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.

Award-winning producers, directors, actors, cinematographers, screenwriters, editors, sound designers, musical scorers, and production designers will come together to celebrate the greatness of their peers in Philippine Cinema at the 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards Night on Saturday, November 30, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Leading the pack of Filipino film icons are Special Awardees Lily Monteverde and Nova Villa, who will receive the Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Memorial Award and Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement, respectively. 

To take advantage of the film industry experts from America, Italy, Poland, France, and South Africa coming to Manila for the First Cut Lab to help develop and elevate selected Filipino projects, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is hosting the First Cut Lab International Film Conference from April 11 to 13 at the Alliance Française de Manille, Makati City to introduce international film production and co-production to more Filipino filmmakers, professionals, and film enthusiasts.

The world continues to join the Philippines in the celebration of its One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema, especially as the Philippines has been announced as this year’s Spotlight Country at the 22nd Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF). The festival will run from July 19 to 28, 2019 in World Heritage sites Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

The Moviemov_Italian Film Festival is an itinerant showcase that aims to build a platform for the cultural and commercial promotion of the new Italian cinema abroad, especially for the booming Asian market so rich of new opportunities.

Experience a cultural adventure without leaving your seat! The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in partnership with the Embassy of Colombia in the Philippines will hold the first-ever Colombian Film Festival in the country. The Festival will take place from July 16 to 19, 2019 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, August 20 to 24, 2019 at the Cinematheque Centre Iloilo, and October 2 to 5, 2019 at the Cinematheque Centre Davao.

The Opening Night of the first Philippine Cinema Retrospective in Portugal was a roaring success. The sold-out screening of Raya Martin's “Independencia,” which was shown in its original 35mm format, kicked off Day 1 of SINE, Cinema das Filipinas – Nos Cem Anos do Cinema Filipino (Philippine Cinema – In the Hundred Years of Filipino Cinema). The jam-packed event held on November 8 was graced by National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño, and Ambassadors from various Embassies such as Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, and Slovak Republic. Some notable names in the Portuguese film industry like Cinemateca Portuguesa Director José Manuel Costa, Portugese cineastes, and the Filipino community in Lisbon also showed their heartwarming support for the event.

The 13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) held on November 21 in Brisbane, Australia hailed Max Eigenmann as the Best Actress, yet she ultimately offered her international accolade to fellow Filipinos and even remembered to pay tribute to Philippine Cinema. Eigenmann was awarded for Best Performance by an Actress in the Asia Pacific region for her portrayal in “Verdict” directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez, which is a Special Jury Prize winner in the Orizzonti (Horizons) section of the 76th Venice International Film Festival and the Philippine entry to the Academy Awards 2020.

The 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards is an award-giving body like no other in the country. It is a standout in the industry because it is by the peers and for the peers. Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño explained, "It’s really actresses voting for Best Actress, editors voting for the nominees for Best Editing, cinematographers voting for Best Cinematography. It is the counterpart of the Oscars in the U.S." 

A total of 12 entries are in the running for the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) Competition for First Appearance 2019 in the Netherlands, including “Aswang” by Alyx Ayn Arumpac. “Aswang,” a co-production among the Philippines, France, Norway, Qatar, and Germany, will be up against productions and co-productions from Spain, Russia, Qatar, Denmark, Brazil, Poland, China, the UK, Serbia, Croatia, Colombia, and Georgia.