Cinema In The Philippines
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The cinema of the Philippines began with the introduction of the first
moving picture A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of Visual arts, visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are gen ...
s to the country on August 31, 1897, at the ''Salón de Pertierra'' in
Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
. The following year, local scenes were shot on film for the first time by a Spaniard, Antonio Ramos, using the Lumiere
Cinematograph Cinematograph or kinematograph is an early term for several types of motion picture film mechanisms. The name was used for movie cameras as well as film projectors, or for complete systems that also provided means to print films (such as the ...
. While most early
filmmakers Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screenwritin ...
and
producers Producer(s), The Producer(s), or co-producer(s) may refer to: Occupations *Producer (agriculture), a farm operator *Producer, a stakeholder of economic production * Film producer, supervises the making of films **Executive producer, contributes t ...
in the country were mostly wealthy enterprising foreigners and
expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. The term often refers to a professional, skilled worker, or student from an affluent country. However, it may also refer to retirees, artists and ...
s, on September 12, 1919, ''
Dalagang Bukid ''Dalagang Bukid'' (English: ''Country Maiden'') is a 1919 Filipino silent film. Directed by José Nepomuceno, it is recognized as the first full-length Filipino-produced and directed feature film. An adaptation of the Tagalog sarsuwela of t ...
'' (Country Maiden), a film based on a popular ''
zarzuela () is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name o ...
'', was the first movie made and shown by Filipino filmmaker
José Nepomuceno José Nepomuceno y Zialcita (May 15, 1893 – December 1, 1959) was one of the pioneering directors and producers of Philippine cinema. He is also known as the ''"founder of Philippine movies"'', and he had his own production company Jose Nep ...
. Dubbed as the "Father of Philippine Cinema," his work marked the start of cinema as an art form in the Philippines. Even with the problems currently facing motion pictures around the world, films are still considered one of the popular forms of entertainment among the
Filipino people Filipinos () are citizens or people identified with the country of the Philippines. Filipinos come from various Austronesian peoples, all typically speaking Filipino language, Filipino, Philippine English, English, or other Philippine language ...
, directly employing some 260,000 Filipinos and generating around
The Philippine peso sign (₱) is the currency symbol used for the Philippine peso, the official currency of the Philippines. The symbol resembles a Latin script, Latin letter P with two horizontal strokes. It differs from the currency symbol u ...
2 billion revenues annually. Among its neighbors in Southeast Asia, Philippine cinema remains as the strongest in the Southeast Asian region with the majority of films made in the region came from the Philippines along with the film industries of Thailand and Indonesia. The
Film Development Council of the Philippines The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is the national film agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines responsible for film policies and programs to ensure the economic, cultural and educational development of ...
established a national film archive in October 2011. Furthermore, their annually held
Luna Awards The Luna Awards are awards given annually by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Filipino film industry. The first awards were presented in 1983 in Pasay. It is considered to be the Philipp ...
honor the outstanding Filipino films as voted by their own peers. Meanwhile, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino hands out the
Gawad Urian Awards The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines presented since 1977 by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (), a film critic organization composed of critics, writers, and scholars. It is the regarded as the highest award for ...
, which is well known due to its credible choices of winners.


Overview

The formative years of Philippine cinema, starting from the 1930s, were a time of discovering the
film genre A film genre is a Genre, stylistic or thematic category for Film, motion pictures based on similarities either in the narrative , narrative elements, aesthetic approach, or the emotional response to the film. Drawing heavily from the theories ...
as a new medium of
art Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...
. Scripts and
characterisation Characterization or characterisation is the representation of characters (persons, creatures, or other beings) in narrative and dramatic works. The term character development is sometimes used as a synonym. This representation may include dire ...
s in
film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
s came from popular
theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...
and familiar local literature. Nationalistic films were also quite popular, although they were labeled as being too
subversive Subversion () refers to a process by which the values and principles of a system in place are contradicted or reversed in an attempt to sabotage the established social order and its structures of power, authority, tradition, hierarchy, and socia ...
. The 1940s and the war brought to the Philippine cinema the consciousness of
reality Reality is the sum or aggregate of everything in existence; everything that is not imagination, imaginary. Different Culture, cultures and Academic discipline, academic disciplines conceptualize it in various ways. Philosophical questions abo ...
. Movie themes consisting primarily of war and heroism had proven to be a huge hit among local audiences. The 1950s saw the first golden age of Philippine cinema,"Is the Curtain Finally Falling on the Philippine Movie Industry?"
''PhilNews.com.'' Retrieved January 25, 2009.
with the emergence of more artistic and mature films, and significant improvement in
cinematic techniques This article contains a list of cinematic techniques that are divided into categories and briefly described. Basic definitions of terms ;180-degree rule :A continuity editorial technique in which sequential shots of two or more actors within ...
among filmmakers. The
studio system A studio system is a method of filmmaking wherein the production and distribution of films is dominated by a small number of large movie studios. It is most often used in reference to Hollywood motion picture studios during the early years of th ...
produced frenetic activity in the local film industry, as many films were made annually and several local talents started to earn recognition abroad. Award-giving bodies were first instituted during this period. When the decade was drawing to a close, the studio system
monopoly A monopoly (from Greek language, Greek and ) is a market in which one person or company is the only supplier of a particular good or service. A monopoly is characterized by a lack of economic Competition (economics), competition to produce ...
came under
siege A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...
as a result of labor-management conflicts, and by the 1960s, the artistry established in the previous years was already on the decline. This era can be characterized by rampant
commercialism Commercialism is the application of both manufacturing and consumption towards personal usage, or the practices, methods, aims, and distribution of products in a free market geared toward generating a profit. Commercialism can also refer, positi ...
, fan movies,
soft porn Softcore pornography or softcore porn is commercial still photography, film, imagery, or even audio that has a pornographic or erotic component but is less sexually graphic or intrusive than hardcore pornography, defined by a lack of sexual p ...
films, action flicks, and
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
spin-off Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media *Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work *''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine * ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...
s. The 1970s and 1980s were turbulent years for the industry, bringing both positive and negative changes. The films in this period now dealt with more serious topics following the Martial Law era. In addition, action and sex films developed further, introducing more explicit subject matter. These years also brought the arrival of alternative or
independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is film production, produced outside the Major film studios, major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independ ...
in the Philippines. The 1990s saw the emerging popularity of slasher movies, teen-oriented romantic comedies, as well as sexually explicit adult films, although slapstick comedies still draw a large audience. Genres of previous decades had been recycled with almost the same stories, and love teams, which had been popular in the past, have reemerged.Anonymous
"History of Philippine Cinema"
''Philippine Journeys.'' Retrieved January 22, 2009.
The Philippines, which as one of Asia's oldest film industries, remains undisputed in terms of the highest level of theater admission in
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
. Over the years, however, the film industry has registered a steady decline in movie viewership from 131 million in 1996 to 63 million in 2004.Cannes entry puts spotlight on Philippine indie films
. Grafilo, John. ''Top News Light Reading''. May 6, 2008.
A bleak storyline for the Filipino film industry
Conde, Carlos H. ''International Herald Tribune''. February 11, 2007.
From a high of 200 films a year during the 1980s, the country's film industry was down to making a total of 56 new films in 2006 and around 30 in 2007. Although the industry has undergone turbulent times, the 21st century saw the rebirth of independent filmmaking through the use of digital technology, and a number of films have once again earned international recognition and prestige.


