MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 28, 2020 — After months of lobbying for representation in the country's fiscal stimulus package to help cushion the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the economy, the film and audiovisual (AV) industry has finally been recognized as a critically impacted sector in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill or Bayanihan 2.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 28, 2020 — Among the numerous Philippine productions that have been put on hold because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is “The Double” directed and produced by Adolf Alix, Jr. 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 26, 2020 — Getting back to work is the main objective of film and audiovisual industries worldwide ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis caused the closure of cinemas and halted production work early this year.

The government’s commitment to ensure the health and safety of film and audiovisual content workers as operations resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic is made possible through the Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-001 of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Health (DOH), which is endorsed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 25, 2020 — Fourteen companies from the Philippines are part of the 24th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) while four Filipino film projects are included in the 18th Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) as these platforms go online. 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 24, 2020 -- Full Circle Lab Philippines, a collaboration between Film Development Council of the Philippines and Matthieu Darras, current director of Full Circle Lab and former Artistic Director of the internationally renowned Torino Film Lab will take place via an online edition. Full Circle Lab Philippines will push through with its expanded program featuring four different film labs to benefit 20 projects from the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, AUGUST 24, 2020 -- Following the successful celebration of the 24th Asian Television Awards (ATA) in Manila in January 2020, the ATA has announced it is partnering the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) in the quest for the best of Filipino talents and entertainment programs in the country to compete on Asia Pacific’s largest platform for content makers.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is now calling for submissions for Sine Wikain: Sandaang Pagpapaalala, an online challenge celebrating the ‘Buwan ng Wika’ and the closing of ‘Sine Sandaan: The One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema. Spotlighting the interpretation of ‘salawikain’ into vertical short films, #SineWikainChallenge is a social media challenge meant to remind Filipinos about childhood teachings while also providing positive content and values that could uplift us  amid the pandemic.

Four international productions, with two shot in the Philippines and another two co-produced with a Philippine company, are the first recipients of incentives from the FilmPhilippines Office (FPO) of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

“Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah vs. The Amazonistas of Planet X,” the animated comedy film of Avid Liongoren, was awarded the Open Doors Locarno Development Support Grant on August 12. The project, co-produced by Liongoren of Rocketsheep Studio and Franck Priot of Ghosts City Films in France, will receive 14,000 Swiss francs.