MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Film Development Council of the Philippines organized six hybrid sessions on various topics at the Film Industry Conference last October 24 and 25 at the Saffron Grand Ballroom, Lanson Place, Pasay City.
FIC 2024 Program Head Floanne Taiño said that the conference is “not only a gathering for film industry experts, professionals, and educators in the field. For years, its impact has extended to aspiring filmmakers and media practitioners who are part of our motion in championing the Philippine Cinema.”
In Session One, “Here’s the Tradecraft: How to Safeguard the Intellectual Properties of Filipino Filmmakers,” Atty. Louie Calvario of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines introduced the intellectual property rights attached to the works of the filmmakers, including key players like writers, musicians, and others. Joining the discussion online, Department of Trade and Industry Consumer Affairs and Legal Services Group USec. Atty. Amanda Marie Nograles and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Center for Intellectual Property Management Director Atty. Ma. Janice Tejano dissected the layers of rights that relate to the different elements of film production as well as the rights of the creative contributors as to their inputs in a film. Director Paul Sta. Ana of the Filipino Screenwriters Guild served as moderator.
Hundred Islands Film Festival Director Dr. Raquel Rarang Rivera, National Committee on Cinema (NCC) Vice Head and Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino member Tito Valiente, and Provincial History, Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office (PHACTO) History and Heritage Head and SINEliksik Bulacan Festival Coordinator May Arlene Torres tackled the distinct regional realities, such as language and culture, that have been depicted in regional films over recent years. NCC Head Butch Ibañez moderated the second session, entitled “Highlighting Regional Cinema: Dissecting the Diverse Films of the Philippine Islands.”
Unitel Straight Shooters Media, Inc. President and CEO Madonna Tarrayo and VMX Head of Content Aggregation Ronald Arguelles presented the chain and process of cinema-to-streaming distribution release and how it can improve the marketing of films to the general audience in Session Three, or “Screen to Stream: Examining the Cinema-to-Platform Release Model.” NCC member Jag Garcia moderated this talk on how film distribution has adapted with the rise of streaming services by introducing a hybrid model.
ABS-CBN Film Restoration Head Leo Katigbak, FPJ Productions Vice President Jeffrey Sonora, and FDCP Philippine Film Archives Head Don Gervin Arawan navigated the role of film archiving and the opportunities it brings to the industry in Session Four or “Future from Film Past: The Role of Film Archiving and Restoration in the Progress of Philippine Cinema” as MOWELFUND Audiovisual Archive Head and Southeast Asia-Pacific Audio Visual Archives Association Secretary-General Ricky Orellana participated in the session online. Celebrity host and filmmaker Rodolfo “Jun” Sabayton moderated the session, as the speakers also shared the challenges in film archiving and why this is an important national endeavor.
Session Five, entitled “Cinematic Support: Insights on the Intersection of Government and Cinema,” highlighted the significant roles government agencies play by encouraging production through funding and grants, fostering cultural exchange through international relations and co-productions, developing talents and projects through education and training, and creating economic growth through tourism. Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Vice Chairperson Atty. Paulino E. Cases, Jr., MTRCB board member JoAnn C. Bañaga, Film Academy of the Philippines Director General Paolo Villaluna, and FDCP Chairman and CEO Jose Javier “Direk Joey” Reyes, and Ibañez talked about programs and regulations established by their respective agencies in shaping the film industry. FDCP Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages and film educator Seymour Sanchez moderated the discussion.
Epicmedia Productions, Inc. Co-founder and producer Bianca Balbuena, FDCP FilmPhilippines Office Executive Director Joierie Pacumio, and Digital Dreams, Inc. President Danzen Santos Katanyag emphasized how international co-production strengthens filmmaking by combining financial resources, accessing government incentives, making envisioned locations attainable, and reaching broader markets in Session Six, or “Co-Production and Globalization: The Future of International Filmmaking.” FUSEE Media founder Wilfredo Manalang joined the discussion online as Film Producers Guild of the Philippines and The IdeaFirst Company President and Director Perci Intalan served as moderator.
FDCP Executive Director Dan Morales and Education Division Head Rica Arevalo presented the certificates and tokens of appreciation to the speakers and moderators during the two-day conference.
