Philippines Celebrates return to Cannes

After two years of only virtual participation due to the pandemic, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the country’s national film agency, will lead the Philippine Cinema’s return to one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, the Cannes Film Festival, and its industry counterpart, the Marché du Film in Cannes, France. The Philippine-Singapore Pavilion, in partnership with the Singapore Film Commission, also comes back to welcome delegates along Cannes’ Village International-Riviera from May 17 to 28, 2022.

As the 75th edition of Cannes this year notably coincides with the 75th celebration of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France, the FDCP will be hosting a series of industry events to be held at the Philippines-Singapore Pavilion and around Cannes, which includes the Philippine-Singapore Daily Happy Hour, the Official Cooperation Signing between FDCP and the National Centre for Cinematography (CNC), the Full Circle Lab Philippines 2023 Launch, the Spotlight Philippines New Partner Festivals Announcement, the Philippine-Singapore Reception Day, the UniPhilippines Distribution Fund Launch, the Let’s Create Together: FilmPhilippines Incentives Program Launch, the FDCP Channel Launch, and the Cannes Producers Network Opening Cocktails officially sponsored by the Philippines.

“It is truly an honor to jumpstart the FDCP’s mission of bringing the best of Philippine Cinema to the rest of the world, after two years of hiatus because of the pandemic, in Cannes. This year’s participation is extra special, for the 75th edition of Cannes coincides with the 75th celebration of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France. We have prepared a lineup of events for the festival’s duration to showcase and promote the country’s delegation and FDCP’s programs,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

“We are proud and excited that we are going to Cannes with a large delegation of both renowned and emerging filmmakers who are ready to put their projects out there, are open to collaborating and networking with other film professionals and companies, and gaining more knowledge that they can bring home to elevate our local film industry,” she added.

FDCP will launch the UniPhilippines Office as its official international distribution arm dedicated to promoting Filipino films abroad through its assistance, partnership, and incentive programs for filmmakers, producers, and distributors, along with its Distribution Fund.

Philippine Cinema and the industry are also proudly represented by two films (one in competition and one in Cannes Classics), three film projects, five producers, and 16 production companies.

Japan-France-Philippines co-production film Plan 75 by Hayakawa Chie has been selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes. Co-produced by Filipino producer Alemberg Ang and by Filipino production company Fusee, headed by Will Fredo, the film follows the story of three characters—an elderly woman whose means of survival is vanishing, a pragmatic salesman for Plan 75 (a fictional government program), and a young Filipino laborer—choose between life and death.

The restored film Itim by veteran filmmaker Mike de Leon will have its world premiere in the 2022 Classics section of Cannes. Itim is about a young man who returns to his provincial home and gets involved with a woman who is ultimately possessed by her sister’s spirit, paving the way to revealing the painful truth about her unsolved disappearance. Filipina actress Dolly de Leon will also be present at the festival as part of the cast of Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund’s upcoming film Triangle of Sadness, a contender for the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

For projects in development, the Cinéfondation, meanwhile, is a foundation backed by the Cannes Film Festival, which is created to inspire and support the next generation of filmmakers. It is divided into three parts: The Selection, The Residence, and The Atelier.

Filipino director Arvin Belarmino, with his feature film project Ria, was selected to participate in the 44th Cinéfondation – Residence du Festival Programme in partnership with the CNC and will be participating at the Residence Pitch Session during the Festival.

Film projects Sam by E del Mundo and producer Pamela Reyes and The Beer Girl in Yangon by Sein Lyan Tun and Indonesian producer John Badalu, and Filipino co-producer Alemberg Ang will take part in the L’Atelier de la Cinéfondation of Cannes. This initiative helps filmmakers gain access to international financing and speed up the production process of their projects.

The Marché du Film, the business side of the Cannes Film Festival, is where film industry professionals gather to discover new film projects and gain experience in one of the biggest film markets in the world. FDCP, an international presenting partner of the Marché du Film, has selected five Filipino producers for the Producers Network from May 19 to 23.

