MANILA, PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 — In order to help the Filipino film industry thrive locally and internationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) launched the CreatePHFilms Philippine Cinema funding program to provide funds for Filipino filmmakers in the development, production, and distribution of their films. 

CreatePHFilms, which was launched on September 28, will grant selective funds for Development (Scriptwriting and Project Development), Production (Small Budget and Large Budget), Post-Production, and Distribution.The deadline for the application period this year is on November 15 while for 2021, the deadlines of submissions will be in May and November based on two application cycles.

Eligible applicants must be Filipino filmmakers and companies that are accredited by the FDCP’s National Registry while eligible projects must have a Filipino director. Additionally, 100% of the fund must be spent in the Philippines for eligible expenses.

“With CreatePHFilms, finally, our assistance programs come full circle to cover all aspects of filmmaking. The countries with the most thriving film industries all have a sustainable domestic funding mechanism from the government and we hope that with CreatePHFilms’ strengthened support for film development and production, we will be able further empower our writers, filmmakers, and companies to create quality stories that become quality films,” explained FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

“The launch of CreatePHFilms is part of the conclusion of the year-long celebration of One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema,” she continued. “More importantly, CreatePHFilms shows the continued support of the government for the vulnerable sectors of the Filipino film industry that are gravely affected by the pandemic.”

CreatePHFilms Funds for Development: Scriptwriting and Project Development

The FDCP wants to support Filipino scriptwriters by helping them develop innovative stories based on Filipino culture and heritage through the CreatePHFilms Funds for Development for Scriptwriting and Project Development. The CreatePHFilms Fund for Scriptwriting is a selective, nonrefundable fund of up to PHP 100,000. In addition to the financial support, the FDCP will offer at least two sessions of script consultations with regard to concept, creative issues, and developing the screenplay.

An applicant for the CreatePHFilms Fund for Scriptwriting must hold or share the intellectual property rights of the project, which must be a narrative feature-length film script (fiction, documentary, or animation) in English or Filipino. Applications will be judged based on the degree to which a project targets the local audience and promotes the culture and territory of the Philippines. It must have compelling and engaging ideas with the potential to be great films and the quality of the script, scriptwriter, and director attached will also be considered.

The CreatePHFilms Fund for Project Development is a selective and nonrefundable fund of up to PHP 200,000 for production companies. The eligibility requirements for the CreatePHFilms Fund for Project Development are the same as the ones for Scriptwriting. Additional points for the evaluation of Project Development applications are the strengths and experience of the team and project. Applications for Scriptwriting and Project Development must apply for the first time to the CreatePHFilms Funds for Development. 

CreatePHFilms Funds for Production: Small Budget and Large Budget

The FDCP’s latest initiative also wants to encourage Filipino film producers to come up with high-quality creative films for domestic and international audiences. The CreatePHFilms Fund for Small Budget Production is a selective refundable fund up to PHP 1 million for production companies while the CreatePHFilms Fund for Large Budget Production is a selective equity investment fund worth PHP 3 million to PHP 5 million for production companies. 

The CreatePHFilms Funds for Production will accept applications for a Filipino narrative feature-length film (fiction, documentary, or animation of at least 80 minutes) in English or Filipino. It must have an overall production budget below PHP 15 million with a plan for a theatrical and/or video on demand (VOD) release within the Philippines.

The applicant must have all the necessary rights to develop, produce, and distribute the film and the project must target domestic audiences by having a distribution guarantee or deal memorandum for a theatrical or VOD release in the Philippines. Applications will be evaluated if they promote the Philippines with an authentic representation of Filipino characters, stories, places, history, and culture.

Other evaluation points are the degree to which the producer contributes to the Philippine film industry economic development, the project’s financial strength and stability, degree to which the project encourages diversity and inclusion, the distribution potential through festivals, theatrical release, and platforms to reach domestic audiences, and the quality of the team and talent: script, producer and production company, scriptwriter, and director attached. The project must apply for the first time to the CreatePHFilms Funds for Production, but it may have applied to the CreatePHFilms Funds for Development.

