One of the main thrusts of the Loyola Film Circle is the development and recognition of grass roots talents in the independent film industry. The Ateneo Video Open, now on its tenth year, is Loyola Film Circle's annual nationwide film competition open to collegiate-level filmmakers. The event aims to highlight the effective use of aesthetically pleasing films as media for social discourse. There are four categories: short narrative, music video, documentary, and the more recently introduced experimental film. The ninth Ateneo Video Open attracted entries from all over the country, with a winner coming from Western Visayas State University. Aside from the prestigious awards night in the Henry Lee Irwin theatre, AVO also offers satellite screenings for the finalists of each category. All events are free of charge and open to the public. AVO's viewers generally include college students in Metro Manila, as well as young film directors and producers looking for fresh talent right out of the hatchery. Collectively, AVO reaches out to about 500 students in Metro Manila, and 100 students in surrounding regions.