History


Origins and early development

On January 1, 1897, the first film shown was ''Espectaculo Scientifico'' and followed by other four movies, namely, ''Un Homme Au Chapeau (Man with a Hat)'', ''Une scène de danse japonnaise (Scene from a Japanese Dance)'', ''Les Boxers (The Boxers)'', and ''La Place de L' Opéra (The Place L' Opéra)'', were shown via 60 mm Gaumont
Chrono Chrono may refer to: Prefix ''chrono-'' a Greek combining form relating to time *chronometry, science of the measurement of time *"chrono", colloquialism for chronograph in watch and clock collectors' language Games *Chrono (series), ''Chrono'' ...
-photograph projector at the ''Salon de Pertierra'' at No.12 Escolta in Manila. The venue was formerly known as on the ground floor of the Casino Español at Pérez Street, off Escolta Street. Other countries, such as France, England, and Germany had their claims to the introduction of publicly projected motion picture in the Philippines, although Petierra is credited by most historians and critics.Bautista, Arsenio 'Boots'
"History of Philippine Cinema"
. ''National Commission for Culture and the Arts''. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
Antonio Ramos, a Spanish soldier from Aragón, was able to import a Lumiere
Cinematograph Cinematograph or kinematograph is an early term for several types of motion picture film mechanisms. The name was used for movie cameras as well as film projectors, or for complete systems that also provided means to print films (such as the ...
from Paris, including 30 film titles, out of his savings and the financial banking of two Swiss entrepreneurs, Liebman and Peritz. By August 1897, Liebman and Peritz presented the first movies on the Lumiere Cinematograph in Manila. The cinema was set up at Escolta Street at the corner of San Jacinto Street. A test preview was presented to a limited number of guests on August 28 and the inaugural show was presented to the general public the next day, August 29, 1897. Documentary films showing recent events as well as natural calamities in Europe were shown. During the first three weeks, Ramos had a selection of ten different films to show, but by the fourth week, he was forced to shuffle the 30 films in various combinations to produce new programs. These were four viewing sessions, every hour on the hour, from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. After three months, attendance began to slacken for failure to show any new features. They transferred the viewing hall to a warehouse in Plaza Goiti and reduced the admission fees. By the end of November, the movie hall closed down. The next year, to attract patronage, using the Lumiere as a camera, Ramos locally filmed ''Panorama de Manila (Manila landscape)'', ''Fiesta de Quiapo (Quiapo Fiesta)'', ''Puente de España (Bridge of Spain)'', and ''Escenas Callejeras (Street scenes)'', making him the first movie producer in the Philippines. Aside from Ramos, there were other foreigners who left documentary evidences of their visits to the Philippines.
Burton Holmes Elias Burton Holmes (January 8, 1870 – July 22, 1958) was an American traveler, photographer and filmmaker credited with the invention of the " travelogue", though the term itself was apparently coined in 1898 by John Bowker. Travel stories, ...
, father of the travelogue, who made the first of several visits in 1899, made the ''Battle of Baliwag''; Kimwood Peters shot the ''Banawe Rice Terraces''; and, Raymond Ackerman of ''American Biography'' and ''
Mutoscope The Mutoscope is an early motion picture device, invented by W. K. L. Dickson and Herman Casler and granted to Herman Casler on November 5, 1895. Like Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope, it did not project on a screen and provided viewing to only ...
'' filmed ''Filipino Cockfight'' and the ''Battle of Mt. Arayat''.


