FDCP

FILMS FOR PEACE  is a program launched in 2024 by the Film Development Council of the Philippines as part of its 4th Philippine Film Industry Month. It is a short film competition to attest the significance of cinema as a medium of conversation, discussion and understanding of the importance of peace in the aspiration for a truly significant nation building. Films for Peace aspires to use the language of cinema, covering all the regions and languages of the Philippines to show how there is unity in our diversity; and that as Filipinos, we value the importance of mutual understanding, inclusiveness, and compassion for our countrymen.


The program shall be a continuing project that shall:

  • Promote the theme of unity through diversity, recognizing the heterogeneous nature of Philippine culture and subcultures as definitive components of the heart and soul of a single nation;
  • Utilize film as a medium to promote peace by showing its value vis a vis the road to progress and development;
  • Give form and meaning to the cruelty and destruction brought by war in the regional, national and international scale and
  • Use film as a medium for understanding, compassion, empathy and inclusiveness going beyond tolerance and seeking for a greater value in emphasizing humanity.
  • Cultivate understanding to sustain and preserve mutual respect and peace in the world
  • Nurture mindful attention and reflection that can in turn lead to empathy and intercultural understanding
  • Experience the power of films to engage and stimulate audience


PRIZES
The prizes include: 

  • Grand Prize: Php 500,000 (gross) plus a trophy and a certificate
  • 2nd Prize: Php 400,000 (gross)   plus a trophy and a certificate
  • 3rd Prize: Php 300,000 (gross) plus a trophy and a certificate

RELEASE OF PRIZES

  • Trophies and certificates will be presented to the winners during the awarding ceremony.
  • Prize money will be disbursed within forty-five (45) working days after the official announcement of the winners.
  • Winners will be required to submit all necessary documentation, such as valid identification and bank details, within ten (10) working days of the announcement to facilitate the prize release process.
  • Any delays in providing the required documents may result in a corresponding delay in the release of prize money.
  • The organizing committee reserves the right to withhold the prize money if discrepancies or eligibility issues are identified.
     
GUIDELINES

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria and comply with all requirements:

  • Filipino citizen or a permanent resident of the Philippines and of legal age (18 years old and above).
  • Filipino director and producer registered in the FDCP National Registry
  • Holds or shares the intellectual property rights of the project
  • Have all necessary rights to develop, produce, and distribute the project
  • Do not have any overdue obligations from any FDCP assistance or funding programs
  • Fully comply with all eligibility requirements as set by the FDCP, including the timely submission of required documents and adherence to all application guidelines.

Eligible Projects, Format, and Theme

Projects that meet all of the following conditions:

  1. The Films For Peace Competition is a short film competition open to all Filipino citizens regardless of location and age, whether student, amateur, semi-professional or professional.  Employees and contractual workers of the Film Development Council of the Philippines as well as their immediate relatives are disqualified from participating in the competition.

  2. Completed short films may include the following:  
    a) short narrative feature;
    b) documentary;
    c) animation; or 
    d) mixed media

  3. Films must be in any Philippine language or dialect but must be subtitled in English for wide release in cinemas and streaming platforms.

  4. Submissions must have a running time of not less than twelve (12) minutes but must not exceed twenty (20) minutes inclusive of opening billboard (OBB) and closing credits/closing billboard (CBB).

  5. Films must be completed between March 2025 to June 2025.

  6. Films must have their Philippine premiere at the Films for Peace Competition and must not have been previously screened or participated in any other local or international festivals, including those organized by schools, universities, or film organizations.

  7. Resolution of at least 1920x1080 (Full HD)

  8. Accepted formats - MP4, MOV.

  9. Music and Copyright - any music that is royalty-free or properly licensed.

    Films must carry the theme of:

    - The importance of peace;
    - The need for inclusivity;
    - The respect for diversity; but most of all  
    - The celebration of being Filipino as a people and as citizens of the world.

    The filmmaker may interpret the underlying theme in any manner deemed as substantial for bringing out his or her voice as a cinematic artist.

  10. In case of any violation of the guidelines and rules, the organizers and the judging Committee reserves the right to disqualify the participant and their film or remove them from the program.

  11. The organizers and the selection committee reserves the right to disqualify any participant and/or to forfeit any prize from a participant who is found to have committed plagiarism or has undertaken fraudulent practice and/or activities harmful to the Competition or the Competition submission process.

  12. FDCP reserves the right to create, revoke, and modify at any time, in any way its entry requirements, rules and regulations at its absolute discretion without prior notice. Finalists and submitted entries shall be bound by any amendments or addition to the entry requirements, rules and regulations herewith.

  13. The decision of the Selection Committee is final and irrevocable. The organizers and the Selection Committee are not obliged to give an explanation for the results.

