It takes a great deal of time to develop and hone filmmaking skills, that is why it is better to start early when training future filmmakers. This is the thrust of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Directors’ Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) as they pledge to carry on with their partnership in the FDCP Film School.

In 2017, FDCP launched the Planting Seeds Program for Filmmaking, now known as the FDCP Film School. It conducted trainings, workshops, and symposiums on creative producing, directing, production management, editing, cinematography, scriptwriting, musical score, sound design, acting, production design, and film education. The three-year program has trained almost 4,000 students, teachers, and budding filmmakers in various locations such as Batac City in Ilocos Norte, Baguio, Tuguegarao, Manila, Naga, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental, and the Municipality of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte.

Dr. Noel Volante and Director-writer Jose Javier Reyes in Ateneo de Naga University

DGPI’s Paolo Villaluna was a speaker in La Salle University, Ozamiz City.

An integral part of the FDCP Film School is the directorial aspect which is greatly supported by DGPI. According to DGPI President Paolo Villaluna, “Of course, continuous pa rin ‘yung partnership natin with the FDCP who we feel is an injection of life in the industry, ang ginawa ni Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. So ang sarap mag-partner with them kasi you have educational programs that DGPI can be part of or can assist in executing. We had a partnership with FDCP na all the directing workshops were conducted by DGPI members. So we’ll continue to support FDCP in those initiatives.” 

Among the other partnerships of FDCP and DGPI were CineSpectra 2019: A Film Festival for HIV/AIDS Awareness and the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino Film Pitch wherein filmmakers and producers went through a speed dating-like process in the film pitching event. Villaluna shared that there are more developments in DGPI in 2020. “We are actually in negotiations with some health companies right now. We want to provide health insurance and health maintenance organization (HMO) for our members,” he revealed during the sidelines of the Red Carpet Premiere of “The Two Popes” at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City. 

The Red Carpet Premiere of “The Two Popes,” held last November 13, was co-presented by Netflix, DGPI, FDCP, ABS-CBN Films, and Cinema One Originals Film Festival. Directed by Fernando Meirelles, written by Anthony McCarten, and starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes” became available on Netflix on December 20. “There were other titles na maganda sana talaga for DGPI but they will be theatrically released naman, but then ‘The Two Popes’ is a Netflix production so hindi muna ipapalabas sa sinehan, diretso na sa TV. But then we also know that filmmakers originally make films for the big screen. They design it in their heads with the big screen in mind. So, sayang. So imbes na diretso sa TV, baka may opportunity to watch it in theaters muna. That’s why ‘The Two Popes’ was chosen,” Villaluna explained. 

For the Red Carpet Premiere of “The Two Popes,” DGPI even held a Facebook contest that asked netizens about their favorite local movie from the past One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema. The FDCP media team got to ask the DGPI president about his answer. Without giving an explanation because he would wax philosophical for an hour or so, Villaluna disclosed that his ultimate favorites are “Manila by Night” and “Himala,” both by the late National Artist for Film Ishmael Bernal. 

Prior to “The Two Popes,” DGPI already partnered with Netflix in 2018 for the screening of Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” in Gateway Mall, Quezon City. Villaluna went on to say, “Part of the program ng DGPI is to partner with film festivals so we can acquire films na babagay sa DGPI members.” In October, DGPI collaborated with the QCinema International Film Festival for the Special Screening of the 4K Restored Version of “Apocalypse Now: Final Cut” by Francis Ford Coppola, which was also held in Gateway Mall.

With a lot of plans in mind this year, including the much-awaited conclusion of the year-long Philippine Cinema Centennial celebration, FDCP and DGPI are looking forward to more collaborations together as well as with other industry stakeholders to make sure that the next hundred years of Philippine Cinema will become more promising, flourishing, and progressive.