NEWS: Philippine’s Cinemalaya Foundation Revived a ‘Dead’ Film Industry1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minute
MANILA — Nearly two decades ago, the Philippine film industry was widely considered “dead.” Now it is regarded as one of the brightest lights in Asian cinema, with the Cinemalaya Foundation leading a revival of independent movies.
The nonprofit organization, the winner of this year’s Nikkei Asia Prize for culture and community, supports young filmmakers and introduces their best works to the world through the annual Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
Only 54 films in the 35 mm format were produced in the Philippines in 2004, down from more than 200 in the late 1990s. Most were romantic comedies or action movies with cookie-cutter stories that failed to attract audiences.
Renowned actress and director Laurice Guillen (above), then the head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, agreed with Nestor Jardin, a council member and head of the Cultural Center of the Philippines at the time, that there was a way to spark a resurgence: fostering independent films.
There were festivals for commercial films, but Guillen and Jardin sought to launch an event for films by young, freethinking creators. In 2005, the foundation was born.
Photo Credit: Nikkei Asian Review, Jun Endo
