The international film festival season always gets a great head start, thanks to the successful conduct of the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, which kicks off every February. Also known as the Berlinale, the first A-List festival of the year comprises the Top 3 of the most important international film festivals together with Cannes in France and Venice in Italy.

Tonight, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will stage the 5th Film Ambassador’s Night (FAN) online at the FDCP Channel to recognize the filmmakers and films that put Philippines in world cinema spotlight last year.

The reopening of cinemas throughout the country was what we have been yearning for since last year. Its shutdown beginning in March has crippled Philippine Cinema, and the same can be said for the global film industry.

I am glad to share with you a new monthly observance that puts the spotlight on Philippine Cinema. Through Proclamation No. 1085, President Rodrigo Duterte declared September as Philippine Film Industry Month, ensuring the celebration of Philippine Cinema annually throughout the country.

Especially in the past decade, the Philippines has been in no short supply of internationally acclaimed films, actors, and filmmakers. We have scored wins in the “Big 3” international film festivals, namely Berlin, Venice, and Cannes. We have also received awards from other A-List international film festivals such as Cairo, Locarno, Tallinn, Warsaw, Montreal, Tokyo, and IDFA in the Netherlands.

Improving the state of Philippine Cinema does not just involve supporting the development, production, distribution and exhibition of films locally and internationally.

Philippine Cinema kicked off 2021 with a bang. The strong drive to create Filipino films has surely overpowered the bleakness of the pandemic. Amid and despite the Covid-19 situation, Filipino talents continue to make their mark internationally, fueled by their passion, artistry and determination.

It takes a village to create a film — a team of hardworking and dedicated workers who pour out their heart and soul along with blood, sweat, and tears. Sleepless nights, body aches, tight deadlines, and high stress levels are dealt with during pre-production, production, and post-production as well as in distribution and exhibition.

We all heaved a sigh of relief when 2020 finally ended and welcomed the new year with optimism and hope. While the new normal of the previous year has carried over and will most likely happen for the rest of the year, there is a stronger determination now in the Filipino film industry to overcome the Covid-19 crisis.