At a time when almost everything is at a halt due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Filipino Audio-Visual industry is suffering from the suspension of work and cancellation of events as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease. While regular and contractual employees get to continue their tasks via alternative work arrangements and still get paid, most of the Audio-Visual (AV) industry workers are not as fortunate to have employment during the national state of calamity. These include freelancers—from talents, to production staff, and technical crew members who get paid on a "per day" basis, “no work, no pay” scheme, and have no direct employer to work for.

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 922, Series of 2020 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines relative to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the FDCP DISASTER/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF (DEAR) PROGRAM is hereby activated as of March 23, 2020 with the following guidelines issued

A selection of five Filipino films will be screened in this year’s Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF). Crisanto Aquino’s Write About Love (2019) and Rae Red’s Babae at Baril will screen in the Osaka Asian Film Festival’s official competition section. Meanwhile, Metamorphosis (dir. Jose Enrique Tiglao, 2019) and Sunshine Family (dir. Tai-sik Kim, 2019) join Jade Castro’s official 2019 PPP entry LSS (Last Song Syndrome) in the festival’s “Special Program: New Action! Southeast Asia.” 

In another victory for Philippine Cinema in the international scene, Filipino director Rafael Manuel’s short film Filipiñana bagged the prestigious Silver Bear Jury Prize in this 70th Berlin International Film Festival during its Closing and Awards Ceremony last March 1, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.  

In a successful night of cultural exchange, Cinematheque Centre Manila saw an overflow of people attending Japan Film Week 2020’s Premiere Night, held by the Cinematheque as a collaboration between the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Japan Foundation in Manila. 

Since 1998, auteur Lav Diaz has been captivating local and international audiences with films such as “Batang West Side,” “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (Norte, The End of History)” and “Ang Hupa (The Halt).” His artistic excellence is recognized throughout the world, getting nods from Gawad Urian, Singapore International Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and Venice International Film Festival. With his groundbreaking achievements, the American Cinematheque deemed Diaz worthy of tribute screenings that will be held at the Aero and Egyptian Theatres in California, United States.