MANILA, PHILIPPINES — True to its mandate to continuously promote the growth of the Philippine film industry, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) unveils its programs and initiatives for the first quarter of 2024.

Under the current leadership of Chairman and CEO Tirso Cruz III, the national film council continues to establish programs that champion Philippine cinema and provide opportunities for filmmakers and industry workers to hone their skills and create world-class Filipino films that can be showcased to the country and across the globe.

The FDCP aims to undertake the following programs during the first quarter of 2024:

• Sine Sinta: Pag-ibig at Pelikula 2024

February 16-23, 2024 | Trinoma, MET, and FDCP Cinematheque Centres

February 23 2024 | Available on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel

This February, the FDCP celebrates the month of love with “Sine Sinta: Pag-ibig at Pelikula,” a showcase of Filipino classic and contemporary romance films at Ayala Malls Trinoma, The Metropolitan Theater (MET), FDCP Cinematheque Centres, and JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel.

Furthermore, the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Manila will host a Film Talk with contemporary Filipino filmmakers to discuss the significance of romantic films in popular culture.

Through Sine Sinta, the FDCP aims to showcase the best of Philippine romantic films by making them available to the general public for free.

• Film Production Workshop: Story Development

February 22-23, 2024 | West Visayas State University, Iloilo

A two-day workshop entitled “Film Production Workshop: Story Development” will be offered to the students of West Visayas State University (WVSU) to teach them the various techniques of conceptualizing and developing narratives drawn from local experiences.

This workshop is in partnership with the FDCP’s Academic Film Society (AFS), an association of Philippine schools, colleges, and universities that offer film programs and organizations. AFS aims to nurture a community of emerging Filipino filmmakers by providing them access to training programs, financial assistance, and other forms of support that will foster their growth as filmmakers. 

• Mowelfund x FDCP Workshop: Cinematography Workshop

February 3 to March 9, 2024 | Mowelfund Film Institute, CMB Film Services, Inc., and FDCP Cinematheque Centre Manila

Presented by the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND) and FDCP Film School, the Cinematography Workshop is a series of theoretical and technical learning sessions designed for college students taking up Film, Communication Arts, Multimedia Arts, and Fine Arts courses. 

Under the tutelage of renowned filmmakers Raymond Red and Danton Wieneke, participants are introduced to the history and basics of cinematography before partaking in indoor and outdoor sessions using professional camera and lighting equipment.

• Full Circle Lab Philippines 6th Edition

March 18-24, 2024 | Quest Plus Conference Center, Pampanga

The sixth edition of Full Circle Lab Philippines will commence this March 2024, offering various film labs to support Filipino and Southeast Asian projects in various stages of development and production.

Co-presented by FDCP and Tatino Films, Full Circle Lab Philippines is a capacity-building program that provides opportunities for filmmakers to elevate their projects to their highest potential and create films that encompass the diverse cultures within Southeast Asia.

To date, almost 200 film professionals and more than 80 film projects have participated in Full Circle Lab Philippines under the mentorship of esteemed international advisors and industry experts.

• Cine Filipina

March 2024 | Cinematheque Centres

In celebration of National Women’s Month, “Cine Filipina” presents a curation of local and international films that highlight women-centered narratives. Through this program, the FDCP will feature celebrated female directors, producers, and writers whose works champion the rich and unique stories of women in the Philippines and around the world.

• FDCP Presents: A Curation of World Cinema

March 6, 2024 | Select cinemas nationwide

April 2024 | Cinematheque Centres

The FDCP will showcase restored classics and critically acclaimed contemporary films with “FDCP Presents: A Curation of World Cinema” in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and Vista Mall.

FDCP’s curation of World Cinema titles include Wong Kar Wai’s 4K restored classics “In the Mood for Love,” “Happy Together,” “Chungking Express” and “Fallen Angels” and internationally acclaimed films “Anatomy of a Fall,” “How to Have Sex” and “Only the River Flows” which premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2023. 

