The Philippine Embassy in Germany with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) held a Philippine Cinema Night on 24 February 2020 to celebrate 100 years of Philippine Cinema and to introduce the Philippine Delegation to the 70^th Berlin International Film Festival better known as the Berlinale.

The Philippine presence at the 2020 Berlinale from 20 February to 1 March is one of the largest in recent years with four Philippine-themed and co-produced films screening at the one of the world’s top festivals.

The Philippine productions are director Raya Martin’s “Death of Nintendo”, Rafael Manuel’s short film “Filipiñiana”, Alex Piperno’s “Chico ventana tambien quisiera tener un submarine” (Window Boy Would Also Like to Have a Submarine”, a Philippine co-production with Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands, and “Orphea” a rock musical film set in Manila co-directed by Filipino Khavn Dela Cruz and German Alexander Kluge.

The Philippines likewise took part in the Berlinale Co-production market via “Boldstar” a new film written by Rody Vera and to be directed by Antoinette Jadaone and produced by Bianca Balbuena and Dan Villegas. The film was pitched to various potential international partners at the co-production market.

Four other Filipino directors and producers took part in the Berlinale Co-Production Market Visitor Programme – Alemberg Ang, Anne Prado-Magadia, Carlo Valenzona, and Gutierrez Mangasakan II.

At the Berlinale Talents Programme two young Filipinas producer Gale Osorio and filmmaker Celine Marie Donato took part in discussions and networking sessions.

In her message at the Philippine Cinema Night held at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, FDCP Chair and CEO Liza Diño Seguerra spoke about the exciting visions and voices in Philippine cinema across all genres. She invited the over 150 guests from the international film industry to consider the Philippines newly-launched Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP) and International Co-Production Fund (ICOF). These new programs allow the Philippines to venture into more collaborative projects and to welcome international filmmakers to an exciting filming experience in the Philippines.

Touting the theme of the new programs, “Let’s Create Together” Chair Diño-Seguerra shared that the Philippines offers not only diverse and beautiful filming locations but also a creative community which is vibrant, dynamic, and welcoming.

For her part, Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega assured the Philippine film sector and the FDCP of the Embassy’s continuing support in raising the profile of Philippine cinema in Germany.

Among those who came to Philippine Cinema Night included Korean Film Council Chair Oh Seok-geun, Tokyo International Film Festival Director Takeo Hisamatsu, Festival programmers from the Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Berlinale organizers, filmmakers, producers, creatives, talents, and film journalists.

The event lasting for several hours was enlivened by special Philippine cocktails created by Filipino-German mixologist Jane Narag-Kupke and Philippine street food served cocktail style by Filipino-Germany Chef Bulawan Callanta of AYAN Filipino Restaurant in Berlin. END