American period

Film showing in the Philippines resumed in 1900 when a British entrepreneur named Walgrah opened the Cine Walgrah at No.60 Calle Santa Rosa in Intramuros. The second movie house was opened in 1902 by a Spanish entrepreneur, Samuel Rebarber, who called his building, ''Gran Cinematógrafo Parisino'', located at No. 80 Calle Crespo in Quiapo. In 1903, José Jiménez, a stage backdrop painter, set up the first Filipino-owned movie theater, the ''Cinematograpo Rizal'' in Azcarraga Street (now C.M. Recto Ave.), in front of the
Tutuban Railway Station Tutuban station (also known as Manila station or Divisoria station) is the central railway terminus of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) network located in the city of Manila, Philippines. The name refers to two stations: the origi ...
. In the same year, a movie market was formally created in the country along with the arrival of silent movies and American colonialism. The silent films were always accompanied by
gramophone A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration waveforms are recorded as corresponding physic ...
, a
piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
, or a
quartet In music, a quartet (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations of four instruments in chamber music is the string quartet. String quar ...
, or when ''Caviria'' was shown at the Manila Grand Opera House, a 200-man
choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...
. In 1905, Herbert Wyndham, shot scenes at the ''Manila Fire Department''; Albert Yearsley shot'' the Rizal Day Celebration'' in Luneta 1909; in 1910, the ''Manila Carnival''; in 1911, the ''Eruption of Mayon Volcano''; the first ''Airplane Flight Over Manila'' by
Bud Mars Mars aboard dirigible looked on by his wife James Cairn Mars (March 8, 1875 - July 25, 1944), also known Bud Mars and the Curtiss Daredevil, was an aviation pioneer. He was the eleventh pilot licensed in the United States. As a balloonist, he wa ...
and the ''Fires of Tondo, Pandacan and Paco''; and, in 1912, the ''Departure of the Igorots to Barcelona'' and the ''Typhoon in Cebu''. These novelty films, however, did not capture the hearts of the audience because they were about the foreigners. The
Philippine Commission The Philippine Commission was the name of two bodies, both appointed by the president of the United States, to assist with governing the Philippines. The First Philippine Commission, also known as the Schurman Commission, was appointed by Pre ...
recognized early the potential of cinema as a tool of communication and information, so that in 1909, the Bureau of Science bought a complete film-making unit and laboratory from
Pathé Pathé SAS (; styled as PATHÉ!) is a French major film production and distribution company, owning a number of cinema chains through its subsidiary Pathé Cinémas and television networks across Europe. It is the name of a network of Fren ...
, and sent its chief photographer, the American, Charles Martin, to France to train for a year. When Martin completed his training, he resolved to document, in motion pictures, the varied aspects of the Philippines. In 1910, the first picture with sound reached Manila, using the
Chronophone The Chronophone is an apparatus patented by Léon Gaumont in 1902 to synchronise the Cinématographe (Chrono-Bioscope) with a disc Phonograph (Cyclophone) using a "Conductor" or "Switchboard". This sound-on-disc display was used as an experiment fr ...
. A British film crew also visited the Philippines, and filmed, among other scenes, the ''Pagsanjan Falls (Oriental)'' in 1911 in
kinemacolor Kinemacolor was the first successful colour motion picture process. Used commercially from 1909 to 1915, it was invented by George Albert Smith in 1906. It was a two-colour additive colour process, photographing a black-and-white film behind ...
. In 1912, New York and Hollywood film companies started to establish their own agencies in Manila to distribute films. In the same year, two American entrepreneurs made a film about the execution of
Jose Rizal Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. Given name Mishnaic and Talmudic periods * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean * Jose ben Halaft ...
, and aroused a strong curiosity among Filipino moviegoers. This led to the making of the first Filipino film, '' La vida de Jose Rizal''. By 1914, the US colonial government was already using films as a vehicle for information, education, propaganda and entertainment. The Bureau of Science tackled subjects designed to present an accurate picture of the Philippines before the American public, particularly the US Congress. By 1915, the best European and American films were shown in Philippine theaters. When
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
(1914–1918) choked off the production of European studios, Manila theater managers turned to US for new film products. With the variety they offered, American films quickly dominated the Philippine film market. The first film produced by a Filipino is
José Nepomuceno José Nepomuceno y Zialcita (May 15, 1893 – December 1, 1959) was one of the pioneering directors and producers of Philippine cinema. He is also known as the ''"founder of Philippine movies"'', and he had his own production company Jose Nep ...
's ''
Dalagang Bukid ''Dalagang Bukid'' (English: ''Country Maiden'') is a 1919 Filipino silent film. Directed by José Nepomuceno, it is recognized as the first full-length Filipino-produced and directed feature film. An adaptation of the Tagalog sarsuwela of t ...
(Country Maiden)'' in 1919 based on a highly acclaimed musical play by Hermogenes Ilagan and León Ignacio. Early filmmakers, even with meager capital, followed some of the genres provided by Hollywood movies. The main sources of movie themes during this period were theater pieces from popular
drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
s or
zarzuela () is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name o ...
s. Another source of movie themes at that time was
Philippine literature Philippine literature is literature associated with the Philippines from prehistory, through its colonial legacies, and on to the present. Characteristics According to journalist Nena Jimenez, the most common and consistent element of Philipp ...
. During the 1920s when the Germans and Russians dominated the artistic development of the film and its techniques (Examples are ''
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ''The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' () is a 1920 German silent horror film directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. The quintessential work of early German Expressionist cinema, it tells the story of an insane hypno ...
'' – 1919, ''
Nosferatu ''Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror'' () is a 1922 silent film, silent German Expressionism (cinema), German Expressionist vampire film directed by F. W. Murnau from a screenplay by Henrik Galeen. It stars Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who ...
'' – 1922, and ''
Battleship Potemkin '' Battleship Potemkin'' (, ), sometimes rendered as ''Battleship Potyomkin'', is a 1925 Soviet silent epic film produced by Mosfilm. Directed and co-written by Sergei Eisenstein, it presents a dramatization of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 ...
'' – 1925), Filipino-Visayan filmmakers such as Max Borromeo, Florentino Borromeo and
Celestino Rodriguez Celestino Rodríguez y Lasala (May 11, 1872 – 1955) was a Filipino lawyer and politician from Cebu, Philippines. He served as member and deputy in the Philippine Assembly (1907–1912), as senator (1916–1922), member of the 1st Nationa ...
collaborated in making ''El Hijo Disobediente'' (The Disobedient Son) in 1922. This black and white silent picture could have been one of the earliest noted films from the Southern Philippines. The year 1929 marked the advent of talking pictures, but only in 1938 did the Visayan Film Industry have its first "talkie" entitle ''Bertoldo Ug Balodoy'' (Bertoldo and Balodoy) written by Piux Kabahar, which was followed by ''Mini'' (Fake; 1940), and ''Gugmang Talagsaon'' (Rare Love; 1940) by Virgilio Gonzales. In Cebu, the first movie houses were built by the Avila Clan: Ideal Theater (1911), Cine Auditorium (1922) and Cine Oriente (The old Teatro Junquera). Films have already been showing outside of Manila as early as 1897 through the feats of Señor Pertierra, a Spanish expatriate and a certain Englishman going only with the surname of 'Bischoff'. Mr. Bischoff was the first to show films in Iloilo in 1903. These were short features produced by the film company Cinematographo Pastor and were screened nightly from 6:30 to 9:30 in Bischoff's bodega or camarin in Calle Real. Later on, other film companies have also begun to rise such as Cinematografo Insular (which arrived from Manila to Iloilo in 1905), Cinematografo Teatro Colón and Cinematografo Parsien. To coincide with the rising of such film companies, there came the establishment of movie houses in Iloilo. In 1919, one highlighted event that stood out from that decade was the showing of the first full-length Tagalog feature film in Iloilo: Jose Nepomuceno's Dalagang Bukid (literal translation from Tagalog: 'mountain girl'). Thousands of Ilonggo film buffs went to see the movie and were highly moved by it. In Iloilo, Teatro Malhabour touted as the first cinema or movie house in Iloilo was opened to the public on July 3, 1908, at the corner of Calle Quiñones (now Mabini) and Calle Concepcion (now Ledesma). It was owned by Felix Malhabour, a policeman and a member of the board of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. Other early cinema or movies houses in Iloilo City include the Rex Theater, Roxy Theater, Republic Theater and Cine Commonwealth built around 1910s–1920s. The two prominent or popular cinema houses in Iloilo include the oldest still existing and operating movie theater in Iloilo, Cine Palace and the now defunct Cine Eagle both built in 1928. In 1929, the ''
Syncopation In music, syncopation is a variety of rhythms played together to make a piece of music, making part or all of a tune or piece of music off-beat (music), off-beat. More simply, syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of ...
'', the first American sound film, was shown in Radio theater in Plaza Santa Cruz in Manila inciting a competition on who could make the first
talkie A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befo ...
among local producers. On December 8, 1932, a film in
Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Tagal ...
entitled '' Ang Aswang (The
Aswang Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil creatures in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and transforming human-beast hybrids (usually dogs, cats, pigs). The aswang is the subject of a ...
)'', a
monster movie A monster movie, monster film, creature feature or giant monster film is a film that focuses on one or more characters struggling to survive attacks by one or more antagonistic monsters, often abnormally megafauna, large ones. The film may also ...
inspired by
Philippine folklore Philippine mythology is rooted in the many indigenous Philippine folk religions. Philippine mythology exhibits influence from Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian traditions. Philippine mythology includes concepts akin to those in other ...
, was promoted as the first sound film. Moviegoers who remembered the film attested that it was not a completely sound film. José Nepomuceno's '' Punyal na Guinto (Golden Dagger)'', which premiered on March 9, 1933, at the Lyric theater, was credited as the first completely sound, all-talking picture in the country. In the 1930s, a few film artists and producers deviated from the norms and presented sociopolitical movies. Ironically, the people who helped the film industry develop and flourish were also the same people who suppressed its artistic expression by inhibiting movie themes that would establish radical political views among the Filipinos. Instead, love and reconciliation between members of different classes of people were encouraged as themes. Julian Manansala’s film '' Patria Amor (Beloved Country)'' was almost suppressed because of its anti-Spanish sentiments. Carmen Concha, one of the first female directors in the country, also ventured into filmmaking, and she directed '' Magkaisang Landas'' and '' Yaman ng Mahirap'' in 1939 under Parlatone, and '' Pangarap'' in 1940 under LVN. Despite fierce competition with Hollywood movies, the Filipino film industry survived and flourished. When the 1930s drew to a close, the Filipino film industry was well established, and local movie stars acquired huge followers. Some popular movie stars of the pre-WWII era include: *
Carmen Rosales Januaria Constantino Keller (March 3, 1917 – December 11, 1991), better known by her stage name Carmen Rosales and by her nickname Mameng, was a noted Filipina actress and World War II guerilla fighter. Her acting career spanned the decades i ...
(1917–1991) *Angel Esmeralda (1915–1985) *Ben Rubio (1917–1980) *Fely Vallejo (1917–2013) *Exequiel Segovia *Yolanda Marquez (1920–2009) *Teddy Benavides * Manuel Barbeyto (1902–1979) *Ernesto la Guardia *
Rogelio dela Rosa Rogelio () is a masculine Spanish given name and a variant of the first name Roger. Notable people with the name include: *Rogelio Antonio, Jr. (born 1962), Filipino chess player *Rogelio Armenteros (born 1994), Cuban pitcher in Major League Base ...
(1916–1986) * Rudy Concepcion (1915–1940) * Alfonso Carvajal *Elsa Oria (1916–1995) *Rosario Moreno (1916–1945) * Andrés Centenera (1914–1983) * Tita Duran (1929–1991) * Fernando Poe (1916–1951) *Corazon Noble (1918–2001) * Monang Carvajal (1898–1980) *
Mila del Sol Clarita Villarba Rivera, better known by her screen name Mila del Sol (12 May 1923 – 10 November 2020), was a Filipina actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born in Tondo, Manila, she gained fame in her very first lead role in the 1939 fil ...
(1923–2020) * Rosa del Rosario (1917–2006) *Ely Ramos (1911–1972)


