FDCP to restore 2 Vilma Santos films, conduct free workshops

Jose Javier Reyes (left) and Rica Arevalo

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has tied up with Regal Entertainment for the restoration of two Vilma Santos starrers, namely Mike de Leon’s “Sister Stella L” and National Artist Ishmael Bernal’s “Relasyon.”

“We will look for more movies to restore. You will be surprised by how much films are already gone because they weren’t properly handled in the past. We’re trying to keep up on this,” announced film and TV director Jose Javier Reyes at a recent media gathering.

Reyes, who functions as a technical adviser for the FDCP, also made announcements in relation to the Council’s plans for the coming months. Among these is the FDCP’s plan to sponsor “a Filipino film block” at Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart) in March 2024.

“During our recent trip there, we realized that the Hong Kong Filmart is the biggest when it comes to Asian films. Sadly, we only had two booths, so we were pushed to the back of the venue. Mukha kaming kawawa! This is why, next year, we will put up one whole block for the Philippines. We will invite all film sellers who cannot afford to set up their own booths. In fact, Viva Entertainment has already agreed to participate,” he said.

Reyes also explained that, aside from the one in Hong Kong, the most important film markets for Filipino projects are those in Cannes, France, (Marché du Film) and Busan, South Korea, (Asian Contents and Film Market).

“However, we all need to work together to make an impact [in these venues]. It’s not enough that we make films. We have to make films for the world. All we need is one ‘Parasite,’ although [director] Bong Joon-ho took a long time to do that. But when you get to that point, your audience is the world,” he declared.

Santos (left) and Christopher de Leon in “Relasyon”

“Let’s encourage more Filipino producers to make more movies today. We need new films. In fact, we have already been getting invitations from a lot of international festivals to submit entries,” he said.

This is the reason FDCP has been providing film grants to participants of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (P1 million each) and the Metro Manila Film Festival (P500,000 for the Christmas edition and P300,000 for its summer edition).

Fringe benefit

Meanwhile, filmmaker Rica Arevalo, who heads FDCP’s education division, announced that a free acting workshop for working actors, to be facilitated by Meisner Studio Manila, will be held on July 10.

Workshops on video production and cinematography, to be conducted in cooperation with the Mowelfund Film Institute, will be held in September, reported Arevalo.

She said that the goal is to take the workshops to different parts of the country. Hence, an intensive workshop covering directing, screenwriting, cinematography, sound design, among others, will be held in Subic, Zambales, in October.

Vilma Santos in “Sister Stella L”

A basic acting workshop for students, to be conducted by actor Rolly Inocencio, is likewise scheduled in November, also for free, Arevalo added.

“You don’t become an actor to be a celebrity,” Reyes pointed out. “Being one is only a fringe benefit. It’s important to take the craft seriously because those who are serious about it are the ones who last the longest.” INQ