PH FILM INDUSTRY MONTH HIGHLIGHTS: FDCP BARES ‘BIGGER PLANS’ TO CONSERVE CINEMATIC HERITAGE
able achievements of all industry stakeholders. Sept. 12 marks the birth of Philippine Cinema as the first Filipino-directed and produced feature film, Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid,” premiered on that day in 1919.
Aside from being a gathering of the industry stakeholders, the highlight of “The Filmmakers and Shakers Night” was the relaunch of FDCP’s streaming platform and the introduction of the Academic Film Society, a program that will support aspiring filmmakers and connect them to industry experts and major players.
Hosted by Robi Domingo, the event also featured special tributes to the late Gloria Sevilla, who was dubbed the Queen of Visayan Movies, and the late Susan Roces, considered Queen of Philippine Movies. There were special performances from Ana Feleo, Poppert Bernadas, Lara Maigue, Geneva Cruz, Jeffrey Hidalgo and The CompanY.
This year’s edition carried the theme “Tuloy Ang Kuwento: Ang Pagbabalik ng Pelikulang Pilipino.”
Also part of the monthlong event is the country’s participation at the Venice International Film Festival, which ran from Sept. 3 to 5, with three Filipino films in exhibition. Makbul Mubarak’s “Autobiography,” a Filipino-coproduced film, competed in the Orizzonti section. Romanian filmmaker Mihai Mincan’s “To The North,” starring Filipino actors Soliman Cruz and Bart Guingona, competed under the same section.
Meanwhile, Lav Diaz’s “Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon” (When the Waves are Gone), had its world premiere under the Out of Competition section of the festival.
National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik also had an exhibit at the Cinematheque Center 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.”
Last Sept. 9, the FDCP’s flagship program, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), returned for its 6th edition. It featured restored films under the PPP Classics category and 25 short films from Sine Kabataan and Sine Isla: LuzViMinda.
Also as a way to kick off the PFIM celebration, the FDCP signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts on Aug. 31 for a project called “Mga Hiyas ng Sineng Pilipino.” The program aims to bring back the most important restored films— such as Olive dela Torre’s “Dalagang Ilocana,” Ishmael Bernal’s “Pagdating sa Dulo,” Olivia Lamasan’s “Sana Maulit Muli,” and National Artist for Film Lino Brocka’s “Himala”—to the big screen by screening them at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.