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.

The circumstances may be different this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the Berlinale has managed to push through with a hybrid setup featuring an online industry offer from March 1 to 5 and the Berlinale Summer Special public event from June 9 to 20.

‘Last Days at Sea’ by Venice Atienza is part of the 2021 Berlinale Generation selection.

Given its grandeur and stature in world cinema, it is heartwarming to know that the Berlinale Organizing Committee continues to recognize Filipino talent by providing various platforms to showcase films, develop film projects, and nurture filmmakers from the Philippines.

In Berlinale 2021, the festival’s 71st edition, the country was represented by one film in competition, two film projects in the Berlinale Co-Production Market, five producers in the Online Visitors Programme, three participating filmmakers in Berlinale Talents, nine production companies in the European Film Market, and two official Country Sessions spearheaded by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Sole Asian nation in the Country Session

Last Tuesday, March 2, I represented the Philippines at the Berlinale Co-Production Market Country Session and European Film Market Landmark Industry Session. As FDCP Chairperson and CEO, I talked about the FilmPhilippines Incentives Programs to encourage foreign productions to partner with Filipino film and audiovisual companies.

The Country Session also featured Estonia, Italy, Norway, and the Netherlands, making the Philippines the only Asian nation in the online panel that offered incentive schemes to international productions working with local co-producers. This made me realize that Philippine Cinema has really come a long way since 2016.

I also discussed the FilmPhilippines Incentives during the European Film Market Industry Session “Overcoming Obstacles: How Film Commissions Can Support Producers.” Aside from the FDCP, the industry session featured the Portugal Film Commission and Germany’s Görlitz Film Office.

Nikolo Juban of Philippine Film Studios, Inc. also spoke in the industry session where he shared his co-production experiences while working on “Survivor Israel” and “Survivor Russia,” which are both FilmPhilippines grantees.

Additionally, representatives of our nine production companies in the European Film Market had their hands full as they attended numerous meetings in hopes of landing collaborations for their projects.

The participating companies were Animation Vertigo Asia, Binisaya Movement, Inc., BLINK Creative Studio, Digital Dreams, Inc., Fixer Ink Philippines, Man Overboard Productions, Mandala Video and Event Productions, Project 8 Projects, and Rein Entertainment Productions.

Having the FilmPhilippines Incentives in place really helped me and our producers in presenting co-production options to the international community. At present, we have the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), International Co-production Fund (ICOF), ASEAN Co-Production Fund (ACOF), and Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX).

Filipino selections in Berlinale

“Last Days at Sea” by Venice Atienza made it to the Berlinale Generation (Kplus competition) section, and the coming-of-age documentary had an industry and press screening on March 2. It will be screened in German cinemas, including open-air venues, in June.

Meanwhile, “6th Finger” by Sheron Dayoc was selected for the Berlinale Talent Project Market, proving that it has come a long way from being a project at Full Circle Lab Philippines 2020, a project development program organized by the FDCP in partnership Full Circle Lab International.

Another Filipino selection at the Berlinale Talent Project Market was “Tropical Gothic,” which won the VFF Talent Highlight Award with a cash prize worth 10,000 euros. The US production was directed by Isabel Sandoval and produced by Carlo Velayo.

Filmmakers brimming with potential

Berlinale Talents, the festival’s talent development program, had three Filipinos in its 2021 roster: editor and producer Cyril Bautista, “6th Finger” co-producer Alemberg Ang, and actor and director Sheenly Gener.

As for the Berlinale Co-Production Market Online Visitors Programme, the FDCP chose five creative producers to be the country’s official participants: Alex Poblete for “Paxxxion,” Geo Lomuntad for “Crème de la Crème,” John Paul Abellera for “Seasons of Chrysanthemum,” Joseph Israel Laban for “Guerra,” and Ria Limjap for “Puppy Love.”

I am so proud of our participating filmmakers for raising the bar of Philippine Cinema representation on the world stage. Despite their many talents, our official participants remain eager to learn more about filmmaking and co-producing in order to share more Filipino stories to international audiences.

Berlinale 2021 may be a far cry from its usual festive and comprehensive film festival, but its spirit of synergy, camaraderie and artistry still resonated throughout global cinema.

It is always an honor for the Philippines to be part of Berlinale, which has embraced and recognized our film industry wholeheartedly. As the 2021 international film festival season carries on, the FDCP aims to continue to improve on the film industry and promote it the world over with the same enthusiasm and passion as with the Berlinale.

Notes from the Chair is part of the Arts Awake section of The Sunday Times Magazine published by The Manila Times. Click HERE to view the article on The Manila Times website.