The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P11 million to the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to fund the hosting of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) and Sine Sandaan (One Hundred Years) as the country marks this year the 100th year anniversary of Philippine Cinema.
The DBM said the P11 million will fund, among others, the PPP Grand Fans Day, Film Industry Conference and Project Market, PPP Awards Night and Gabi ng Pasasalamat, and various advertising and promotional activities in relation to anniversary.
“The PPP is a week-long celebration of Philippine Cinema where new quality genre Filipino films are screened for one week in all regular cinemas nationwide. The conduct of the third PPP signals the start of the official celebration of the One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 622,” it added.
FDCP Liza Diño said PPP and Sandaan events will be kicked off with the public exhibition of 10 films that “that represent the history of our Philippine cinema” which would run from September 13 to 19.
The films include: “The Panti Sisters,” “Lola Igna,” “I’m Elenya L,” “Circa,” “Open,” “Pagbalik,” “Watch Me Kill,” “Cuddle Weather,” “LSS,” and “G!”
Diño said there will also be a limited screening of the film “Verdict,” which is directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez and stars Maxine Eigenmann and the late Christopher King, which had won the special jury prize in the recently held Venice International Film Festival.
“Right now, it’s (‘Verdict’) doing the rounds of international film festivals all over the world, again giving recognition to Philippine cinema. It is now in Toronto. It was just in Telluride Film Festival. Mga A-list film festivals po ito na talagang tumutulong po sa atin na i-promote po ang pelikulang Pilipino,” said Diño.
As this developed, Diño said the FDCP is urging lawmakers to enact a law that would declare September as the Philippine Movie Industry Month, and to institutionalize the holding of the PPP annually.