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| (Image Source: Film Development Council Of The Philippines) |
In celebration of the second Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM), the annual month-long fete honoring the heritage and legacy of Philippine Cinema, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will be holding a wide array of local and international events for the whole month of September including free film screenings, networking events, book launch, workshops, and many more.
This year’s PFIM theme “Tuloy Ang Kuwento: Ang Pagbabalik ng Pelikulang Pilipino” aims to gather the different stakeholders, especially the film community and film audiences, and rally the nation behind the Philippine film industry as it regain its momentum upon the easing of pandemic-related restrictions and as cinemas and theaters become fully operational. Most of the events will be held in-person. The month of September will consist of main events such as the Tuloy Ang Kuwento: PFIM Opening Ceremony, PFIM Gala, and the Filmmakers and Shakers Night: PFIM Closing Event where special screenings of Filipino gems, live performances, and special announcements will take place. In honor of their significant contribution to the industry, films of National Artists for Film Fernando Poe Jr. and the three new National Artists, Nora Aunor, Ricky Lee, and late director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, will be screened for free under the Archive Focus event and the FDCP banner Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) Classics in TriNoma Mall and Cinematheque Centres nationwide, respectively. PPP will also be returning for this year’s edition to offer fresh perspectives from the youth and regional narratives featuring the finalists from Sine Kabataan Short Film Lab and Festival and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda Short Film Competition.
Since its inauguration last year by former President Rodrigo Duterte through the Presidential Proclamation 1085 which declares September as the Philippine Film Industry Month, the FDCP, as the lead agency in observing the PFIM, has organized programs and activities to recognize and celebrate the invaluable achievements of all the stakeholders and sectors of the film industry. September 12 marks the birth of Philippine Cinema as the first Filipino-directed and produced feature film Dalagang Bukid by Jose Nepomuceno was premiered on this day in 1919. Here is what you need to know on the activities for the 2022 celebration of National Film Industry Month throughout the month.
August 31 to September 3 – Free Screening of FPJ Films at Cinematheque Centres (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, and Nabunturan)
In line with the celebration of the 83rd birthday of the late actor-director and National Artist for Film Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), the PFA will hold free screenings of four of The King of Philippine Movies’ films starting August 31 to September 3 in FDCP Cinematheque Centres nationwide. PFA’s “Archive Focus: Celebrating FPJ’s 83rd Birth Anniversary feat. FPJ Productions” will screen FPJ’s notable films, some of which he directed and starred in, including Ang Padrino, Ang Panday, Pagbabalik ng Lawin, and Asedillo by Celso Ad. Castillo.
September 2 – Philippine Film Industry Month Opening Ceremony
To kick-off the month-long celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month in honor of the National Artists for Film, the FDCP will hold the “Tuloy Ang Kuwento: PFIM Opening Ceremony” at Cinema 6 of TriNoma Mall in Quezon City to be hosted by Ms. Dianne Medina with guests Dr. Nicanor Tiongson and Mr. Dik Trofeo. There will be a special screening of the newly-restored film The Moises Padilla Story by National Artist Gerardo de Leon. There will also be a Cinema Books Expo featuring books from National Artist Mr. Ricky Lee, Mr. Doy del Mundo, Mr. Nick Deocampo and Mr. Nestor Cuartero in cooperation with DLSU Publishing House and UST Publishing House.
September 3 to 5 – Venice International Film Festival 2022
The Philippine delegation to one of the most significant and prestigious film festivals in the world, the 79th Venice International Film Festival (VIFF), will be composed of two Filipino co-produced films, one Out of Competition film, two Filipino talents, and one FDCP-led panel discussion at the Venice Production Bridge — the networking side of the festival. Indonesia-France-Germany-Poland-Singapore-Qatar-Philippines co-produced film and FDCP FilmPhilippines Office’s (FPO) ASEAN Co-production Fund grantee Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak will compete in the Orizzonti section of VIFF. Romanian film To The North by Mihai Mincan, starring Filipino actors Soliman Cruz and Bartholome Guingona, will also compete under the same section. World-famous Filipino auteur Lav Diaz’s Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon (When the Waves are Gone), an International Co-production Fund grantee of FPO, will have its world premiere under the Out of Competition section of the festival. The FDCP will host the panel discussion “Fostering Creative Collaborations – Common Strategies and Opportunities” at the Venice Production Bridge, in collaboration with Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual – Ministry of Culture of Italy, Philippine Embassy in Rome, and FDCP’s UniPhilippines Office.
September 7 – Opening of Kidlat Tahimik Exhibit
FDCP will hold an opening ceremony for National Artist Kidlat Tahimik’s exhibit at the Cinematheque Centre 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. The exhibit is a playful depiction of the resistance/non-resistance, the cultural encounters, of the Philippines to colonial icons. Homecoming from a six-month exhibit in Spain’s Palacio Cristal, the exhibit is fanned out across six venues: the National Museum of the Philippines, Museo Pambata, Rizal Park Visitor’s Center, Intramuros Administration, NCCA, and at FDCP’s Cinematheque Centre Manila.