World War II and Japanese occupation

During the Japanese Occupation,
filmmaking Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...
was suddenly put to a halt. As was the case in Japan's other colonial and occupied film markets, Japanese film companies took over the local exhibition venues replacing films from the Hollywood and the region with Japanese films for propaganda. Japanese films had been imported into the Philippines since the late 1930s but without great success. Japanese-sponsored film production in the Philippines continued until 1945 but was limited mostly to newsreels and educational films. Although the Philippines never became a center for feature film production under the Japanese, it was a strategically important market for Japan. First, unlike Manchuria, where the Japanese literally had to construct a film industry, the Philippines already had many large, well-equipped motion picture theaters that were well-stocked with significant Hollywood product. Many confiscated films were exported back to Japan to train its filmmakers. Production facilities were better in the Philippines than any other market in the Japanese empire with the exception of Shanghai. This was another reason why such Japanese film companies as the Nanyo Film Association (南洋映画協会) and Film Distributors (映画配給者) each established branch offices in Manila in 1942. Further, due to the long period of American influence, the local film community boasted a significant number of people who had worked in Hollywood during the silent era and had considerable experience., pp. 108, 110 In 1944, Toho Studios sent director Abe Yutaka to Manila to produce the first of what would be the only two feature films to be entirely shot on location by the Japanese. '' Ano hata o ute'' (あの旗を撃て) aka ''Dawn of Freedom'' told the story of the Japanese victory at the Battle of Corregidor and the U.S. military's hasty retreat from the islands. The film presented the Japanese as Asian liberators who came to free the Filipinos from decades of colonial oppression that began with the Spanish and continued with the Americans. The film was shot in Japanese, Tagalog, and English and was written for the screen by Tsutomo Sawamura, co-directed by
Gerardo de Leon Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981) was a Filipino film director and actor. He was posthumously conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film in 1982. Biography De Leon, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, was a membe ...
(uncredited), and co-starred Fernando Po and Leopold Celecdo. The other Japanese-produced feature film shot in the Philippines was ''Tatlong Maria'' (1944). At the same time, the
comedy duo A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act, often highlighting differences in their characters' ...
Pugo and Togo Pugo and Togo were a Philippines, Filipino comedy team in Cinema of the Philippines, Philippine movies during the 1940s up to the 1950s.
, popular for satirizing Japanese occupation in the Philippines, was renamed to ''Tuguing and Puguing'' because of Togo name's closeness to Tojo, the name of the
Prime Minister of Japan The is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its ministers of state. The prime minister also serves as the commander-in-chief of the Japan Self-Defense Force ...
during the early 1940s. However, perhaps out of deference to the substantial local Japanese population, film censors were sensitive to Japanese complaints about negative representations of Japanese in U.S. films screened in the Philippines and aggressively cut scenes depicting Japanese soldiers committing atrocities in ''Thunder in the Orient'' (1939) and ''Fight For Peace'' (1939) years before Japanese military occupation. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, almost all actors depended only on stage shows on most major Manila movie theaters as livelihood. As a consequence, live theater began to thrive again as movie stars, directors and technicians returned to the stage.


Postwar 1940s and the 1950s: The first golden age


Post-war Cebuano and Ilonggo cinema and its resurgence

After the second world war, a resurgence of Visayan films came about through Lapu-Lapu Pictures, which produced ''Timbu Mata'' (1948), starring Eva de Villa and Lino Ramas, and ''Damgo ni Adan'' (Adan's Dream), produced by Rudy Robles. Then came Mactan Films which produced ''Tahas'' (Mission; 1950), starring Luz Celeste and Dakay; Mat Ranillo was in this film. Then ''Balud'' (Wave; 1950) which starred Luz Celeste and Mat Ranillo. Another independent picture, ''Sa Kabukiran'' (In the Mountains; 1948), was also produced during this time. By 1951, Azucena Productions was established by the Arong Family (owners of Rene and Liberty Theaters). They produced ''Princesa Tirana'' (Princess Tirana), 1951 with Mat Ranillo and
Gloria Sevilla Gloria Sevilla (January 31, 1932 – April 16, 2022) was a Filipino film actress. Career Sevilla was heralded as the "Queen of Visayan Movies" for her screen portrayal legacy in Visayan-made movies in the Philippines during the 1950s and 1960s ...
(her first feature title role after she was discovered through a declamation contest at the University of the Visayas) as lead players. Their first feature together made such a box office success in the Visayas and Mindanao that other features immediately followed: ''Leonora'' (1951), ''Pailub Lang'' (Be Forebearing; 1951), ''Utlanan'' (Border; 1952), ''Handumanan'' (Memoir; 1953), ''Inahan'' (Mother; 1952), starring Mat Ranillo and Caridad Sanchez; ''Antigan'' (1952) with Virgie Postigo and Arise Roa; ''Carmen 1 and 2'' (from the famous radio drama in Cebu; 1953), ''Paabuta Lang Ako'' (Wait for Me; 1953), ''Gloria Kong Anak'' (Gloria My Child; 1953), and ''Gihigugma Kong Ikaw'' (I Love You; 1954). Mat and Gloria then became synonymous to Visayan pictures, and since then were called as the King and Queen of Visayan Movies. In 1953 a film entitled ''Sangang Nangabali'' (Broken Branches), produced by Cebu Stars Production broke box-office records in the mid-1950s. Cebu Stars Productions (owned by the Tojong Family) had earlier produced ''Dimakaling'' (1952) and ''Mga Anak Intawon'' (Oh, Poor Children; 1953). Other independent Visayan films produced at this time were: ''Mapait Ang Balaod'' (by Arturo Blanco; 1953), Bugas Mais (Corn Rice; by Arturo Blanco; 1953), ''Kapintas Sa Kinabuhi'' (Hard Life; 1953), (Cebu Stars Productions with Esterlina and Rebecca Torres), ''Pit Senor'' (Hail Senor) and ''San Tilmo'' (1953), (Barba Productions), ''Ang Siloy'' (1953) (with Nora Hermosa and Rebecca Torres), ''Huni sa Gugma'' (Where Is Love; 1953), ''Dadansoy'' (1953) and ''Inahan'' (Mother; 1954). Mutya and VM Productions (formed by Natalio Bacalso – former Cebu assemblyman) entered ''Salingsing sa Kasakit'' (Partner in Pain), directed by Bacalso, in the 1955 FAMAS derby and won the "Best Child Actor Award" for Undo Juezan. These movie outfits also produced some memorable features such as ''Ungo Sa Parian'' (Witch In The Parian); Remember Erlinda;Rosita; ''Politika'' (Politics); and ''Mutya sa Saging Tindok'' (Muse of Saging Tindok). ''Garbosa'' (Proud; 1957) and ''Matam-is Ang Pagpaubos'' (Too Sweet to Suffer; 1957) were also released during this time. Mat ang Gloria finally got married off-screen (in real life) and formed S-R Productions in 1954. The company's initial projects were ''Paradista'' (1955) and ''May Luhang Nahabilin sa Baybayon'' (A Tear Fell on the Shore; 1955) and even as they moved on to make Tagalog movies in Manila, they still continued producing Visayan films like (It is the Palm That Commands) with
Gabriel Elorde Gabriel "Flash" Elorde (March 25, 1935 – January 2, 1985) was a Filipino professional boxer. He won the lineal super featherweight title in 1960. In 1963, he won the inaugural WBC and WBA super featherweight titles. He holds the record at sup ...
and Edita Clomera; ''Palad Ta ang Nagbuot Lungsod sa Buenavista'' (Town of Buenavista; 1969), and ''Hain ang Langit'' (Where Is Heaven?; 1969), with Gloria Sevilla and Mat Ranillo and Von Serna – this is Mat's last film. ''Badlis sa Kinabuhi'' (The Line of Life; 1969) was entered in the
18th FAMAS Awards The 18th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Award, Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards Night was held in 1970 for the Outstanding Achievements for the year 1969. ''Pinagbuklod ng Langit'' by United Brothers Productions wa ...
and got 12 nominations out of 14 categories. Gloria Sevilla won
Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress award ...
, Frankie Navaja, Jr. won Best Child Performer, and the late Mat Ranillo got a posthumous award (Mat Ranillo had earlier died in a plane crash in 1969). The film (''Badlis'') was the Philippine entry to the ASEAN Film Festival in Indonesia, and was showcased under the informative division of the Berlin Film Festival (the film was dubbed in English in Hong Kong and retitled "Destined"). In 1970, ''Badlis Sa Kinabuhi'' and ''Palad Ta Ang Nagbuot'' were released in their original Visayan versions in Metro Manila and made good at the box office. ''Ang Bayan'' (The Country), 1970 was also produced at this time. The 1970s saw the emergence of more Visayan talents in the Tagalog film industry. Actresses such as Chanda Romero, Caridad Sanches, Alma Moreno, Tessie Sevilla, Rebecca Torres, Aurora Villa, Eva de Villa, Rosita Fernandez, Virgie Postigo, Virgie Solis, Olivia Solis, Cora Real, Diana Arong, Luz Celeste, Annabelle Rama, Suzette Ranillo, Lady Ramos, Pilar Pilapil, and others stepped into the limelight. Male leads (to name a few) were Bert Nombrado, Ber Lopez, Tony Delgado, Riel Ylaya, Lino Ramas, Arturo Blanco, Arturo de Castille, Frankie Navaja Jr, Tony Cruz, Undo Juezan, Felix de Catalina, Arsie Roa, Warfi Engracia, Kadyo Roma and Romy Kintanar (who is now a sports commentator). Directors Leroy Salvador, Fernando Alfon, Talyo Bacalso, Sat Villarino, Gene Labella, Leox Juesan, Cesar B. Cesar and Emmanuel H. Borlaza also originated from the south. Borlaza directed Alma Bonita (with Chanda Romero and Ernie Garcia) and Paypay Placid (Fan of Placid), Diadem Films, (with Pepito Rodriguez, Lilian Lain, Alice Mendez, and Justo C. Justo). Other films that were produced at this time were Medalyon Nga Bulawan (Medalyon Na Ginto), produced by Annabelle Rama, starring Bert Leroy, Gina Pareno, Jerry Pons, Charlie Davao, Johnny Delgado, Raul Aragon, Alice Mendez, and Yoyoy Villame; (with Nobo Bono, Jr. and Tessie Sevilla); Mayor AndalBatul of Mactan (Battle of Mactan), JRJ Productions, starring Chanda Romero, Eddie Peregrina and Alice Mendez; Anino sa Villa Lagrimas (Shadow of Villa Lagrimas), starring Chanda Romero and Ernie Garcia; Bulawan Sa Lapok (Gold in the Mud), starring Alicia Alonzon, Bert Leroy Jr., Tommy Abuel and Dindo Fernando; Antonio Solitaryo and Mga Milagaro sa Santo Niño (Miracles of Sto. Niño), Magnolia Films both directed by Sol Gaudite; Aliyana, 1974; and Ikaduhang Bathala (Second God), 1974. Gloria Sevilla remarried in 1971, and together with her husband Amado Cortez (of the Padilla clan) went on to produce another Visayan film entitled Gimingaw Ako (I Long For You), 1974 (which was shot entirely in Cebu City and directed by Amado Cortez starring Gloria Sevilla, Suzette Ranillo, Bert Nombrado and Inday Nita Cortez). This film won the FAMAS "Best Actress Award" for Gloria Sevilla and "Best Supporting Actress Award" for Suzette Ranillo. ''Naghila Ako sa Kahilum'' (Crying Silently) also came about within the year. Other independent productions were: ''Diego Salvador'', 1973; ''Ang Pagbabalik ni Diego Salvador'' (The Return of Diego Salvador), 1974 with Von Serna; and Sabrin, 1975 with Chanda Romero and Rebecca Torres. Visayan film producers continued trying to revive the Visayan movies in the mid-seventies by filming in the 16mm format and transferring the material to 35mm for theatrical release. Films such as ''Ang Manok ni San Pedro'' (St. Peter's Rooster), 1975 and ''Itlog Manoy Orange'' (The Orange Egg Vendor), 1976 were originally shot in 16mm. This less costly process, however, did not prevent the Visayan film industry from finally going into a dormant stage. The Tagalog film industry was just at an upswing at this time, prompting Visayan producers to venture into television production instead. It was not until 1991 that another Visayan film project was brought to the big screen. ''Eh Kasi Babae'' (Because She Is a Woman) starring Pilita Corales, Yoyoy Villame and Manilyn Reynes was produced, then followed by ''Matud Nila'' (They Say; 1991) (Bisaya Films, Inc. produced by James R. Cuenco, Jr.). This starred Gloria Sevilla, Mat Ranillo III, Suzette Ranillo, Dandin Ranillo, Juni Ranillo, Pilar Pilapil, Jennifer Sevilla, Mark Gil and Pinky Marquez. Matud Nila also marked the last film directed by Leroy Salvador.


