MOWELFUND & NCAP’s film distribution/ exhibition seminar
Last Dec. 7, the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND) and the National Cinema Association of the Philippines (NCAP) held the firstever seminar on film distribution and exhibition upon the initiative of MOWELFUND chair Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda. The seminar theme was How to Get
your Film to the Big Screen. Film distribution and exhibition are historically the components of movie making that are least charted and valued, but which can make or break a new producer’s longevity in the business.
In rare on-camera appearances but hands-on sharing, the NCAP stalwarts highlighted the whole-day seminar at the Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City, with hard-earned knowledge, experiences, expertise and even the nuances of the trade.
Main speaker was Dominic Du, NCAP chairman and president of the Anti-Film Piracy Council. Panelists and discussants were Evelyn Advincula of Robinsons Cinemas; James Bartolome of Ayala Cinemas: Christiana Caparas of Vista Mall Cinemas; JJ Jacob of Warner Bros.; Ronnie Domingo of Columbia Pictures and Maan Lopez of SM Cinemas. IdealFirst producer Perci Intalan assisted in the preparation of the on-screen module from content provided by Du. MOWELFUND president Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo led the invocation and welcome. Maceda, scion to Sampaguita Pictures and herself an industry leader, was keynote speaker.
The organizers were overwhelmed with the show of interest by the producers and other filmmakers present. The 138 participants displayed enthusiasm and dynamism at the open forum. As one director aptly stated, “Theater owners and operators were deemed as antagonists to producers and other filmmakers.” The former were believed to exploit, especially the newcomers. The seminar made it clear that, while, admittedly, theater operations is a business, “an enlightened and healthy relationship between cinema operators and producers can be achieved with dialogue, continuous communication, cooperation and fair play.”