MANILA, PHILIPPINES, MARCH 10, 2022 — In celebration of National Women's Month this March, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is holding its second Cine Filipina featuring a lineup of film screenings, talkbacks, panel discussions, and activities available throughout the month on the FDCP Channel platform. 

This year’s “Cine Filipina: Juana Tungo Sa Kaunlaran” aims to continue recognizing women’s significant accomplishments. The film festival puts a spotlight on women to further understand and support their journeys as they carry on to make beneficial contributions to society. The festival is being held virtually on the FDCP Channel (fdcpchannel.ph) with limited onsite screenings at the Cinematheque Centres. 

Last March 6, FDCP officially commenced the 2nd edition of Cine Filipina with the opening program “Babae, Pelikula, Kaunlaran” on the FDCP Channel. It was hosted by Issa Liton, featuring a special performance from Bayang Barrios, opening remarks from FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño, and a short interview with filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar, the first Filipina feature film director to win the Special Jury Award for Innovative Spirit at the Sundance Film Festival. The program was followed by a one-time free screening of her curated works.

“For the second consecutive year, FDCP Channel aims to continue highlighting women’s achievements and milestones through Cine Filipina. With the year’s theme ‘Juana Tungo Sa Kaunlaran,’ borrowing from this year’s National Women’s Month subtheme ‘Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo Sa Kaunlaran,’ the film festival puts the spotlight on women and the way they participate in the conversations, journeys, and revolutions of an ever-changing society,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño in her opening remarks. 

“We curated a roster of films and events, such as discussions on art forms created by women and women who serve as key figures in various organizations, that will make you introspect—why is this important to reflect on in a time like now? Well, these are strange times where a worldwide health crisis drove whole nations into economic and social turmoil. We need to survive and we need to be strong. We need to watch and believe how women do it – how they triumph, how they conquer, and how their strength has saved people and situations. These films will show that strength,” Diño added. 

Escobar also shared her realizations after her historic win at Sundance for her debut feature Leonor Will Never Die: “Sobrang saya ko, but at the same time, I know na meron akong responsibility as a filmmaker, Filipina, daughter, person, in general, to make good use of the award because special siya. Ngayon, nasa time na ako na parang ‘anong pwede kong gawin to help other young filmmakers?’, get their films made, support others, siguro i-voice out na ‘we can do it!,’ na we can get into festivals that have a large audience like Sundance, dahil kaya natin.” 

A total of 32 films are part of the official selection: 17 short films and 15 feature films. There will also be the FDCP Channel Game Nights and three Cine Filipina talks exclusively on the FDCP Channel. 

In celebration of the International Women’s Day last March 8, the FDCP Channel held a one-time free screening of Insiang by National Artist Lino Brocka.

From March 7 to 27, 11 women-centered short films from CineMarya Women’s Short Film Festival that aims to inspire and empower both women and men, are available to stream for free on the FDCP Channel Basic tab: 

• Adira by J.I. Hamid
• Binakol sa Dahon by Gary Tabanera 
• Dad-aan Na by Julius Lumiqued
• Dalaginding Na Si Isang by Nigel Santos
• Hakab by Mel Aguilar-Maestro
• Night Shift by Mariel Ong
• Noontime Drama by Kim Timan and Sam Villareal
• She's Perfect by Jochelle Casilad
• Super-Able by Arjanmar Rebeta
• Super Woman by Angela Andres
• Winged Dreams To The Blue Heavens by Aimee Apostol-Escasa

For a subscription of only PHP 99 monthly or PHP 999 annually, 12 curated women-centered feature films that highlight women’s roles, strengths, and power in society, can be also accessed starting on March 7: 

• An Kubo sa Kawayanan by Alvin Yapan
• Donor by Mark Meily
• Foster Child by Brillante Mendoza
• Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar
• In Nomine Matris by Will Fredo
• K'Na The Dreamweaver by Ida Anita del Mundo
• Lola by Brillante Mendoza
• Ma'Rosa by Brillante Mendoza
• Ronda by Nick Olanka
• Sakaling Hindi Makarating by Ice Idanan
• The Chanters by James Robin Mayo
• Thy Womb by Brillante Mendoza

Available for rental starting March 7 is ABS-CBN Film Restoration - Sagip Pelikula’s digitally-restored and remastered version of Filipino drama film Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin by Olivia M. Lamasan. The 1997 film starring Lorna Tolentino and Richard Gomez will be available for rental for PHP 120 with a 7-day access that will expire 48 hours after the first play. 