The golden age and contemporary era of Tagalog cinema

After World War II, the Philippine version of a
war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about navy, naval, air force, air, or army, land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle s ...
emerged as a genre. The audience were hungry for films with patriotic themes. Films such as ''Garrison 13'' (1946), ''Dugo ng Bayan'' (The Country's Blood)'' (1946), ''Walang Kamatayan'' (Deathless)'' (1946), and ''Guerilyera'' (1946), narrated the horrors of the war and the
heroism A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. The original hero type of classical epics did such things for the sake of ...
of the
soldier A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a Conscription, conscripted or volunteer Enlisted rank, enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, a warrant officer, or an Officer (armed forces), officer. Etymology The wo ...
s and
guerrilla Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...
s. The 1950s was labeled as the first golden age of Philippine cinema. Four big production studios (
LVN Pictures LVN Pictures, Inc. was a Filipino film studio that was considered one of the biggest in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005. In its heyday of motion picture production, LV ...
,
Sampaguita Pictures Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine national flower, sampaguita. Though no longer functioning, the company's Sampaguita Compound remains in Quezon City. History Sampaguita Pictures was e ...
,
Premiere Productions Premiere Entertainment Productions was a Philippine film production company. It was among the country's major film companies, along with Sampaguita Pictures, LVN Pictures and Lea Productions. It now operates as an investment holding company. ...
and Lebran International) were at their peak in filmmaking, employing premier directors like
Gerardo de León Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981) was a Philippines, Filipino film director and actor. He was posthumously conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film in 1982. Biography De Leon, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, ...
,
Eddie Romero Edgar Sinco Romero, (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013), commonly known as Eddie Romero, was a Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter. Early life Romero was born on July 7, 1924. His father was José E. Romero, the first Philipp ...
and César Gallardo while contracting the biggest stars of that period. The Filipino film industry was one of the busiest and bustling film communities in Asia, releasing an average of 350 films a year making Philippines second to
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
in terms of film productions a year. The premier directors of the era were (but not limited to): * Lamberto Avellana (1915–1991) *
Gerardo de León Gerardo de Leon (September 12, 1913 – July 25, 1981) was a Philippines, Filipino film director and actor. He was posthumously conferred as a National Artist of the Philippines for Film in 1982. Biography De Leon, who was born Gerardo Ilagan, ...
(1913–1981) * Gregorio Fernández (1904–1973) * Consuelo Ateng Padilla Osorio (1907–1987) * César Gallardo * Armando Garces *
Eddie Romero Edgar Sinco Romero, (July 7, 1924 – May 28, 2013), commonly known as Eddie Romero, was a Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter. Early life Romero was born on July 7, 1924. His father was José E. Romero, the first Philipp ...
(1924–2013) *
Cirio Santiago Cirio Hermoso Santiago (January 18, 1936 – September 26, 2008) was a Filipino film producer, director and writer. He used the screen names Cirio Santiago, Cirio H. Santiago, Leonardo Hermoso, and Leonard Hermes. Life and career Santiago was ...
(1936–2008) The biggest stars of the era were (but not limited to): * Tessie Agana (b. 1942) * Dely Atayatayan (1914–2004) * Andoy Balunbalunan (1909–1944) *
Bentot Arturo Vergara Medina (13 July 1920 – 19 June 1986), better known by his stage name Bentot or Ben Cosca, was a Filipino comedian and vaudevillian who spent most of his career under LVN Pictures. He had many box office hits with another famed ...
(1928–1986) *
Nida Blanca Dorothy Guinto Jones (January 6, 1936 – November 7, 2001), known professionally as Nida Blanca, was a Filipino actress. In a career spanning five decades, she is known for her dramatic and comedic roles in Cinema of the Philippines, film ...
(1936–2001) *
Nena Cardenas Nena Cardenas, born Remy Cardenas (September 15, 1932 – June 11, 2020), was a Filipino actress. Biography Cardenas made her first acting appearance in the drama ''Kidlat sa Silangan'' (Lightning on the East) with Premiere Production. She made ...
(1932–2020) *
Bayani Casimiro Bayani Casimiro Sr. (July 16, 1918 – January 27, 1989) was a Filipino dancer who was among the leading stars of bodabil (vaudeville) in the 1930s and 1940s. He also appeared in musical films and later in life, in comedic roles. A tap dancer ...
(1918–1989) *
Levi Celerio Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002) was a Filipino composer and lyricist who is credited with writing over 4,000 songs. Celerio was recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines for Music and Literature in 1997. He is also know ...
(1910–2002) * Chichay (1918–1993) * Chiquito (1932–1997) *
Manuel Conde Manuel Conde (born Manuel Pabustan Urbano; October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name. He was t ...
(1915–1985) *
Rogelio de la Rosa Regidor Lim de la Rosa"Filipinos in History Vol. 3", page 75. (November 12, 1916 – November 26, 1986), professionally known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was a Filipino actor and politician. He was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of ...
(1916–1986) *
Jaime de la Rosa Jaime Lim de la Rosa (September 18, 1921 – December 2, 1992), also known for his screen name Jaime de la Rosa, was a Filipino actor and politician active in showbiz from the 1940s to 1960. He also served as a councilor of Manila from the 4t ...
(1921–1992) * Gil de León (1919–1992) * Van de León (1920–1981) * Nestor de Villa (1928–2004) *
Eddie del Mar Eduardo Sangalang Magat (13 October 1919 – 8 November 1986), better known by his stage name Eddie del Mar, was a Filipino actor, screenwriter, director, and movie producer, particularly noted for his portrayals of Philippine national figures ...
(1919–1986) * Rosa del Rosario (1917–2006) *
Mila del Sol Clarita Villarba Rivera, better known by her screen name Mila del Sol (12 May 1923 – 10 November 2020), was a Filipina actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born in Tondo, Manila, she gained fame in her very first lead role in the 1939 fil ...
(1923–2020) * Lauro Delgado (1932–1978) *
Dolphy Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr. (July 25, 1928 – July 10, 2012), known professionally as Dolphy, was a Filipino comedian and actor. He is widely regarded as the country's "King of Comedy" for his comedic talent embodied by his long roster of works ...
(1928–2012) * Linda Estrella (1922–2012) * Arsenia Francisco (1923–1971) *
Eddie García Eduardo "Eddie" Verchez Garcia (; May 2, 1929 – June 21, 2019), colloquially known as Manoy, was a Filipino actor, television personality, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as the greatest Filipino actor of all time, Garcia appeared in nearly ...
(1929–2019) * Rita Gómez (1935–1990) *
Luis Gonzales Luis Franco Mercado (June 21, 1928 – March 15, 2012) also known as Luis Gonzales, was a Filipino actor who appeared in more than 100 films during his career, most of them by Sampaguita Pictures. He worked with various celebrities such as Lol ...
(1928–2012) * Óscar Keese (1918–1968) *
Anita Linda Anita Linda (born Alice Bueñaflor Lake; November 23, 1924 – June 10, 2020), was a Filipino actress whose career spanned nearly eight decades and had done close to 400 motion pictures. A romantic lead in her early years, she gained wides ...
(1924-2020) * Vicente Liwanag * Lopito (1912–1966) *
Rosa Mia Rosita Quinto Stecza (1925 – November 28, 2006), known by her screen name Rosa Mia, was a Filipino actress and film director. She died on November 28, 2006, at the age of 81 due to cardiac arrest. (December 1, 2006)"Actress Rosa Mia dead at 81" ...
(1925–2006) * Fred Montilla (1919–2003) * Oscar Moreno (1921–2003) * Óscar Obligación (1924–2010) * Bert Olivar (1921–2001) *
