UP Cineastes' Studio

The University of the Philippines Cineastes' Studio, also referred to as UP Cineastes' Studio or UP Cineastes, is a student film organization located at the UP Film Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman.

UP Cineastes' Studio focuses on promoting film literacy and critical thinking as its primary advocacy. The organization initiates various activities and establishes partnerships to support these goals. These activities encompass film literacy workshops designed for high school students, film production workshops for communities, the publication of SPLICE (the official publication of UP Cineastes' Studio), contests, screenings, thesis exposures, and collaborations with academic institutions.

Cineastes
The organization acquired its name from the film term cineaste, which originated from the combination of the French words cinematographe and enthusiaste in the 20th century.

History
U.P. Cineastes' Studio (pronounced as si-ne-yasts) is the pioneering film organization for students in the Philippines. It was established on September 24, 1984, predating the film department of the UP College of Mass Communication. Initially formed for film students at the University of the Philippines Diliman, it later expanded to include students from other colleges.

Over the past decade, UP Cineastes' Studio has actively promoted Philippine independent cinema to the student community. They have hosted the university leg of major independent film festivals in the country, including Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Cinema One Originals, QCinema, and the CineFilipino Film Festival in 2013.

The organization has also participated in smaller film competitions sponsored by companies like Maynilad Water Services and Hyundai. Through their flagship event, Cineastes Presents, they collaborate on premieres and special screenings of independent films such as Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, Citizen Jake, Signal Rock, ICYMI: I See Me, and Kuwaresma, featuring talkbacks with the filmmakers.

U.P. Cineastes' Studio has nurtured notable individuals in Philippine media, including directors Cathy Garcia-Molina and Irene Villamor, broadcasters and television personalities Kim Atienza and Christine Bersola-Babao, as well as musician Ely Buendia, former frontman of Eraserheads. It has also served as a platform for emerging directors and filmmakers such as Jade Castro, Petersen Vargas, Carlo Francisco Manatad, Glenn Barit, and Martika Ramirez Escobar.

Membership
Membership in UP Cineastes' Studio is open to all students of the University of the Philippines Diliman, regardless of their degree program or home college. The membership application process takes place over a two-month period each semester. For the first semester, it begins in September, and for the second semester, it starts in February. During this process, applicants participate in various film workshops and activities.

Upon acceptance, members are assigned to specific committees and are expected to contribute to the organization's events throughout the year. Membership can be renewed each semester until graduation. At its peak, UP Cineastes' Studio had over a hundred active members in a single semester, making it one of the largest academic organizations in the university.