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.

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.

The Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), which will be on its fourth edition this September, has leveled up in four ways. Firstly, it will produce an esteemed lineup of 10 films. Secondly, it will be choosing six finished films or films in post-production and four projects in their advanced development stage or production stage. Thirdly, it will be offering co-production funds of up to PHP 2 million via the FilmPhilippines Philippine Co-Production Fund. Finally, it will hold a beefed up Sine Kabataan 4, which will also offer production grants and film development lab sessions to young filmmakers.

A hundred years since Filipinos started capturing in film the story of their islands and their people, recorded facts, narratives, and perspectives have been shaped and developed. This year marks a special occasion for this collection of Filipino stories as they are set to be celebrated in Daang Dokyu, the first Philippine documentary festival.

With the Berlin International Film Festival or Berlinale underway, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)  Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño gladly announces FDCP's partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, Germany for the forthcoming Philippine Cinema Night. A Filipino contingent’s trip to an international film festival is incomplete without the Philippine Cinema Night which showcases the Filipino films, filmmakers, and delegates to international partners and stakeholders so that they may network, connect, and partner for future collaboration.

The second leg of the Southern Voices Film Lab (SOVOLAB) has kicked off in Davao City this month, continuing the tradition of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) of boosting regional cinema by creating an exclusive platform for filmmakers from Mindanao. SOVOLAB is an intensive script and development lab for Mindanaoan filmmakers that aims to discover indigenous stories from the South and empower the voices of Mindanao.

For the second year in a row, a Filipino film has been chosen to take part in the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (SEAFIC). Filipino director Zurich Chan and producer Gale Osorio’s project Cangrejos joins four other projects from fellow Southeast Asian filmmakers as the five selections at this year’s SEAFIC.