The Films for Peace Competition is NOT available or eligible for:

  1. Films more than twenty (20) minutes long
  2. Advertisements or commercials 
  3. Television series/programs 
  4. News or current affairs programs 
  5. Productions of public or live events 
  6. Projects that contain pornography, promote violence, issues that insult,  offend, and/or portray the Philippines in a negative light as well as  threaten national security. 

  7. Films with excessive violence, political propaganda, or films sponsored by government entities.

    "Excessive violence" refers to graphic or disturbing depictions of harm, injury, or suffering that are not essential to the story, theme, or artistic intent.

    "Political propaganda" refers to content that overtly promotes or advocates for a particular political agenda, ideology, or viewpoint, often in a biased or manipulative way, with the intent to influence public opinion or behavior.

  8. Projects based on adaptations for which the applicant does not hold the necessary intellectual property rights or permissions for adaptation

  9. Projects that infringe on existing copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights

A. Provisional Application Process

  1. Applicants must read and understand the terms of the General Guidelines on the  expectations and deliverables.  

    To apply, applicants must complete the application form through the google link  posted on the FDCP website www.fdcp.ph and submit the required document.

  2. Entry forms provided must be completed  including the listing of all creative and technical proponents of the project.
  3. Once all documentary requirements are completed, Films for Peace Program Officer will submit the project to the Selection Committee for evaluation and deliberation.  

  4. Each applicant may submit only one (1) project per cycle. Projects that will not get selected may only be eligible to reapply for the same competition if there are evident major creative  and/or financial changes from its previous application.

    Film Entry: 

    Online: Upload your film to a private video-sharing platform such as Google Drive or Vimeo (with or without password protection) in a high-quality format like Apple ProRes or a similar file type. Include the access link in the submission form, ensuring it remains active and accessible until the competition concludes.

    Offline: Submit your film on a USB drive and send it to the FDCP office on the 7th floor, Mirax Tower 1, 2270 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City. 

    The courier must be prepaid by the participants and properly labeled with the subject: Films for Peace Competition Entry, Your Name, Film Title.

    Film Trailer: 30 to 45 seconds uploaded in Google Drive or included in USB for offline submission.

    Film Poster: High resolution uploaded in Google Drive or included in USB for offline submission.

    Director's Statement: Submit a brief explanation (maximum of 200 words) detailing how your film aligns with the theme "Films for Peace."

    Accomplished Entry Form: Complete the official Films for Peace entry through the google link  posted on the FDCP website.

    Copyright Clearance: If applicable, provide legal documentation for any third-party material used in the film (music, footage, etc.).

 

SELECTION PROCESS

STEP

DESCRIPTION

Initial Screening

Submitted films will undergo an initial review to ensure their eligibility and compliance with technical requirements.

Pre-Selection

A shortlist of 30 entries will be selected based on the initial evaluation for further consideration.

Final Selection

The top 12 entries will be chosen from the shortlisted submissions to proceed to jury evaluation.

Jury Selection

The jury will assess the top 12 entries and determine the winners based on established criteria.

Announcement of Winners

The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on September 12, 2025, as part of the Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM). Notifications will also be sent to winners via email after the event.

B. Evaluation

Projects will be reviewed based on the following:

  • Impact of material: (30%)
    The emotional and intellectual influence the film has on its audience.
  • Originality of theme:  (25%)
    The uniqueness and creativity in the film’s central theme or message.
  • Technical Excellence: (25%)
    The quality and craftsmanship in the film’s production, including aspects like cinematography, editing, sound design, and visual effects.
  • Universal Appeal: (20%) 
    The film’s ability to resonate with a wide audience, regardless of their culture, location, or language.

There shall be two tiers in the competition: from all the submitted entries, the top twelve (12) entries will be selected by a committee of five (5) members composed of filmmakers and film scholars/ academicians.  

Three (3) winners will be selected by a second jury composed of five (5) members, including representatives from major film agencies in the country: the Film Academy of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Directors Guild of the Philippines, and the academe.
 
All twelve (12) finalists will be scheduled for exhibition at Cinematheques and select cinemas as part of the Philippine Film Industry Month celebrations in September 2025.

C. Selected Projects & Final Verification Process 

 

  1. Selected applicants will be notified via email after the deliberation process. 
  2. All exhibition and ancillary rights of the film remain with the filmmaker. However, the filmmaker grants the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) the right to screen the film free of charge for special screenings at Cinematheques, as well as for educational purposes at schools and universities that are members of the Academic Film Society (AFS). These screenings will be made available upon request by the FDCP, within a period mutually agreed upon by both parties, not exceeding two (2)  years from the film’s premiere.
  3. Streaming Platforms: The films submitted to the competition may not be distributed on commercial streaming platforms during the competition period. After the competition, distribution on commercial platforms may be permitted, subject to the film owner’s discretion and any applicable rights agreements.

Note: SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES from March 01 to June 16, 2025