MANILA, PHILIPPINES — In line with its mandate to promote Philippine cinema to global audiences and provide continuous support to promising Filipino talents, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) presents the Philippine delegation at Marché du Film happening alongside the 77th Cannes Film Festival from May 14-25, 2024.

The FDCP provides support to Filipino filmmakers and production companies in showcasing their films and projects at Marché du Film, where Filipino delegates can cultivate connections within the international film industry. 

The Philippines is also represented by visionary Filipino films, projects, and filmmakers at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

“Bona” at Cannes Classics

Cannes Classics is screening National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Lino Brocka’s film “Bona” which was restored in 4K by Carlotta Films and Kani Releasing. The film was first showcased at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 1981.

Top-billed by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador, “Bona” revolves around a young, starstruck schoolgirl who falls in love with an aging actor and becomes his servant. When he decides to leave her, the meek little Bona exacts a terrible revenge.

“Viet and Nam” at Un Certain Regard

Produced by Bianca Balbuena and Bradley Liew from Epicmedia Productions, Truong Minh Quy’s “Viet and Nam” is competing at Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious Un Certain Regard section. The film tells the story of two young miners who must complete a mission before fate pulls them apart.

“Viet and Nam” is supported by the FDCP FilmPhilippines Incentives, a program that fosters co-productions between the Philippines and foreign countries.

“Radikals” at Semaine de la Critique 

Arvin Belarmino’s short film “Radikals” is competing at the Semaine de la Critique (Cannes Critics’ Week), which aims to discover and support fresh talents from around the globe.

A co-production between the Philippines, USA, Bangladesh, and France, “Radikals” tells the story of a young rookie from a bizarre chicken-dance group who faces a heckler after being the worst dancer at a performance, leading him to a series of strange events that reveal what the group does to their weakest link.

Filipino Short Films at Directors’ Fortnight

Directors’ Fortnight, an independent section that encourages all forms of cinematic expression, opens the program with the following short films that are co-written and co-directed by Filipino filmmakers: Eve Baswel and Gogularaajan Rajendran’s “Walay Balay,” Maria Estela Paiso and Ashok Vish’s “Nightbirds,” Arvin Belarmino and Lomorpich Rithy’s “Silig,” and Don Eblahan  and Tan Siyou’s “Cold Cut.”

These filmmakers participated at the Directors’ Factory, a short film residency program and feature film project incubator that aims to foster collaborations between filmmakers in Asia. 

“Daughters of the Sea” at La Fabrique Cinéma

Martika Escobar’s second feature film project “Daughters of the Sea” is participating at La Fabrique Cinéma, an intensive program that supports the development and financing of emerging filmmakers’ projects through sessions and meetings with industry professionals.

“Daughters of the Sea” features three Filipino sea legends and explores the various types of paper maps, the sea, and the existence of time. The project was developed at Full Circle Lab Philippines, co-presented by the FDCP and Tatino Films. 

“Pony Boys” at Cannes Docs By the Sea

Joseph Mangat’s documentary project “Pony Boys” is to be screened at Marché du Film’s Cannes Docs by the Sea program, a dedicated venue for all feature documentary film professionals. The project is supported by FDCP’s funding program CreatePHFilms.

Produced by Alemberg Ang, the documentary delves into the lives of young horse handlers as they navigate adolescence while earning a living, offering a poignant coming-of-age tale set against the world of horse tourism in Baguio.

Filipino Representatives at Spotlight Asia

Spotlight Asia debuts its first Asian IP Showcase this year to highlight Asia’s variety of intellectual property (IP) including novels, series, and video games primed for film adaptation.

National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee, Bianca Balbuena, and Paolo Herras are the Filipino representatives at Spotlight Asia, where they can engage in pitching and networking events to strengthen collaborations within the international film community. 

Ricky Lee’s “Sepa,” presented by Bianca Balbuena, and Paolo Herras’ “Strange Natives” are to be showcased at the Spotlight Asia IP Pitch where authors and producers can meet potential collaborators to support the development of their projects.

Filipino Producers at Producers Network

The IdeaFirst Company President Perci Intalan, WAF Studios’ co-founder Catsi Catalan, and Voyage Film Studios President Chuck Gutierrez are participating in this year’s Producers Network, a program designed to foster collaborations between producers through workshops, meetings, and pitchings.

The Producers Network spotlights the works of promising producers from around the world each year, providing them with a trusted platform to broaden their professional network and discover co-production possibilities.

The Philippine delegation at Marché du Film includes 21 production companies, 14 films for distribution, and 16 projects in development that are supported by the FDCP.

Moreover, the FDCP showcases the Philippines’ film incentives for local and foreign projects at the Philippine-Singapore Pavilion, a dedicated venue for business meetings and partnerships in Cannes.

To learn more about the country’s participation at the Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film, follow FDCP’s official pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.