PH Film Industry Month highlights: FDCP bares ‘bigger plans’ to conserve cinematic heritage

Film Development Council of the Philippines chair Tirso Cruz III (fourth from left) joins the closing number.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has come up with new programs and financial assistance for Filipino directors and producers that are “more inclusive and expansive,” as well as “bigger plans” for conserving our cinematic heritage.

This, in a nutshell, is the main thrust of the leadership of newly appointed FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III, who made the announcement at the recent closing ceremony of the 2022 Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM) celebration.

“It’s time to put our differences aside, find a common ground, and go the extra mile that would enable us to spring back into that flourishing industry some years back, and even perform better,” Cruz said during a speech that marked the start of a two-hour program held at the Gallery MiraNila by the Blue Leaf in Quezon City.

“When I assumed the post in July, I wasn’t sure what to expect or where to start in helping jump-start the industry. The last three years, with the dwindling cinema audiences and the pandemic lockdowns, quite exemplified the lowest it has been for all of us,” Cruz began.

Jose Javier Reyes (left) and Paolo Villaluna

Working together

“With some really good help and a staff that pledged support, we got started reconnecting with the parts of the industry that the FDCP has lost connection with. We are now reunited with them. There have been meaningful discussions, complaints, and wish lists, as well as ideas and hopes, but what was most important to me was the promise that we will start working together to help each other out. This is the spirit that has kept us aflame all throughout this monthlong celebration,” Cruz pointed out.

“The willingness to help, collaborate, and support each other was more than what I expected. However, the FDCP cannot do it all. If you’re here with us tonight, that means you are one with us in our aim to strengthen, amplify and preserve Philippine cinema as we knew it from the Golden years,” he pointed out. “We would like you all to start using our programs to further your prospects in making films, which I know you are very capable of doing.”

He continued: “Tonight, there will be tributes, performances, and most importantly, there will be connections. Tonight, we will promise that every single day hence, we will wake up with a firm resolve to create, produce and promote the very best versions of Filipino films.”

The CompanY

Under Presidential Proclamation 1085, s. 2021, declaring September as the Philippine Film Industry Month, the FDCP has organized programs and activities to recognize and celebrate the invaluable achievements of all industry stakeholders. Sept. 12 marks the birth of Philippine Cinema as the first Filipino-directed and produced feature film, Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid,” premiered on that day in 1919.

Aside from being a gathering of the industry stakeholders, the highlight of “The Filmmakers and Shakers Night” was the relaunch of FDCP’s streaming platform and the introduction of the Academic Film Society, a program that will support aspiring filmmakers and connect them to industry experts and major players.

Hosted by Robi Domingo, the event also featured special tributes to the late Gloria Sevilla, who was dubbed the Queen of Visayan Movies, and the late Susan Roces, considered Queen of Philippine Movies. There were special performances from Ana Feleo, Poppert Bernadas, Lara Maigue, Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo and The CompanY.

This year’s edition carried the theme “Tuloy Ang Kuwento: Ang Pagbabalik ng Pelikulang Pilipino.”

Also part of the monthlong event is the country’s participation at the Venice International Film Festival, which ran from Sept. 3 to 5, with three Filipino films in exhibition. Makbul Mubarak’s “Autobiography,” a Filipino-coproduced film, competed in the Orizzonti section. Romanian filmmaker Mihai Mincan’s “To The North,” starring Filipino actors Soliman Cruz and Bart Guingona, competed under the same section.

During the tribute to the late movie queen Susan Roces.

Meanwhile, Lav Diaz’s “Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon” (When the Waves are Gone), had its world premiere under the Out of Competition section of the festival.

National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik also had an exhibit at the Cinematheque Center Manila, titled “Indio-Genius: 500 Taong Labanan Kontra Magellan, Marilyn, Mickey at Padre Damaso,” featuring art installations and a special screening of his “Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux III.”

Last Sept. 9, the FDCP’s flagship program, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), returned for its 6th edition. It featured restored films under the PPP Classics category and 25 short films from Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda.

Also as a way to kick off the PFIM celebration, the FDCP signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) on Aug. 31 for a project called “Mga Hiyas ng Sineng Pilipino.” The program aims to bring back the most important restored films–such as Olive dela Torre’s “Dalagang Ilocana,” Ishmael Bernal’s “Pagdating sa Dulo,” Olivia Lamasan’s “Sana Maulit Muli,” and National Artist for Film Lino Brocka’s “Himala”–to the big screen by screening them at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.