This year, the film market features the Philippines as its Spotlight Country and, as such, will be hosting the Cannes Producers Network Breakfast Meetings on May 23. The selected Spotlight Producers are Joyce Bernal and E del Mundo of Spring Films, Inc., Carlo Valenzona of Catchlight Pictures Indonesia, Pamela Reyes of Create Cinema Inc., and Cecilia Mejia of Remedias Productions, LLC.

Meanwhile, the participating production companies featured in the Philippine Pavilion are Bullet Manila, Cinematografica Films, Clayshop Inc., Create Cinema Inc., Daluyong Studios, Feelmaking Productions, FUSEE, Mandala Video and Event Productions, Nathan Studios, Spring Films, TBA Studios, The IdeaFirst Company Inc., The Producer’s Asia, URSA Entertainment, and Visioncapture Media. Titles carried by the Filipino producers this year included Hey Joe by Avel Sunpongco and Walang KaParis by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.

The 75th Cannes Film Festival will be held onsite from May 17 to 28, while the Marché du Film will be from May 17 to 25.

The PH Delegation to Cannes Film Festival from May 17 to 28:

Festival de Cannes

I. Un Certain Regard (Official Selection)

• • Plan 75 by Hayakawa Chie

II. Cannes Classics (Official Selection)

• • Itim by Mike de Leon

III. Talent

• • Actress Dolly De Leon featured in Triangle of Sadness (Main Competition)

Marché du Film

I. La Cinéfondation – Residence du Festival Programme

• • Ria by Arvin Belarmino, Produced by Alemberg Ang and August Espino

II. La Cinéfondation – L’Atelier

• • Sam by E del Mundo, Produced by Pam Reyes
  • The Beer Girl in Yangon by Sein Lyan Tun, Produced by Alember Ang

III. Producers Network – Spotlight Producers

• • Joyce Bernal of Spring Films, Inc.
  • E del Mundo of Spring Films, Inc.
  • Carlo Valenzona of Catchlight Pictures Indonesia
  • Pamela Reyes of Create Cinema Inc.
  • Cecilia Mejia of Remedias Productions, LLC.

IV. Film Companies

• • Bullet Manila
  • Cinematografica Films
  • Clayshop Inc., Create Cinema Inc.
  • Daluyong Studios
  • Feelmaking Productions
  • FUSEE
  • Mandala Video and Event Productions
  • Nathan Studios
  • Spring Films
  • TBA Studios
  • The IdeaFirst Company Inc.
  • The Producer’s Asia
  • URSA Entertainment
  • Visioncapture Media

V. Filipino Films Screenings

• • Hey Joe by Avel Sunpongco
  • Walang KaParis by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

VI. Philippines Events and Activities

Venue: Philippine-Singapore Pavilion

• • May 18-25 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    Philippine – Singapore Daily Happy Hour
  • May 18 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    CNC France & FDCP Cooperation Agreement Signing & Cocktails
  • May 19 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    Full Circle Lab PH Launch
  • May 20 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    Spotlight Philippines Announcements / Networking Hour
  • May 21 / 4:00 5:00 PM
    Philippine x Singapore Pavilion at the Marché du Film Reception Night
  • May 22 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    FDCP’s UniPhilippines Launch
  • May 23 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    FilmPhilippines Networking Hour
  • May 24 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    FDCP Channel Launch / Networking Hour
  • May 25 / 4:00 – 5:00 PM
    Networking Hour

Venue: Plage Des Palmes

• • May 18 / 5:00 PM
    Cannes Producers Network Opening Night (Presented by the Philippines)
  • May 19 – 23 / 9:00 – 10:30 AM
    Cannes Producers Network Breakfast Meetings
  • May 23 / 9:00 – 10:30 AM
    Philippine Day @Cannes Producers Network
  • May 23 / 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM
    Cannes Producers Network Closing Event