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| Film Development Council Of The Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Dino (Image Source: PhilStar.com) |
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) headed by its chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra has taken new steps to further promote the local film industry with its newfound aim of collaborating with foreign film producers and filmmakers for projects that can possibly be made in the foreseeable future. With the said purpose on hand and its new campaign slogan "Philippines: Let's Create Together", FDCP virtually participated in the 25th Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) and the 19th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) held last March 15, 2021.
Due to persisting restrictions brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic, this year's edition of the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market and Hong Kong - Asia Film Financial Forum were held through various online platforms. Throughout these events, FDCP presented the Philippine delegate and HAF projects to the international community and promoted the Film Philippines Incentives Programs – Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-Production Fund (ICOF), ASEAN Co-Production Fund (ACOF) and Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX). Thirteen companies sponsored by the FDCP - Animation Vertigo Asia, Atom & Anne Mediaworks Corp., Binisaya Movement Inc.; BLINK Creative Studio; Daluyong Studios, Digital Dreams Inc., Fixer Ink Philippines, Globe Studios; Man Overboard Productions, Mandala Video and Event Productions, North Luzon Cinema Guild Inc., Projects 8 Projects, Solar Pictures Inc. - were able to showcase projects, seek project collaborators and funding, pursue sales and distribution opportunities, and expand their network of overseas contacts.
During the online event, FDCP chairperson Diño numerated the pluses in considering the Philippines for film collaboration projects. “Aside from the talent and the amazing locations you can find in the Philippines, I would say the Philippines is one of the more proactive countries in terms of really pushing for engagement with the rest of the Southeast Asian countries,” declared Liza. “Our association, right now, is looking for more opportunities, for cooperation and I would say Singapore is also a good country that also offers a really good mechanism of support and the goal is for collaboration.” She, too, pointed out that the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand have their way of engaging with international productions “but with the Philippines, we’re very specific with our goal to make sure that we’re amplifying and we’re elevating cooperation between Southeast Asian countries because while there are a lot of opportunities available for filmmakers to access European grants, I do believe that if you really wanna elevate your industry, it has to start from us — your neighbors, from us coming from one region. And the only way that you can work as one region is, if we start actively working together. So, choose the Philippines, let’s create together.”
