MANILA, PHILIPPINES, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 — Five producers with projects in development who wish to pursue international co-productions will represent the Philippines in the Online Visitors Programme of the 18th Berlinale Co-Production Market at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. 

These are Ria Limjap for “Puppy Love,” Alex Poblete for “Paxxxion,” Geo Lomuntad for “Crème de la Crème,” Joseph Israel Laban for “Guerra,” and John Paul Abellera for “Seasons of Chrysanthemum.” 

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) selected them as the country’s official participants to the Online Visitors Programme 2021 after issuing a Call for Applications in January. This is the FDCP’s second year of participating at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño congratulated the official participants, saying, “We should continue to nurture creative producers and encourage more projects getting into international co-productions. This is the future of Philippine Cinema. Now, more than ever, we should realize that the film industry is a global realm and we should be able to keep up with the fast-changing landscape of the cinema sector.”

Limjap is a writer and producer who is presently developing a film based on a short story by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose. She has worked on “The Inheritance” by Romeo Candido (as co-writer and script supervisor), “Off World” by Mateo Guez (as line Producer and executive producer), “The Great Cinema Party” by Raya Martin (as line producer), “Heneral Luna” by Jerrold Tarog (as associate producer and marketing coordinator), and Martin’s “Smaller and Smaller Circles” (as co-writer, producer, and marketing coordinator). 

Poblete’s works include “Dayang Asu (Dognation)” by Bor Ocampo (as line producer), “High Tide” by Tara Illenberger (as line producer), “If the Sky Could Dream, It Would Dream of Children” (as producer), “Alimuom (Vapors)” by Keith Sicat (as production manager), and “Pan de Salawal” by Che Espiritu (as line producer). She also worked on shorts as the producer for “Isang Daa’t Isang Mariposa” by Norvin delos Santos and “Sa Pagitan ng Pagdalaw at Paglimot” by Liryc dela Cruz as well as the line producer for “Mga Kulay Sa Labas ng Linya” by Brian Sulicipan and Telle Delvo and “Sandra” by  Carlo Francisco Manatad.

Lomuntad is currently the associate producer for Shozo Ichiyama and Lorna Tee for “Kodokushi,” a project of Torino Film Lab, Talents Tokyo, Ties That Bind, Rotterdam, and Breaking Through the Lens. He also served as  associate producer for Bianca Balbuena in Antoinette Jadaone films “Fan Girl” and “Boldstar,” with the latter being part of the selection at the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2020. 

Laban is the co-owner of One Big Fight Productions and founder and festival director of CineTotoo Philippine International Documentary Film Festival, and currently, he is a creative consultant for GMA News and Public Affairs. He wrote, produced, and directed “Cuchera,” “Nuwebe,” and “Baconaua,” which won the Cinemalaya Awards for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Special Jury Prize. He has also worked on Roderick Cabrido’s films “Children’s Show” (as producer), “Purgatoryo” (as writer and producer), and “Tuos” (as co-producer).

Lastly, Abellera is a creative producer at ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. and lecturer at San Beda College-Alabang. He is the creative producer of “Quezon’s Game” by Matthew Rosen, “Eerie” by Mikhail Red (also a script consultant), “Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang” by Richard Somes, and “RPG Metanoia” by Luis C. Suarez. He is the artistic advisor for “On The Job” by Erik Matti and creative assistant for “Dubai” by Rory B. Quintos and “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” by Jose Javier Reyes. “Dubai,” which Abellera co-wrote with Ricky Lee and Shaira Mella Salvador, won the Maria Clara Award for Best Screenplay.

At this year’s Online Visitors Programme slated from February 28 to March 5, the five Filipino filmmakers will join informative sessions, pitches, and networking platforms that aim to help beginners get acquainted with the international co-production landscape. They will also be given exclusive access to the Visitors Meet & Match, Visitors Consultation Corner, Talks, Case Studies, Speed Matchings, Theme Talks, Books at Berlinale, and Country Sessions.

The Philippines will have a Country Session wherein the FDCP will share its FilmPhilippines Incentives Program composed of the Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX), Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-production Fund (ICOF), and ASEAN Co-production Fund (ACOF).

The Berlinale Co-Production Market will take place from March 1 to 5 while the Berlin International Film Festival will hold an industry online offer in March and a public event in June.