Film council to push for Oscar nomination of ‘Ma’ Rosa’

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) would help get the Brillante Ma. Mendoza movie, “Ma’ Rosa,” nominated in the best foreign language film category of the 2017 US Academy Awards.

“Since the current thrust of the FDCP is to help in the marketing and distribution of local films, we have promised to help ‘Ma’ Rosa’ in its promotional campaign. I told Direk Brillante that the council would look into the proposal that his team presented,” said FDCP chair Liza Diño.

Diño also appealed to industry people and the private sector for help during the FDCP-organized “A Celebration of Philippine Cinema” on Tuesday night at the Cinematheque Center in Ermita, Manila.

The event served as a welcome party for the group that brought 10 films to the recent 2016 Busan International Film Festival. It was also a sendoff for those who would participate in the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival to be held from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3.

Big winners

The FDCP also paid tribute to this year’s big winners in international film fests, namely: Allan Michael Ibanez and Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez’s “1st Sem”; Lav Diaz’s “Ang Babaeng Humayo”; Louie Ignacio’s “Area”; Perry Dizon’s “Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals and Sahimi”; Louie Ignacio’s “Child Haus”;

Ralston Jover’s “Hamog”; Lav Diaz’s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis”;  “Hikahos sa Lungsod” (produced by GMA Network’s “Reporter’s Notebook”); “Hikbi sa Ibayong Dagat” (produced by “Reporter’s Notebook”); “Maestra Salbabida”   (produced by “Front Row” of GMA Network); Erik Matti’s “Honor Thy Father”; Charliebebs Gohetia’s “I Love You. Thank You”; Mel Chionglo’ “Iadya Mo Kami”;

Raymund Ribay Gutierrez’s “Imago”; Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol”; Louie Ignacio’s “Laut”; Brillante Ma.  Mendoza’s “Ma’ Rosa”; Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Pamilya Ordinaryo”; Carlo Francisco Manatad’s “Sandra”; King Palisoc’s “Tandem”; John Paul Su’s “Toto”; Joel Lamangan’s “Tomodachi”; Will Fredo’s “Traslacion: Ang Paglakad sa Altar ng Alanganin,” and Sheron Dayoc’s “The Crescent Rising.”

During the event, the council also formally launched its International Film Festival Assistance Program (Iffap), which will help filmmakers whose movies have been chosen to participate in major international festivals. (Visit www.fdcp.ph for more information on the Iffap.)

Program beneficiaries may get two round-trip plane tickets and three-night accommodations. In turn, the FDCP will require them to participate in a mentorship program that will focus on the industry’s educational development.