MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Friday said he is seeking to institutionalize the Philippine Film Industry Month in September with physical festivals and free tickets for Filipino classics.
Estrada said he filed Senate Bill No. 2250 to give “due importance and appreciation” to the film industry, further fostering the country’s sense of nationhood.
“During this special period of celebration, which shall be known as ‘Buwan ng Pelikulang Pilipino,’ we aim to promote and revive the local film industry, encourage its growth and expansion as one of the dynamic segments of the creative economy, and further elevate the standards and quality of Filipino films at par with the world’s best,” Estrada said.
Under the said bill, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will be tasked to organize a film festival for a one-week exclusive screening in all regular cinemas nationwide and in streaming websites or platforms.
It will include free screenings of classic Filipino films, and internationally acclaimed short or feature-length movies in theaters and other similar venues operated by the government, including the FDCP, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and National Commission for Culture and the Arts, said Estrada.
Apart from this, the measure will also mandate the FDCP to promote learning opportunities for various film-related disciplines such as directing, scriptwriting, editing, and musical scoring, among others.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte declared September as Philippine Film Industry Month through an executive order back in 2021.