MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 11, 2022 — Filipino director Arvin Belarmino, with his feature film project Ria, has been selected to participate in the 44th Cinéfondation – Residence du Festival Programme of the Festival de Cannes in France from March 1 to July 15, 2022.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 10, 2021 —  The Full Circle Lab Philippines (FCL PH), a joint capacity-building program for Filipino and other Southeast Asian filmmakers of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and European production outfit Tatino Films, has opened the call for applications for this year’s edition. The 2022 edition will consist of four (4) labs that will directly benefit fifteen (15) projects and eleven (11) talents, with no less than ten (10) international mentors and industry advisors involved. The Story Editor’s Lab, a new section, will also be introduced and will be focusing on story development particularly in the script development stage. 

With the end of the run of the Metro Manila Film Festival this week in cinemas nationwide, much debate and discussion have been held from all stakeholders — theaters, audiences, and producers alike — about Filipino films and its future, especially in the context of our country that is still battling the pandemic and affecting our whole ecosystem.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 7, 2022 — To further engage with film workers, and develop and enhance their skills in the local film and audiovisual industry, the National Registry (NR) of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will hold a series of free acting workshops for NR-registered background actors, talents, professional actors, directors, producers, and writers, to be facilitated by Star Magic director and acting coach Rahyan Carlos and his team starting February. 

While many of us welcome the New Year with a list of resolutions, allow me to begin this year with a different kind of list. As we look forward with hope, let us peer through the months ahead and take a quick glance at some of the many things we at the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) are excited about for this 2022.

The Film Development of the Philippines’ flagship international film lab for Filipino and Southeast Asian films and filmmakers is set for an exciting three years. The Full Circle Lab Philippines has announced not only its latest edition with applications opening this coming January, 2022 as a part of its three-year vision that will culminate into the FCL Horizons, but will also be introducing a new section—the Story Editor’s Lab and a bigger Fiction Lab welcoming twelve participants, four more from the previous years’ eight. 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, DECEMBER 28, 2021 —  The Berlinale Co-Production Market of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), through the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), has opened the call for applications for the Visitors Programme 2022 for Filipino producers. 

As the year ends, we can't help but look back at that part of the road we have traveled. It's that time when we ask where we are on the journey. Most of all, it is also a time to celebrate and be grateful for our wins — big and small.

In the Philippines, Christmas is the biggest and most important season. People meet up to bond and fill each other's love tanks which have diminished during the year. And one of the most memorable bonding activities during this season is going to the cinemas.