MTRCB need no longer screen films for FDCP cinematheques

Two government bodies tasked to oversee the film industry have forged a landmark agreement that could spur the growth of local cinema.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), represented by chairperson Briccio Santos, recently signed Memorandum Circular No. 07-2012 with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), represented by vice-chair and officer-in-charge Emmanuel H. Borlaza.

Under the MOA, films to be screened in FDCP’s mall-based cinematheques need no longer be screened by the MTRCB. These include local and foreign films shown in malls as part of the council’s cinematheque and film cultural exchange programs.

FDCP teamed up with Shangri-La and SM malls for its cinematheque program. It also has ongoing film exchange partnerships with countries including South Korea and the European Union that hold festivals in local malls.

“Participating films can now be shown without prior exemption from the MTRCB,” Santos said. The MOA addressed the two agencies’ “deep concern for the revival and sustained progress of Philippine cinema,” he added, “and empowers both filmmakers and audiences.”

He noted that it allowed audiences to be “mature and intelligent… especially those who veer away from the usual mass-market cinema.”

At the same time, filmmakers are given the freedom “to truly express their vision… without having to compromise and limit their options in terms of creative decisions.”

Santos gave credit to former MTRCB Chief Grace Poe for championing the MOA. Poe told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the MTRCB fully trusted the FDCP to be responsible in screening “high-quality, internationally recognized” films.

“FDCP is committed to simply abide by the need to classify films according to their respective audience suitability,” Santos stressed.