Fact — the Philippine film industry has always been a women-dominated industry. The Philippine cinema has always carried the indelible mark of the Filipina since the beginning.

Case in point — Atang dela Rama, the first woman National Artist who also starred in the first Filipino film "Dalagang Bukid." Key positions in the industry have always been held by women — Dona Sisang led LVN Pictures to its peak while Dona Nene headed its rival production company, Sampaguita Pictures. Her daughter Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda, fondly known as Manay Ichu, also made significant contributions to the film industry including her role in the organizing of Mowelfund and the lobbying for the foundation of a national film agency that later became the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Filipinas maintained their strong presence to the modern times through the likes of film outfit matriarchs "Mother" Lily Monteverde and Armida Siguion-Reyna; respected actress and film/TV executive Charo Santos-Concio; and directors Laurice Guillen, Olivia Lamasan, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

While the director provides the creative vision of a film and has complete artistic control of the production, it is the producer that transforms these visions into reality. Beyond the roles of financing, they are most of all decision-makers on what projects to launch, where to secure funds, who to hire for the creative positions like writers and directors, and how to manage production logistics from pre-production all the way to distribution efficiently and effectively.

Through more than a century of Philippine cinema, the Filipina has led the industry through ups and downs, through challenging times and golden days. She has always been its driving force and fierce advocate. Her quiet strength has carried the industry through a hundred years and now film remains an important medium, not just of showing and portraying culture, but also of fostering ideas.

Now, more than ever, more and more Filipina women produce, film, and act in stories highlighting female lead characters in important roles. This is cause for celebration because this phenomenon in itself, this zeitgeist, is already a cause for hope. Women being in decision-making positions brings us many notches up the equity ladder.

Filipino women are no damsels in distress needing a knight in shining armor. As G.D. Anderson puts it, "Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." The Filipina is already strong and she has something to say. We need to give her an avenue where she can be heard.

In celebration of Women's Month this March, let me spotlight some of the country's established and emerging Filipina filmmakers who are trailblazing new paths for the Philippine film industry in local and international scenes.

Bianca Balbuena, aside from being an accomplished producer, is also a writer and CEO of Epicmedia Productions Inc. which brought us blockbuster hits "That Thing Called Tadhana" and "Fan Girl"; and internationally-celebrated films such as Venice Film Festival Lion of the Future "Engkwentro" by Pepe Diokno, and Berlinale Silver Bear "A Lullaby To The Sorrowful Mystery" (Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis) by Lav Diaz. She is the first producer to receive the Camera Obscura Excellence Award.

Her filmography includes co-production projects and film mentoring opportunities with countries from all over the world. Last 2018, she was named Producer of the Year by the Busan Asian Film Commissions Network and the youngest awardee of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards FIAPF Award for outstanding contribution to Asia Pacific cinema.

Armi Rae Cacanindin is Globe Studios' head of long form productions. She is the producer of recent Film Ambassadors' Night 2022 A-Lister "Kun Maupay man it Panahon" by Carlo Francisco Manatad which won the Youth Jury Prize at the Locarno Film Festival last year; and the creative documentary "Aswang" directed by Alyx Arumpac which gained international acclaim including an eligibility for Oscars' Best Documentary. "Aswang" also made history as the first documentary to receive the Best Picture Award at the Famous, and won the Camera Obscura Excellence Award, the FDCP's highest award.

Arleen Cuevas is an educator and co-founder of production company Cinematografica, together with Raya Martin and Armi Cacanindin. She is currently a production lecturer in Breda University in the Netherlands. Both her films "Independencia" and "Manila" were part of the Official selection of 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

She co-produced Shireen Seno's "Nervous Translation" which won the Best Asian Film Netpac award at Rotterdam Film Festival 2018. She also had several projects with filmmakers Raya Martin and Adolf Alix Jr., some of which were screened in various international film festivals. She also co-produced international productions such as "The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela" which won the Teddy Award for Best Film at the Berlin Film Festival 2008 and was line-producer for American director John Sayles' film, "Amigo" in 2011.

Monster Jimenez is the producer of "Leonor Will Never Die" which won at the Sundance this year. At present, she is running This Side Up, a content creation house that develops stories for brands and entertainment.

She is also a screenwriter, director, and editor, with past notable works including "Big Time," "Apocalypse Child," and "Respeto."

Micah Tadena is country manager of global media company 108 Media, with over five years of experience in media. She has developed and produced feature films and short documentaries for organizations like Netflix, VICE Media, Unesco, and more. "The Mango Bride," a Palanca-winning novel by Marivi Soliven is now being adapted into a feature film by 108 Media.

Pamela Reyes is also a script consultant and filmmaker. With a decade of experience in producing films, series, and advertising commercials, Pamela has produced a number of successful films which have reached international heights including "Birdshot," the first Filipino film on Netflix and the Philippines' official entry to the 2018 Academy Awards. Currently, Pamela produces select film projects, both local and international co-productions, under her Manila-based production boutique Create Cinema Inc.

Patti Lapus' work in line production includes award-winning films "Midnight in a Perfect World" by Dodo Dayao; "Chedeng and Apple" by Fatrick Tabada and Rae Red; and "Tenement 66" also by Rae Red. She also produced FDCP grantee and UK-Ireland-US co-production "Nocebo" by Lorcan Finnegan.

She is a resident line producer and the Head of Production of Epicmedia. She is currently producing Dodo Dayao's next feature film "Dear Wormwood." Patti is presently the Interim Chairperson of Inter-Guild Alliance, a community-based network of various groups in the film, TV and advertising industries.

Finally, Gale Osorio was the producer of "It's Raining Frogs Outside" (Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol) by Maria Estela Paiso, the first film in the Sambal language throughout the history of Berlinale. She was also the producer for the short film Babylon, the second Filipino film selected into the Berlinale Shorts Competition in 2018, and participated in many other national and international film events.

She also produced "Iskalawags" and "Lily,"and is currently developing Keith Deligero's "Babylon" into a feature film, and Zurich Chan's "Cangrejos." In between producing films, she helps run the annual Binisaya Film Festival in Cebu City as her way of helping the development of Philippine cinema in the regions.

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.

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