For those who missed the one-time free screening last March 6 of “Sineng Pilipina: Martika Ramirez Escobar Retrospective,” a curation of Escobar’s short films as cinematographer and director, they will be available to stream beginning March 27 through video-on-demand (VOD): 

• Dindo by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
• Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
• Pusong Bato by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
•  5 Ning Gatpanapun by Petersen Vargas (Cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar)
• Ang Maangas, Ang Marikit, at Ang Makata by Jose Ibarra Guballa (Cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar)
• Asan Si Lolo Me? by Sari Estrada  (Cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar)

From March 13 to 20, three FDCP Film Talks on Cine Filipina will be streamed live at 7 p.m. on the FDCP Channel Events tab:

• “Changing Times, Evolving Roles” is on empowering roles previously only given to men that are now being held by women—especially in the film industry (March 13, Sunday).
• “Women and Art Forms” is a discussion with women artists who are starting to take on the world through their various creations and art forms (March 18, Friday).
• “Women in Action” is a discussion with government officials and key figures of women-centric organizations who women can run to in times of distress (March 20, Sunday).

On March 19, 26, and 27, there will be limited on-site screenings of Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World at the Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, and Nabunturan. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and earned the Best Actress Award for Renate Reinsve’s performance. The film was recently nominated at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) and the Oscars for Original Screenplay and International Feature Film. 

The FDCP Channel Game Nights: Cine Filipina edition, to be hosted by DJ Jhai Ho, will be on March 26, 7 p.m. on the FDCP Channel Events tab, while the official closing of Cine Filipina will be held on March 27, streamed live from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the FDCP Channel Events tab. 

To watch the Cine Filipina films, log in at the FDCP Channel (or create an account for free). For more information and inquiries, visithttps://fdcpchannel.ph/. 

The Cine Filipina: Women’s Film Festival lineup: 

Basic (Free) 

CineMarya Short Films (March 7 to 27)

• Adira by J.I. Hamid
• Binakol sa Dahon by Gary Tabanera 
• Dad-aan Na by Julius Lumiqued
• Dalaginding Na Si Isang by Nigel Santos
• Hakab by Mel Aguilar-Maestro
• Night Shift by Mariel Ong
• Noontime Drama by Kim Timan and Sam Villareal
• She's Perfect by Jochelle Casilad
• Super-Able by Arjanmar Rebeta
• Super Woman by Angela Andres
• Winged Dreams To The Blue Heavens by Aimee Apostol-Escasa

International Women’s Day (March 8)

• Insiang by Lino Brocka

Subscription 

• An Kubo sa Kawayanan by Alvin Yapan
• Donor by Mark Meily
• Foster Child by Brillante Mendoza
• Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar
• In Nomine Matris by Will Fredo
• K'Na The Dreamweaver by Ida Anita del Mundo
• Lola by Brillante Mendoza
• Ma'Rosa by Brillante Mendoza
• Ronda by Nick Olanka
• Sakaling Hindi Makarating by Ice Idanan
• The Chanters by James Robin Mayo
• Thy Womb by Brillante Mendoza

Martika Ramirez Escobar Retrospective (Starting March 27)

• Dindo by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
• Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
• Pusong Bato by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
• 5 Ning Gatpanapun by Petersen Vargas (Cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar)
• Ang Maangas, Ang Marikit, at Ang Makata by Jose Ibarra Guballa (Cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar)
• Asan Si Lolo Me? by Sari Estrada  (Cinematography by Martika Ramirez Escobar)

Rental 

• Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin (Digitally Restored and Remastered) by Olivia M. Lamasan