The Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center will hold it's academic year-end convocation this August 2 with the screening of the Midterm Drills of the Basic Students. It is part of the tradition of the film school to convene as a body and view the films-in-progress of every batch. This Saturday, the Advanced Students and the Incoming Basic Batch are audience to the works of the current Basic students in the spirit of community building, as well as to sharpen their critical eye and film sense.

The evening will be concluded with screenings of two award-winning films of former students of director Marilou Diaz-Abaya. Tara Illenberger, who is currently the Editing Instructor of the Advanced class, will be screening her Jury Prize-winning piece at the 2008 Cinemalaya, Brutus. Brutus follows the story of two children's voyage from the mountains into the city to carry wood cut by illegal loggers. It will be followed by Best Picture winner of the Cinemalaya 2008, Jay, also by Abaya's former student, Francis Pasion.

This event also is the culmination of the two-part celebration of the MDAFI in honor of the successes of Director Abaya's former students. In July 22, The filmmakers were invited to the campus for a get together with the students. Filmmakers Tara Illenberger, Francis Pasion, and Dan Villegas (Best Cinematography for Huling Pasada, Cinemalaya 2008) graced the campus with their presence to inspire and encourage the MDAFI students who are about to begin filming their final projects.