José Padilla, Jr. José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced ...
(1911–1978) *
Paraluman Sigrid Sophia Agatha de Torres von Giese (December 14, 1923 – April 27, 2009), known professionally as Paraluman, was a Filipino actress whose career spanned four decades. Dubbed as the Greta Garbo of the Philippines, she is often cited as ...
(1923–2009) * Patsy (Pachochay) (1916–1979) * Fred Peñalosa * Ben Pérez (1924–1966) * Pugak (1923–1994) * Pugo (1910–1978) * César Ramírez (1929–2003) *
Delia Razon Delia Razon (born Lucy May Grytz Reyes; August 8, 1930 – March 15, 2025) was a Filipino actress born to a German father and a Spanish Filipina mother, who made her debut in 1949 in the LVN Pictures' ''Krus na Bituin''. Doña Narcisa de Leon ...
(1930–2025) * Efren Reyes, Sr. (1924–1968) * Johnny Reyes (1922–1995) *
Lolita Rodriguez Lolita Rodriguez (born Dolores Marquez Clark; January 29, 1935 – November 28, 2016) was a Filipino actress whose career spanned four decades. Regarded as the "Queen of Philippine Drama", she was noted for her restrained, subtle acting style ...
(1935–2016) *
Gloria Romero Gloria Anne Borrego Galla (December 16, 1933 – January 25, 2025), known professionally as Gloria Romero (), was an American-born Filipino actress. Regarded as the "Queen of Philippine Cinema", she appeared in over 250 motion pictures and t ...
(1933–2025) *
Rosa Rosal Florence Danon-Gayda (born Florence Lansang Danon; October 16, 1927), better known as Rosa Rosal (), is a FAMAS award-winning Filipina film actress dubbed as the "original femme fatale of Philippine cinema." She is also known for her work with ...
(b. 1927) *
Carmen Rosales Januaria Constantino Keller (March 3, 1917 – December 11, 1991), better known by her stage name Carmen Rosales and by her nickname Mameng, was a noted Filipina actress and World War II guerilla fighter. Her acting career spanned the decades i ...
(1917–1991) * Ben Rubio (1917–1980) * Ruben Rustia (1923–1994) * Carlos Salazar (1933–2022) * Tony Santos, Sr. (1920–1988) *
Charito Solis Rosario Violeta Hernández Solís (October 6, 1935 – January 9, 1998), professionally known as Charito Solís, was a Filipino film actress. She was considered among the major dramatic film actresses in the Philippines, with a career spannin ...
(1935–1998) *
Togo Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to Ghana–Togo border, the west, Benin to Benin–Togo border, the east and Burkina Faso to Burkina Faso–Togo border, the north. It is one of the le ...
(1905–1952) * Tolindoy * Tugak (1917–2006) * Carol Varga (1930–2008) *
Alicia Vergel Erlinda Gaerlan Asturias-Aguilar (June 7, 1927 – May 20, 1992), popularity known as Alicia Vergel, was a Filipino actress, film producer, entrepreneur and politician. She was known for playing fiesty, strong-willed characters and was famous fo ...
(1927–1992) * Evelyn Villar * Billy "Surot" Vizcarra * Zaldy Zshornack (1937–2002) The four biggest production studios produced most of the notable films of Philippine cinema during this era. In 1951, the film ''
Roberta Roberta is a feminine version of the given names Robert and Roberto. It is a Germanic name derived from the stems *hrod meaning "famous", "glorious", "godlike" and *berht meaning "bright", "shining", "light". People with the name *Roberta Achtenbe ...
'' of Sampaguita Pictures which featured leading child stars broke box office records, becoming the highest grossing Philippine film at the time. LVN Pictures, under the leadership of the Doña Sisang de León, not only specialized in super productions, rural comedies and musicals, but also produced socially-relevant films such as Avellana's ''
Anak Dalita ''Child of Sorrow'' (; subtitled ''The Ruins'') is a 1956 Philippine crime film, crime drama-tragedy film directed by Lamberto V. Avellana from a story and screenplay written by Rolf Bayer, with Estrella Alfon and T. D. Agcaoili as story consult ...
'' (1956), Tony Santos's ''
Badjao The Sama-Bajau include several Austronesian people, Austronesian ethnic groups of Maritime Southeast Asia. The name collectively refers to related people who usually call themselves the Sama or Samah (formally A'a Sama, "Sama people"); or are ...
'' (1957) and
Manuel Silos Manuel Silos (1 January 1906 – 31 March 1988) was a Filipino film-maker from the 1920s through the 1950s. He began his career by making silent movies together with his brothers. As a ''bodabil'' (vaudeville) actor and comedian, Silos use ...
's '' Biyaya ng Lupa'' (1959). Sampaguita Pictures mainly produced high-gloss, glamorous pictures such as ''
Maalaala Mo Kaya (, abbreviated as ''MMK'') is a Philippine television drama anthology series broadcast by ABS-CBN and Kapamilya Channel. Hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, its first iteration was aired from May 15, 1991 to December 10, 2022. It is the longest ...
'' (1954). On the other hand, Premiere Productions released most of the
action film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as D ...
s of the decade, such as ''Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo'' (1952), ''Salabusab'' (1954) and ''Huwag Mo Akong Limutin'' (1960). High production values on the motion pictures during this era produced movies that gained international acclaim. In 1952,
Manuel Conde Manuel Conde (born Manuel Pabustan Urbano; October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name. He was t ...
's ''
Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...
'' became the first Asian film to be shown at the
Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
and
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
, a feat that would not be repeated until the 1970s. Inspired by Conde's picture, Hollywood remade ''Genghis Khan'' in 1956 as '' The Conqueror'' starring
John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...
as Genghis Khan and produced by RKO Radio Pictures. And also of Columbia Pictures' film "Genghis Khan" in which
Omar Sharif Omar Sharif (, ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub ; 10 April 1932 – 10 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s. He is bes ...
portrayed in the title role in 1965. In 1956, ''Anak Dalita'' won the Golden Harvest Award (Best Picture) of the prestigious
Asia-Pacific Film Festival The Asia-Pacific Film Festival (abbreviated APFF) is an annual film festival hosted by the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific (FPA). The festival was first held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1954. History The festival was first he ...
. Actress
Lilia Dizon Claire Dizon Strauss (November 25, 1927 – June 15, 2020), professionally known as Lilia Dizon, was a Filipina actress active in the 1940s and 1950s. Personal life She was the only daughter of Regina Dizon, a Filipino, and Abraham "Abe" Stra ...
, was presented with the Best Actress Award by the prince of
Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
,
Norodom Sihanouk Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...
, for the film ''Kandelerong Pilak'' in the 1954 Asia-Pacific Film Festival. Leroy Salvador was also recognized in his performance as Best Supporting Actor for the film ''Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay'' (1953) in the same film festival. During this era, the first award-giving body was also established in 1950. The ''
Maria Clara Awards The Maria Clara Awards is the first formal film industry Film awards bodies in the Philippines, award-giving body of the Philippines. It was established in 1950 by a group of writers from the Manila Times, Manila Times Publishing, Co., which incl ...
'' of the Manila Times Publishing Corp., was composed of film publicists and writers who voted for the exemplary achievements of Filipino motion pictures in a calendar year. In 1953, the María Clara folded up to give way to the establishment of the
Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards, or simply the FAMAS Awards, are the annual honors given by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), an organization composed of writers and movie columnists, for achieveme ...
(FAMAS), the Philippines' equivalent to the United States'
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...
in prestige. During this period, Filipinos saw Hollywood's first full-length picture in living
Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...
. Soon after, Filipino local producers started presenting full-length pictures in color despite some technical deficiency, one of which was ''Prinsipe Amante'' (Prince Amante).


