“Philippine Cinema is dominated by women.” I will never forget hearing this when we hosted a Panel Discussion in Osaka, Japan which featured women filmmakers in Philippine Cinema. Sari Dalena, filmmaker and then head of UP Film Institute, went on to present how in the past 100 years of Philippine Cinema, women have been among the trailblazers and leaders of the Filipino film industry.

Transitioning from a traditional film festival to a full online execution is definitely a test of adaptability, but Filipino film festival organizers and filmmakers are always up for a challenge. This year has put the industry to the test, and I am proud of the successful online staging of some of the country’s top film fests.

In going online with the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) takes full advantage of its new platform as it expanded its usual 8- to 10-film lineup for the festival to a whopping 170 films for a run of more than three weeks.

It’s the second day of the 4th Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), and we have more than a month to celebrate the diversity, ingenuity, resilience and longevity of Philippine Cinema. Yes, the PPP4 now has a total of 44 days, and it runs from October 31 to December 13.

Witnessing audiences in international film festivals appreciate Filipino films has been a source of joy for me and my team at the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Some industries in the country have started regaining ground amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, but not the Filipino film and audiovisual (AV) industry. It has been over seven months since the lockdown was imposed, yet only 20 percent of the film and audiovisual industry has gradually resumed operations.

The festive and communal spirit of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) continues this year with its fourth edition, albeit in a virtual platform. Despite the limitations due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, PPP4 will bring the film festival experience online with at least 145 titles.

By the end of the month, on October 31 to be exact, the 4th Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) will commence in an all-new online edition as a response to the restrictions on the operations of cinemas due to the pandemic situation.

Since last year, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has been at the forefront of “Sine Sandaan” celebration — the representation of our industry’s journey, from the pioneers and trailblazers to the game changers who have led us to where we are today.

Just as we closed the year-long celebration of the Centennial Year of Philippine Cinema on September 11, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) kicked off “Sine Sandaan: The Next 100.”