FDCP to Honor Filipino Filmmakers’ Global Excellence with Film Ambassadors’ Night

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will kick off the year by hosting the third FDCP Film Ambassadors’ Night on February 10, 2019 at the Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City. This annual event is an evening of celebrating the victories of Filipino films, filmmakers, producers, and artists who received accolades and recognition from international film festivals last 2018.

FDCP will recognize eighty-five (85) who brought honor to the country by championing Filipino culture and stories through cinema. Among them are filmmakers who received awards from A-list film festivals, which include Shireen Seno (Nervous Translation), Treb Monteras II (Respeto), and Brillante Mendoza (Alpha, The Right to Kill).

There will also be three (3) recipients of the Camera Obscura Artistic Excellence Award, the highest recognition given by the Agency to outstanding members of the film industry who made major breakthroughs in Philippine cinema. Each awardee will be given a trophy and a P50,000 cash award. Previous awardees include Lav Diaz and Jaclyn Jose, as well as the films Saving Sally by Avid Liongoren and Kita Kita by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.

The Film Ambassadors’ Night will be a festive night of celebrating triumphs and will also serve as a gathering of filmmakers to share their extraordinary experiences with one another and open doors for future collaboration.

The year 2019 is the banner year for the centennial celebration of the Philippine cinema. Following the Presidential Proclamation No. 622, series of 2018, FDCP is the lead agency for the historic event. As part of the commemoration, FDCP’s events throughout the year will follow the theme “Sandaan”, starting with the Film Ambassadors’ Night.

The list of Film Ambassadors will be announced soon.

QCinema Finalist Premieres at the 48th International Film Festival Rotterdam

Wazzup Pilipinas!

NETPAC Jury Prize winner and QCinema Film Festival finalist Dog Days will have its international premiere at the 48th International Film Festival of Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands starting January 30.

With its commitment to strengthen the local film industry and champion Philippine cinema globally, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) supports and takes pride in showcasing films that reflect unique Filipino culture and stories.

Dog Days tells the dark coming-of-age story of Michael Jordan Ulili, a half-Filipino and half-black wannabe basketball star who chases after his “hoop dreams.” It will screen under the film festival’s Bright Future section.

Meanwhile, Khavn, director of Balangiga: Howling Wilderness, collaborated with German director Alexander Kluge for Happy Lamento. The feature-length music film, which is part of the fest’s Perspective programme, features electricity, circus, and the song “Blue Moon.” 

 

Aside from screenings, the IFRR also holds CineMart, the first international co-production market of its kind. This year's selection includes sixteen (16) independent feature films with theatrical potential. Among the selected projects is The Perilous Odyssey to Mount Gulsuk by Jordan Dela Cruz under VY/AC Productions and Cinematografica Films, the only Filipino project for CineMart's 36th edition.

“IFFR is one of the largest platforms that spotlights independent films and emerging talents and content from all over the world. We are proud that Filipino filmmakers are part of their showcase this year,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

The IFFR is one of the most industry-driven and well-attended film festivals in the world. This annual twelve-day film festival provides a platform for filmmakers to feature one-of-a-kind narratives through independent films to broader and more diverse audiences.

The International Film Festival of Rotterdam runs from January 23 to February 3, 2019 at various locations in the center of Rotterdam and in LantarenVenster at the Kop van Zuid.

FDCP Partners With Mindanaoan Cinema for Cinemagis 11

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Twenty-one (21) short films that exemplify Mindanao's unique stories and narratives will be screened at the Cinemagis Northern Mindanao’s Digital Short Film Festival happening at Xavier University (XU) Little Theater, SM City Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Cinema 1, and Kiosko Kagawasan from January 23 to 26, 2019.

Cinemagis 2019 filmmakers with Cinemagis Festival Director Hobart Savior (Contributed photo from Sunstar)

The Cinemagis is organized by the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) and Xavier Foundation in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

“FDCP is more than happy to support Cinemagis because the Festival is a perfect example of what we hope to inspire in all of the regions of the country—for localities to discover their own voices, stories, and lores and showcase and preserve them through the art of film. We hope to reach communities from the country's center all the way to our regions to encourage them to develop their own film culture. Empowering regional film festivals like Cinemagis is in line with this objective,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Mary Liza Diño.

As a partner and in line with its film education programs, FDCP will bring in Aped Santos, the production designer of Baler, to lead the lecture about Optimizing Local Resources for Film and Film Production Design. Coreen Jimenez, the producer ofRespeto, will also be present to talk about Film Production and Management. FDCP will also host a Filmmakers' Night where filmmakers can meet, network, and celebrate Mindanaoan Cinema at Macey’s Secret Garden in CDO on January 26.

Now on its 11th year, the Cinemagis remains steadfast in upholding its advocacy of promoting Mindanao’s rich culture, heritage, and tradition using film as the medium. It also helps regional filmmakers hone their craft and create a thriving film community.

The Cinemagis held a screening of CDO-based filmmaker Julienne Ilagan’s Kauyagan,an official entry to last year’s ToFarm Film Festival. Eight (8) entries were successfully accepted in the senior or professional category, while thirteen (13) will compete in the student category. There will be an awarding ceremony at the SM City CDO Event Center on January 26, 2019.