Gov’t backs archive project
“This is positive news. It will protect Filipino filmmakers,” said award-winning director Brillante Mendoza of a new government directive for the National Film Archive of the Philippines (NFAP) to collect and preserve locally produced films.
Administrative Order No. 26, recently signed by President Benigno Aquino III, instructs all government agencies to turn over copies of their audiovisual materials to the NFAP as part of efforts “to preserve the country’s artistic and historic wealth.” The directive authorizes the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), which established the NFAP, to oversee the collection of materials.
In a statement from Malacañang, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said that, if necessary, “FDCP may also request private parties (film producers, filmmakers, legal owners of new films and audiovisuals) to deposit copies with the NFAP within a month after screening here or abroad.”
The NFAP will keep a record of all materials collected and publish that record at every year’s end.
“This was Briccio Santos’ (FDCP chair) brainchild. He understands what indie filmmakers need because he’s an indie director himself,” Mendoza said. “Most of my films are in France, with my French producers. It would be reassuring to have copies safely stored here.”
Viva Entertainment big boss Vic del Rosario said he would show his support by submitting materials in his care. “Our company has preserved copies of the 1,400 titles we’ve produced since 1981,” he said.
Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, said AO 26 was a “good idea … offhand. Not all film producers have the capability to preserve their materials.”
However, Llamanzares—daughter of the late action-king Fernando Poe Jr.—raised concerns about anti-piracy safeguards. FPJ Productions, established in 1961, maintains an archive of films that Poe produced and starred in. She questioned whether the system to be put in place would cover the “laborious task” of cleaning the 35-mm films.
