industry. In this year’s Cinemalaya film festival, the creative production group helped produce two films: Nigel Santos’ sapphic film Open Endings and Maria Estela Paiso’s short film, Objects Do Not Randomly Fall From The Sky.
As an extension of its identity as a creative production group, Tarzeer Pictures launched the Tarzeer Grant for Short Films, inviting Filipino filmmakers to pitch their original and experimental projects. “Tarzeer Pictures has always been shaped by image-making; its many forms, the people who practice, and our audience,” the production group shares. “The Tarzeer Grant for Short Films broadens our support for film and moving image, and hopefully allows us to connect with more filmmakers and producers in the process.”
The selection committee will consist of the Tarzeer Pictures team and a special jury of artists and filmmakers. Those whose projects are shortlisted can expect to present their script, treatment, process, and vision. Each grantee will receive a total of Php 500,000 to produce their films in 2026, as well as supervision and necessary support from the team.
As they launch the inaugural edition of the grant, Tarzeer Pictures hopes to expand it into a larger development program for image-making. “Development and presentation are the core of our program as we provide infrastructure for artists and projects. Beyond production support, Tarzeer Pictures will also become a space for screenings and initiatives to grow the projects’ audiences,” the production group says.
Applications for the Tarzeer Grant for Short Films will be open from October 1, 2025, to November 15, 2025. Selected projects will be announced in February 2026. For more information, visit Tarzeer Pictures’ official website.