1960s

This era is characterized by rampant
commercialism Commercialism is the application of both manufacturing and consumption towards personal usage, or the practices, methods, aims, and distribution of products in a free market geared toward generating a profit. Commercialism can also refer, positi ...
with
James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...
and
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
knock offs, and in the later 1960s, the so-called ''bomba'' (
soft porn Softcore pornography or softcore porn is commercial still photography, film, imagery, or even audio that has a pornographic or erotic component but is less sexually graphic or intrusive than hardcore pornography, defined by a lack of sexual p ...
) pictures. It was also the era of
musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...
s produced mostly by Sampaguita Pictures and their discovered talents. The
studio system A studio system is a method of filmmaking wherein the production and distribution of films is dominated by a small number of large movie studios. It is most often used in reference to Hollywood motion picture studios during the early years of th ...
s came under siege from the growing
labor movement The labour movement is the collective organisation of working people to further their shared political and economic interests. It consists of the trade union or labour union movement, as well as political parties of labour. It can be considere ...
, which resulted in labor-management conflicts. The first studio to close was Lebran followed by Premiere Productions then LVN. Those production studios were replaced by new and independent producers like
Regal Films Regal Entertainment Inc. (formerly and more commonly known as Regal Films) is a Philippine film, television production and distribution headquartered in New Manila, Quezon City. It was founded by Lily Monteverde on August 19, 1962. Regal Enter ...
, which was established by
Lily Monteverde Lily Yu Chu-Monteverde (19 August 1938 – 4 August 2024), known as Mother Lily and professionally credited as Lily Yu Monteverde, was a Chinese Filipino film producer and businesswoman. Monteverde was one of the first Filipina movie produc ...
in 1962. The decade also saw the emergence of the
youth subculture Youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct styles, behaviors, and interests. Youth subcultures offer participants an identity outside of that ascribed by social institutions such as family, employment, work, home and school. Youth ...
best represented by
the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
and
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
. As a result, certain movie genres were made to cater to this trend. Fan movies and teen love team-ups emerged, showing
Nora Aunor Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (May 21, 1953 – April 16, 2025), known professionally as Nora Aunor (), was a Filipino actress, producer and singer. Known for her leading roles with patriotic, feminist and Political sociology, socio-political th ...
and
Vilma Santos Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (born November 3, 1953) is a Filipino actress and politician. In a career spanning over seven decades, she is recognized for her versatility in acting across various genres of film and television in the Philippine ...
, along with
Tirso Cruz III Tirso Silvano Cruz III (; born April 1, 1952) is a Filipino actor, comedian, and singer. He was the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines after one year and seven months for personal reasons. Regarded as a "matinee ido ...
and
Edgar Mortiz Edgardo Mortiz (born August 30, 1954) is a Filipino actor, comedian, singer and director who is currently affiliated with ABS-CBN. He previously directed numerous shows under ABS-CBN, until its shutdown where he left the network after 34 years, ...
as their respective screen sweethearts. In addition, movie genres showing disaffection to the status quo during the era were also popular. Action movies with Pinoy cowboys and secret agents as the movers of the plots depicted a "society ravaged by criminality and corruption". Another kind of youth revolt, implying rejection of adult corruption, came in the form of movies featuring child stars. Near the end of this decade, another movie genre that embodied a different form of revolt took center stage. Soft porn movies, more popularly known as ''bomba'' films, increasingly became popular, and these films were described as a direct challenge to the conventions, norms and conduct of the society. Even in the period of decline, several Philippine films that stood out. These include the following films by Gerardo de Leon: *''Huwag Mo Akong Limutin'' (Never Forget Me) in 1960; *''Noli Me Tangere (novel), Noli Me Tangere'' (Touch Me Not) in 1961; *''El Filibusterismo'' (Subversion) in 1962 During this period, Filipino filmmakers were more successful in presenting some full-length pictures in living Eastmancolor, one of which was ''Ito ang Pilipino'' by J.E. Production. This movie was produced and starred by Joseph Estrada.


