MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will showcase over 100 films in the 4th Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) which will have its first online edition this year from October 31 to November 15 at the agency’s new FDCP Online Channel.
The PPP4 is an FDCP-led omnibus project featuring titles from local film festivals like the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, QCinema International Film Festival, Cinema One Originals Film Festival, Sinag Maynila Film Festival, CineFilipino Film Festival, ToFarm Film Festival, and Metro Manila Film Festival as well as from various producers and regional film festivals, a PPP Retrospective, the Lab portion of the Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition, and the CineMarya Women’s Film Festival.
“This year’s PPP is a solidarity event that aims to encourage support for Philippine Cinema in light of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to propagate the love for Filipino films among audiences and help sustain the country’s film industry that is gravely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The FDCP is glad to announce that all proceeds will be given to producers involved in the festival through revenue sharing,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.
PPP4 Festival Lineup
PPP4 features the following sections: Premium, Classics, PH Oscars Entries, Tributes, Romance, Youth and Family, Genre, Bahaghari, PPP Retro, Documentary, and From the Regions, along with Sine Kabataan and CineMarya. A partial list was provided by the national film agency when the PPP Early Bird Rate Festival Pass was made available from September 30 to October 15.
The Premium section will feature films that had limited release or have never been released to the Philippine audience. The Premium Showcase lineup, along with the regional short films and other additional selections, will be revealed by the FDCP on October 8 in a press conference.
The Classics section will screen cinematic gems by National Artists for Film, with the first three being restored films by the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive:
- “White Slavery” by Lino Brocka
- “Genghis Khan” by Manuel Conde
- “Manila by Night” by Ishmael Bernal
- “Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux VI” by Kidlat Tahimik
- “Ang Panday” by Fernando Poe, Jr.
PH Oscars Entries include critically acclaimed films that were submitted by the Philippines to the Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film race.
- “Ma’ Rosa” by Brillante Mendoza
- “Verdict” by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez
- “Sa Pusod ng Dagat” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya
- “Saranggola” by Gil Portes
The Tributes section pays homage to departed screen legends and industry pillars.
- “Death Row” by Joel Lamangan (for Eddie Garcia)
- “Adela” by Adolfo Alix, Jr. (for Anita Linda)
- “Insiang” by Lino Brocka (for Mona Lisa)
- “Muro-Ami” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya (for Marilou Diaz-Abaya)
- “Filipinas” by Joel Lamangan (for Armida Siguion-Reyna)
- “Sonata” by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes (for Peque Gallaga)
The Romance section provides the kilig factor that is a surefire hit among Filipino audiences.
- “Sakaling Hindi Makarating” by Ice Idanan
- “Moments of Love” by Mark Reyes
- “Ulan” by Irene Villamor
- “Never Not Love You” by Antoinette Jadaone
- “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” by Joyce Bernal
- “Una Kang Naging Akin” by Laurice Guillen
- “Mga Mister ni Rosario” by Alpha Habon
Films with lighthearted or heartwarming stories, meanwhile, are part of the Youth and Family section.
- “Pepot Artista” by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.
- “Family History” by Michael V.
- “1st Sem” by Dexter Hemedez and Allan Ibañez
- “Edward” by Thop Nazareno
- “Dayo” by Robert Quilao
In the Genre section, there are action, horror, drama, mystery, thriller, science fiction, and historical biopic films.
- “Alpha: The Right to Kill” by Brillante Mendoza
- “Instalado” by Jason Paul Laxamana
- “Abomination” by Yam Laranas
- “Dyamper” by Wes de Guzman
- “Jose Rizal” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya
- “El Presidente” by Mark Meily
- “In Nomine Matris” by Wilfredo Manalang
The Bahaghari section features at least five LGBT-themed films.
- “Akin ang Korona” by Zig Dulay
- “Billie and Emma” by Samantha Lee
- “Ned’s Project” by Lemuel Lorca
- “Ang Huling Cha Cha ni Anita” by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
- “Rainbow’s Sunset” by Joel Lamangan
It’s a walk down memory lane in PPP Retro as this section contains past PPP entries.
- “Pauwi Na” by Paolo Villaluna
- “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus” by Dwein Baltazar
- “Star na si Van Damme Stallone” by Randolph Longjas
- “Paglipay” by Zig Dulay
- “Circa” by Adolfo Alix, Jr.
In line with FDCP’s goal to push for more opportunities for Filipino documentary filmmaking, a Documentary section is included in this year’s edition of PPP.
- “Nick and Chai” by Cha Escala and Wena Sanchez
- “Lugta Ke Tamama (Land from God)” by Kevin Piamonte
- “The Search for Weng-Weng” by Andrew Leavold
- “God Bliss our Home” by Nawruz Paguidopon
- “Carving Thy Faith” by Hiyas Bagabaldo
In the From The Regions section, feature-length films show indigenous stories and unique narratives from various parts of the country.
- “Tanabata’s Wife” by Charlson Ong
- “Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong” by Mes de Guzman
- “Baboy Halas (Wailings in the Forest)” by Bagane Fiola
- “Tu Pug Imatuy” by Arbi Barbarona
- “Magkakabaung” by Jason Paul Laxamana
- “Ari: My Life with a King” by Carlo Catu
- “Salvi: Ang Pagpadayon” by TM Malones
As for this year’s edition of Sine Kabataan, the youth-oriented filmmaking competition will be focusing on project development where the selected stories and concepts will undergo a Project Lab during PPP. At the end of the Lab, projects will be pitched and the winning stories will receive a production grant to push through with their projects. For the PPP screening, Sine Kabataan short films from earlier editions will be featured, including the following:
- “Sa Unang Araw ng Pasukan” by Arjen Manlapig
- “Bato Bato Pik” by Lorys Plaza and Jaq Sanque
- “Kalakalaro” by Rodson Suarez
Finally, the FDCP’s CineMarya, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine Commission on Women, gets its own PPP section this year. The final 12 CineMarya short films will be premiered during PPP4.
- “Daadaan Na (Her Walks)” by Julius Legoen Lumiqued
- “Super-Able” by Arjanmar H. Rebeta
- “Night Shift (Reverie) (Loud Voices)” by Mariel Joy S. Ong
- “Dalaginding na si Isang” by Kristinne Nigel Cenosin Santos
- “Noontime Drama (Tanghaling Tapat)” by Kim Rivera Timan
- “She’s Perfect” by Jochelle Casilad
- “Hakab” by Mel Rose Aguilar
- “Super Woman” by Angela Francesca V. Andres
- “Winged Dreams to the Blue Heavens” by Maria Ena Aimee Lourdes Apostol Escasa
- “Binakol sa Dahon” by Gary T. Tabanera
- “Ola” by Mijan Jumalon
- “Adira” by Jorzheema Hamid
PPP4 offers several festival subscription options such as the Full Run Pass (PHP 599) that grants a 16-day access to the Premium Selection films and events, free content, free panel sessions/workshops, calendar, and trailers. The Half Run Pass (PHP 299) provides access to the short films library and full-length scheduled screenings for eight consecutive days while the Day Pass (PHP 99) gives access to the short films library and full-length scheduled screenings for one day.
The Early Bird Rate for the Full Run Pass, priced at PHP 450, is available until October 15. There is also a Free Pass that provides access to the calendar and free content. Beginning October 16, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) can avail of a 20% discount while students will get to enjoy a 30% discount.
The FDCP announced that additional titles in the PPP4 lineup will be revealed in the coming days. Watch out for updates on more film titles and other events lined up in the first online edition of the PPP.
For updates and more information, visit FDCPchannel.ph and facebook.com/FDCPPPP.