September 9 – Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) Opening Ceremony Featuring PPP Classics
FDCP’s flagship film festival, Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), returns for its 6th edition featuring restored films for PPP Classics and short films from Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda. This year’s PPP Opening Ceremony will hold free screenings of restored classic films starring National Artist actress Nora Aunor — Atsay by Eddie Garcia and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos by Mario O’Hara at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City.
September 10 to 24 – PPP 6 at Cinematheque Centres
After its opening ceremony in TriNoma, PPP Classics and Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda short films will have another free screening at Cinematheque Centres nationwide. For PPP Classics, feature films Atsay and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, will be screened on September 10; Cain at Abel and Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak written by National Artist Ricky Lee on September 15; and Brutal and Karnal by late director National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya on September 16. These screenings are supported by Solar Films, ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula, and Viva Films. PPP Classics PPP will also be screened together with Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla short films starting September 17 to 24 in all Cinematheques Centres.
September 10 to 11 – 3rd Philippine Film Festival (Festival del Cinema Filippino in Italia)
Marking the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines in Italy with the theme “Philippines-Italy: Rising Together", the Philippine Embassy in Rome and Sentro Rizal Rome in partnership with the FDCP will hold the third edition of the Festival del Cinema Filippino in Italia (Philippine Film Festival in Italy) to promote Philippine culture, tourism, cinema, and creative industries in Italy.
September 12 – Philippine Film Industry Month Gala
September 12 is a significant day for Philippine Cinema — it was the day of the release of the first Filipino-produced and directed film Dalagang Bukid by Jose Nepomuceno in 2019. In line with this, the FDCP will hold the “Awit at Pelikula: Philippine Film Industry Month Gala” at Teatrino in Promenade, Greenhills in San Juan City. Philippine Film Industry Month’s main event will top bill live performances of the unforgettable soundtrack songs of some of the great Filipino classic films to be performed by the country’s top performing artists including Christopher de Leon, Anna Feleo, Jed Madela, and Bituin Escalante featuring a tribute to the late actress Ms. Cherie Gil. The event will be hosted by actor-singer Piolo Pascual. The PFIM Gala will also feature a new original composition by National Artist of the Philippines for Music Mr. Ryan Cayabyab and written by Mr. Jose Javier Reyes.
September 16 to 18 – PPP Premiere and Awards Night Featuring Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda
PPP 6 will premiere the 10 short films from Sine Kabataan and 10 short films from Sine Isla: LuzViMinda to be followed by the Awards Night for this year’s PPP and a special screening Martika Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die on September 16 at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City. On September 17 to 18, PPP will continue to hold free screenings of the in-competition short films with a talkback session with the Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla filmmakers at TriNoma. The September 18 schedule will be succeeded by a free screening of feature film John Denver Trending by Arden Rod Condez.
September 21 – Keeping Memories SEAPAAVA Book Launch
FDCP, in partnership with the South East Asia Pacific Audio-Visual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA), will hold a book launch with a film archiving forum for Keeping Memories: Cinema and Archiving in the Asia-Pacific edited by filmmaker and historian Nick Deocampo at the Cinematheque Centre Manila. The book is a joint publication of SEAPAVAA, FDCP, Ateneo Press, and the Vietnam Film Institute.
September 23 – International Film Industry Conference Press Conference
FDCP’s International Film Industry Conference (IFIC) is an annual conference that consists of a series of sessions and masterclasses that supports the development of Filipino filmmaking and its stakeholders by bringing together experts from the local and international film industries to become panelists and speakers. For its 6th edition, IFIC will hold an online press conference to announce this year’s lineup of topics and mentors for its public sessions and masterclasses for its hybrid conference in October.
September 24 – FDCP Channel Game Night
FDCP Channel will host a “FDCP Channel Anibersaya Game Night", an online game night where audiences can join and win exciting prizes. This will be streamed live from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via FDCP Channel (fdcpchannel.ph) and FDCP’s official Facebook and YouTube pages.
September 24 – UFlix Screening
In order to support students’ films and encourage them to pursue their passion in filmmaking, FDCP will be relaunching UFlix — an exhibition platform where FDCP will be announcing an upcoming incentive program for student filmmakers on the 24th. The UFlix inauguration at this year’s PFIM will hold screenings for student films for a day at Cinematheque Centres nationwide.
September 28 – Webinar In Film Incentives (WIFI)
To raise awareness and encourage more filmmakers about the film incentives and funding programs they can apply to, the FDCP FilmPhilippines Office (FPO) will hold an online session of the Webinar In Film Incentives (WIFI) to discuss its Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-Production Fund (ICOF), ASEAN Co-production Fund (ACOF), and Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX) and CreatePHFilm Funds for Development (Script Development and Project Development), Production (Small Budget and Large Budget), and Post-Production. FPO will also announce the opening of their new cycle for their incentive and funding programs.
September 30 – Closing of Philippine Film Industry Month
Capping off the month-long festivities, the “Filmmakers and Shakers Night: Closing Event of the Philippine Film Industry Month” programme will be hosted by esteemed TV host and personality Robi Domingo featuring tributes for Queen of Visayan Movies Gloria Sevilla and Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces, a Cinema Books Expo, and announcements from FDCP and FDCP Channel. The closing event also serves as an opportunity to honor and thank all the partners, stakeholders, and filmmakers who supported the Philippine film industry.
