It is not an overstatement to say you can find a Filipino anywhere in the world. In airports, it is not uncommon to be greeted with an enthusiastic "Oy, kabayan!" with a smile. We are everywhere.

The same goes for our films — we are winning in film festivals all over the world. Every month this year, at least one Filipino film received an award or recognition in the international scene. We are being seen!

Here are twenty of the most memorable award-winners this year:

FEATURE FILMS

"On-the-Job: The Missing 8" by Erik Matti
- John Arcilla (Volpi Cup Best Actor), 78th Venice International Film Festival 2021, Italy

"Whether the Weather is Fine (Kun Maupay man it Panahon)" by Carlo Francisco Manatad
- Cinema e Gioventù Prize, 74th Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland;
- Best Director, London East Asian Film Festival, UK

"GenSan Punch" by Brillante Mendoza
- Kim Jiseok Award, 26th Busan International Film Festival, Korea

"Holy Emy" by Araceli Lemos
- Honorable Mention (First Feature Award), 74th Locarno Film Festival, Italy

"Balangiga: Howling Wilderness" by Khavn De La Cruz
- Jury Prize, Le Festival International de Cinema Asiatique de Tours, France

"Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story" by Avid Liongoren
- Best Feature Film, Festiwal Filmow Animowanych - Animafest Gdansk, Poland

"Belle Douleur" by Josabeth Alonso
- Special Jury Prize for Best Feature in Foreign Films, 54th Worldfest-Houston International Festival, US
- Kit Thompson (Best Actor - Panorama Asia Category), 54th Worldfest-Houston International Festival, US

"Kalel,15" by Jun Robles Lana
- Elijah Canlas (Best Actor), Harlem International Film Festival (Hi), US

"Midnight in a Perfect World" by Dodo Dayao
- Best Film (Feature Films Competition), 21st TOHorror Fantastic Film Festival, Italy
- Special Mention from the Jury (AQCC Camera Lucida Category), 25th Fantasia International Film Festival, Canada

"Fan Girl" by Antoinette Jadaone
- Honorable Mention (Narrative Feature Film), Austin Asian American Film Festival, US

"Dito at Doon" by JP Habac
- Janine Gutierrez (Rising Star Award), 20th New York Asian Film Festival, US

"Tagpuan" by Mcarthur Cruz Alejandre
- Best Feature Film, 6th Chauri Chaura International Film Festival, India

"Metamorphosis" by J.E. Tiglao
- Special Mention Jury Award (International Narrative Feature), New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival

DOCUMENTARIES

"To Calm the Pig Inside" by Joanna Vasquez Arong
- Third Prize, 8th Bozcaada International Festival, Turkey
- 2nd Prize (Long Category), World Press Photo Digital Storytelling Contest, Netherlands

"Aswang" by Alyx Ayn Arumpac
- Coup de Coeur du Jury, Festival International du Film Insulaire de l'île de Groix, France

"A Thousand Cuts" by Ramona Diaz
- Best Documentary, 30th Independent Filmmaker Project, USA

SHORT FILMS

"Filipiñana" by Rafael Manuel
- George Lucas Award (Grand Prix Award), Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Japan
- The Governor of Tokyo Award, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Japan
- Best Film (International Competition), Pragueshorts Film Festival, Czech Republic
- Best Student Film, Molodist Film Festival, Ukraine

"Ang May Akda: Ikatlong Yugto" by Elvert Banares
- Extreme Scream Award, Berlin Flash Film Festival, Germany

"Harana" by Marie Jamora
- Jury Prize (Narrative Shorts Competition), Sarasota Film Festival 2021, US
- Franchesca Farr (Outstanding Dramatic Actress), Sarasota Film Festival 2021, US

"Here, Here" by Joanne Cesario
- New Visions Short Films Jury Prize (Golden Gate Awards Competition), 64th San Francisco International Film Festival, US

Whew! That was a lot. This list is not complete and the year is not yet over.

The Philippines is one of the very few countries in Southeast Asia that has had constant participation in top film festivals like Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, and Locarno, Tokyo, Busan, Shanghai, Annecy, and many more, since 2016. This is no easy feat.

Through its UNI PHILIPPINES program, the Film Development Council of the Philippines aims to promote Philippine Cinema all over the world. This initiative has created various mechanisms of support, like providing travel grants to filmmakers to represent their films in these important festivals.

FDCP supports films competing abroad like Antoinette Jadaone's "Fan Girl'' in Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Rafael Manuel's "Filipiñana" in Berlinale in 2020, the Daniel Padilla and Charo Santos Concio starrer "Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" in Locarno, and Avid Liongoren's "Hayop Ka! The Nimfa Dimaano Story," the first Filipino animated feature to compete in the main competition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Despite the pandemic, this year brought in a golden harvest of victories for the film industry. Filipino talent is truly world-class.

Pinoy films persisted, endured and flourished. And will continue to do so as we evolve with the challenges of the times.

As our filmmakers sparkle in their victories on the international stage, the spotlight also shines on the Philippines as our country gets to be seen and our stories to be told.

But just why is it important to be seen? Because the film industry is a global market.

Let us take Korea and Japan, for example. A significant part of Korea's income comes from its films, TV shows and songs. They get to "promote" their culture through these mediums — from traditions to food, skin care, and most importantly, the country itself. This has led to the globalization of Korean products. Hallyu, the "Korean wave" has even reached the UN when BTS was chosen to perform in one of its assemblies. Who does not know BTS nowadays? The KPop phenomenon exploded in the last two decades and has reached global prominence. It is now a multi-billion dollar industry contributing not just to South Korea's tourism, but also to the marketability of all things Korean.

On the other hand, Japan is a powerhouse when it comes to its animation studios, manga, TV shows, and of course, J-Pop. It not only impacts economies significantly by generating jobs and bringing in investments, but it also influences the overall image of a country and gives its culture and stories a stage for the world to admire and learn from. This is what we call soft power.

And the Philippines have immense potential to achieve these as well.

Showcasing the Philippines to the world — from our talents to our stories — is part of FDCP's vision. And to be seen, you have to be present, constantly. Our filmmakers bring the country with them in the spotlight. Through them, we become more visible on the world's stage.

Filipino films reaching the farthest corners of the world also reaches out to our kababayans living outside our borders — our films become a piece of home to them wherever they may be and whatever time zone they wake up to. Their children get the opportunity to look at the big screen and see somebody who looks like them. Seeing Filipino films from their part of the world, they can feel they are not truly far away. And that home can be just a movie ticket away. More than the accolades, this, for me, is the greater thing.

Thank you, our dear filmmakers. Congratulations, and we are proud of you.

Notes from the Chair
The Sunday Times Magazine  - The Manila Times

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.