Filipino filmmaker Eduardo ‘Dodo’ Dayao’s newest project Dear Wormwood has won the IFFAM Project Market’s award for “Best Project” held at the International Film Festival & Awards Macao this Sunday, December 8. Securing the IFFAM Project Market’s highest award and $15,000, Dayao said, “I am very excited because it means we are on the right track with the film and all our hard work has been paid off so far.” Patti Lapus and Bradley Liew, the producers of Dear Wormwood, accompanied Dayao in receiving the award.

A coming of age film about a 14 year old farmboy who goes viral after attacking a classmate, “John Denver Trending” is the debut film of director Arden Rod Condez. The film has received critical acclaim with its timely treatment of the perils and frenzy of social media, and has been described as an “accomplished debut,” offering a “cautionary tale of cyberbullying” by Screendaily, as well as a statement on “the dangerous power of social media in shaping public perception and opinion...and its unrelenting negative consequences” by ABS-CBN.

Anchored on its mission to support and promote Philippine regional cinema, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the country’s national film agency, forged partnerships with five regional film festivals which take place this December, namely the Salamindanaw Asian Film Festival, Festival de Cine Paz Mindanao, Mindanao Film Festival, CineKasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival, and Pasale: Cinemarehiyon-Bikol Film Festival.

The 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards hailed the best of Philippine Cinema in the calendar year of 2018, with "Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral" by Jerrold Tarog bagging the Best Motion Picture trophy. Other big winners of the night were Best Director Chito Roño for "Signal Rock," Best Actor Daniel Padilla for "The Hows of Us," and Best Actress Glaiza de Castro for "Liway." 

What would Philippine Cinema be without Lily Monteverde, Nova Villa, Wenn Deramas, and Soxie Topacio? Less exciting and not as thriving, that is for sure; and probably awesome to a lesser degree. Thanks to their unrelenting dedication, immense talent, and ultimate love for Philippine Cinema, these Special Awardees voted by the Board of Governors of the 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards have proven to be worthy of such citations: Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award, Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement, and Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award.

Jun Robles Lana’s latest film “KALEL, 15” will have its World Premiere under the Official Selection programme of the 23rd Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 29, 2019 in Tallinn, Estonia. It is the only Filipino film in the official competition, and it will be up against 20 films from all over the world.