Through its Audience Development Program, the FDCP aims to bring renowned international films to Philippine cinemas in order to cultivate a holistic film appreciation among Filipino audiences and encourage them to enjoy the communal experience of watching films on the big screen.

• Action! Spotlight

April 2024 | Cinematheque Centres

To showcase outstanding Filipino talents and highlight the key players of Philippine cinema, the FDCP Cinematheque Centres will invite celebrated Filipino filmmakers and present a retrospective of their notable works, along with Q&A sessions to gain insights into their creative process and the stories behind their iconic films. 

• Student Film Assistance Program Cycle 1 of 2024

April 2024

The Student Film Assistance Program aims to provide financial support to Filipino student filmmakers for the production of their thesis films and capstone projects.

Students from colleges and universities registered to the FDCP’s Academic Film Society (AFS) may receive funding worth PHP 30,000 up to PHP 50,000 for the production of their thesis film projects. Moreover, selected grantees will undergo a Masterclass on Film Production to equip them with the techniques needed to produce their respective films.

• Parangal ng Sining

April 19, 2024

“Parangal ng Sining” (“Honor of the Arts”) is an annual awarding ceremony organized by the FDCP to pay homage to esteemed Filipino artists, scholars, and institutions in the film industry. Through this initiative, the FDCP aims to encourage industry professionals and stakeholders to come together and celebrate the role of Philippine cinema in cultivating the cultural identity of Filipinos.

In 2023, the FDCP conferred the Annual Achievement Award to internationally acclaimed artists Dolly De Leon, Soliman Cruz, and Martika Escobar for representing the Philippines in the international scene and garnering widespread acclaim for their respective works.

Furthermore, the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to industry stalwarts Vilma Santos, Lily Monteverde, Nick Deocampo, and Cinemalaya Foundation for dedicating their lives in pursuit of mastering their craft and contributing to the growth and preservation of the country’s cinematic legacy.

• Making Movies: TMTCS-FDCP Film School Workshop Series Year 2 

April 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 & 27, 2024 | The Manila Times College of Subic

The FDCP Film School program has partnered with The Manila Times College of Subic (TMTCS) for a workshop series entitled “Making Movies: TMTCS-FDCP Film School Workshop Series Year 2.” The workshop will take place at the TMTCS Campus in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales this April 2024.

The workshop series aims to nurture aspiring young filmmakers from Central Luzon and provide hands-on experience under the mentorship of industry professionals. It serves as a continuation of TMTCS and FDCP’s first filmmaking workshop last 2022.

The FDCP also participates in prestigious film festivals around the world to showcase Philippine cinema to global audiences and provide opportunities for Filipino artists to represent our country in the international scene.

Through the International Film Festival Assistance Program (IFFAP) and International Film Studies Assistance Program (IFSAP), the FDCP provides travel and financial support to Filipino filmmakers who are selected to participate in international film festivals, labs, and workshops.

IFFAP and IFSAP grantees have received prestigious awards at the following international film festivals:

• 2023 Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) | November 7-10, 2023

Sonny Calvento’s “Mother Maybe” won numerous awards at last year’s TCCF, bagging the Taichung Action Award, MPA Grand Award, and TAICCA x CNCC Award. The feature-length project will be able to film in the Central Taiwan Film Studios and participate in the Global Film and TV Immersion Program 2024 in Los Angeles.

• 34th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) | November 30-December 10, 2023

At the SGIFF Southeast Asian Short Film Competition, JT Trinidad’s  “The River That Never Ends” won Best Southeast Asian Short Film and Special Mention award for Filipino actor Emerald Romero’s performance in the film. “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” filmmaker Sam Manacsa also won the Best Director award at the competition.

Furthermore, Caloy Limjap Soliongco was awarded the Special Mention Award at the Southeast Asian Film Lab for his feature-length project “Day Tripper.”