CreatePHFilms Fund for Post-Production

The FDCP also wants to assist in the development of post-production services so that they may reach international standards in sectors like animation, editing, sound design, scoring, VFX, etc. The CreatePHFilms Fund for Post-Production is a selective fund of up to PHP 300,000 to be applied by the production company and to be granted to the engaged post-production company.

The eligible format is a Filipino narrative feature-length film (at least 80 minutes) of fiction, documentary, or animation that already started or is finished with principal photography and is ready for post-production with at least a 30-minute rough cut. The film, in English or Filipino, must be unfinished, never been broadcasted, and has a theatrical and/or VOD release agreement in the Philippines.

The applicant must have all necessary rights to develop, produce, and distribute the film and the attached post-production company/companies must be registered under the FDCP National Registry. The fund must not exceed 60% of the overall post-production budget and 100% of the fund must be paid directly to the engaged post-production company/companies service provider.

The project must target domestic audiences with a distribution guarantee or deal memorandum for a theatrical or VOD release in the Philippines. In addition, the project must apply for the first time to the CreatePHFilms Fund for Post-Production, but it may have applied to the CreatePHFilms Funds for Development and/or Funds for Production.

Applications for the CreatePHFilms Fund for Post-Production will be evaluated on the degree to which the work promotes the Philippines, if there is an authentic representation of Filipino characters, stories, places, history, and culture. Evaluations will also be made based on the scope and ambition of the post-production work done in the Philippines, financial strength for a successful completion of the film, distribution potential through festivals, theatrical release, and platforms in order to reach domestic audiences, and quality of the team and talent: producer and production company, scriptwriter, director, and post-production company attached.

CreatePHFilms Fund for Distribution 

Finally, the FDCP aims to boost distribution opportunities so that more Filipino films can be marketed for local and international sales. The CreatePHFilms Fund for Distribution is a selective fund of up to PHP 300,000 for local and international distribution of Filipino projects. 

The eligible format is a Filipino feature-length film (at least 80 minutes) of fiction, documentary, or animation that is in English or any Filipino dialect, has started or is finished with post-production, never been broadcasted, and with a theatrical and/or VOD release agreement in the Philippines. The fund must not exceed 60% of the overall distribution costs and the project must show a financing gap for marketing, considering the overall cost of the film and the funding already obtained. 

The applicant must have all the necessary rights to distribute the film and must provide a distribution guarantee or deal memorandum for a theatrical and/or VOD release in the Philippines. The project must apply for the first time to the CreatePHFilms Fund for Distribution, but it may have applied to the CreatePHFilms Funds for Development, and/or Funds for Production, and/or Fund for Post-Production.

The CreatePHFilms Fund for Distribution applications will be evaluated on the degree to which a project represents the Philippines with an authentic representation of Filipino characters, stories, places, history, and culture as well as the quality of the team and talent involved: producer and production company, scriptwriter and director, post-production company, and distribution company attached. 

Enhancing PH Cinema and boosting the economy through CreatePHFilms

With an enhanced Filipino film industry through the CreatePHFilms Funds for Development (Scriptwriting and Project Development), Production (Small Budget and Large Budget), Post-Production, and Distribution, the FDCP wishes to increase economic opportunities for local services, artists, and crews working in the Philippine film industry.

Moreover, the FDCP wishes to amplify the Philippine film industry’s reputation as a growing and thriving film hotspot with local independent and innovative creatives in order to attract worldwide attention.

CreatePHFilms is the third major initiative of the FDCP in response to the pandemic that has crippled the film industry since March, following the Disaster/Emergency Assistance and Relief (DEAR) Program that assisted displaced freelance film and audiovisual workers, and the Safe Filming Program which sets and implements minimum health and safety standards for work in production sites in partnership with the Department of Health and Department of Labor and Employment.

For more information, e-mail createphfilms@fdcp.ph or visit this link.