1970s to early 1980s: Second Golden Age

Touted as the second golden age of Philippine cinema, this was the period of the avant-garde filmmakers. At the turn of the 70s, local producers and filmmakers ceased to produce pictures in black and white. In 1972, the Philippines was placed under martial law, and films were used as propaganda vehicles. President Ferdinand Marcos and his technocrats sought to regulate filmmaking through the creation of the ''Board of Censors for Motion Pictures'' (BCMP). Prior to the start of filming, a finished script was required to be submitted to the Board and incorporate the "ideology" of the New Society Movement such as, a new sense of discipline, uprightness and love of country. Annual festivals were revived, and the ''Bomba'' films as well as political movies critical of the Marcos administration were banned. ''Maharlika (film), Maharlika'' was a 1971 film banned by then-first lady Imelda Marcos because it starred actress Dovie Beams, who was allegedly Ferdinand Marcos' mistress. The producer of the film was Luis Nepomuceno, son of Filipino filmmaker Jose Nepomuceno. The company that produced the film went bankrupt, as the banned screening prevented them from recouping production costs. In pity, Imelda Marcos offered loans to the company through government banks. However, the bank would then go on to foreclose the film company. The film portrayed the story of Ferdinand Marcos' life in the Philippine military. There have been allegations that the film was propaganda intended to portray Marcos as a war hero who fought against the Japanese in World War II. Although the film was banned, it was allowed to make its cinematic debut in 1987, after the EDSA Revolution. In spite of the censorship, the exploitation of sex and violence onscreen continued to assert itself. Under martial law, action films usually append an epilogue like claims that social realities depicted had been wiped out with the establishment of the New Society. The notorious genre of sex or ''bomba'' films still existed but in a milder, less overt way like female stars swimming in their underwear or taking a bath in their chemise, labeled as the "wet look". An example of the trend was the 1974 hit movie ''Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa'' (The Most Beautiful Animal on the Face of the Earth) which featured former Miss Universe Gloria Díaz and filmed in the famed Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo, Carles, Iloilo. In spite of the presence of censorship, this period paved way to the ascendancy of a new breed of directors. Some of the notable films made by these new crop of filmmakers were: *Ishmael Bernal (1938–1996) **''Pagdating sa Dulo'' (1971) **''Nunal sa Tubig'' (1975) **''Salawahan'' (1979) **''Manila by Night, Manila by Night/City After Dark'' (1980) **''Relasyon'' (1982) **''Himala'' (1982) **''Hinugot sa Langit'' (1985) *Lino Brocka (1939–1991) **''Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang'' (1974) **''The Claws of Light, Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag'' (1975) **''Insiang'' (1976) **''Ang Tatay Kong Nanay'' (1978) **''Bona (film), Bona'' (1980) **''This Is My Country (film), Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim'' (1984) **''Fight for Us, Orapronobis'' (1989) *Celso Advento Castillo, Celso Ad. Castillo (1943–2012) **''Burlesk Queen'' (1977) **''Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak'' (1978) *Mike de León (b. 1947) **''Itim'' (1976) **''Kakabakaba Ka Ba?'' (1980) **''Kisapmata'' (1981) **''Batch '81'' (1982) **''Sister Stella L.'' (1984) *Peque Gallaga (1943–2020) **''Oro, Plata, Mata'' (1982) **''Scorpio Nights'' (1985) *Mario O'Hara (1946–2012) **''Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos'' (1976) **''Woman of Breakwater, Babae sa Breakwater'' (2003) In 1977, Eric de Guia, going by his pseudonym Kidlat Tahimik, made a film entitled ''Mababangong Bangungot (Perfumed nightmare, Perfumed Nightmare)'', which won the International Critic's Prize in the Berlin Film Festival that same year. Out of short film festivals sponsored by the University of the Philippines, University of the Philippines Film Center and by the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, young filmmakers joined Kidlat Tahimik by distancing themselves from the traditions of mainstream cinema. Nick Deocampo’s ''Oliver'' (1983) and Raymond Red's ''Ang Magpakailanman'' (''The Eternal'', 1983) have received attention in festivals abroad. In 1978, cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo, Severino "Nonoy" Marcelo produced an Adult animation, adult animated Historical drama, historical satire based on Marcos' book of the same name, ''Tadhana (film), Tadhana'', the Filipino cartoon and animation, first-ever Philippine feature-length animated film. It presents a satirical, humorous and poignant view of the Philippines' history of Spanish Empire, Spanish colonization through highly original and surreal vignettes fusing art, mythology and music. Originally conceived as a television pilot, Marcelo was collaborated with then-senator Imee Marcos and his uncle José Zabala-Santos for creating the film and premiered in Philippine television for the anniversary of Martial Law in the same year. In retrospective years, only a few copies survived and was officially screened at the National Gallery Singapore’s ‘Painting with Light,’ an annual festival of international films on art. In 1981, as mandated by Executive Order No. 640-A, the Film Academy of the Philippines was enacted, serving as the umbrella organization that oversees the welfare of various guilds of the movie industry and gave recognition to the artistic and technical excellence of the performances of its workers and artists.Film Academy of the Philippines Official Website
. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
The same year, Viva Films was established and began its rise as a production company. Also in 1981, first lady Imelda Marcos organized the first Manila International Film Festival (MIFF). The objective was to promote Filipino films for them to be distributed worldwide. A lavish event took place January 18–29, 1982, major entertainment figures were present including Priscilla Presley, Franco Nero, Brooke Shields, Jeremy Irons, etc. Local filmmakers saw it as a real opportunity to showcase their talents. The spy comedy spoof ''For Your Height Only'' (1981) turned Ernesto dela Cruz, better known as Weng Weng, in a short lived international star and gave him the notoriety to become a unique figure in Cinematography, cinema being a short person who performs death defying stunts. At the event, ''For Your Height Only'' outsold every other films on foreign sales, while dela Cruz was the mediatic center of attention and the breakthrough celebrity. Marcos' daughter Imee Marcos, Imee said dela Cruz's success shocked and shattered everyone's artistic aspirations. Filipino film historians Teddy Co and Ed Lejano said that in the film industry the Weng Weng image was uncomfortable since at the time they had no other international figures. The film became Philippines' highest exported film, and within their acting community dela Cruz's international reach hasn't been topped. The second MIFF took place from January 24-February 4, 1983. 280 local and foreign films were screened out of competition in the 12-day festival while 22 films from 21 countries competed for seven different categories. Despite the festival's financial success, the festival received criticisms from the Catholic Church, film censors, and civic groups. Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop of Manila, criticized the festival's organizers, Johnny Litton and First Lady Imelda Marcos, for allowing the screening of soft-core pornographic movies in participating theaters. Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television Chairman Maria Kalaw-Katigbak also questioned the legality of showing films banned by the board in commercial cinemas. Because of the controversies and public outcry, the succeeding Manila International Film Festivals were permanently canceled. Among the Philippines' most political filmmakers was Lino Brocka (1939–1991). His works such as ''Manila in the Claws of Light'' (1975) and ''Fight for Us'' (1989) are considered to be some of the greatest films ever made in the Philippines. Though initially fairly neutral on the Marcos regime because of his friendship with Imee Marcos, President Marcos' daughter who helped sponsor the fundraising premiere of his film ''Insiang'' (1976), he later adopted a more political stance by 1983. He contributed in the building of a post-Marcos Philippines and was able to help topple the Marcos dictatorship through his active participation in cultural and social activities. His films told the story of the underclass' struggle, the dark side of a sprawling metropolis and featured poverty-stricken locations which were able to make a statement with regards to the Marcos' autocratic rule and human rights violations. He was also notably part of the group of filmmakers, artists and cultural workers that formed the ''Free Artist Movement'' which eventually became the ''Concerned Artists of the Philippines''. This group challenged the censorship practice that the Marcoses imposed on all artistic media. During the closing years of martial rule, a number of films defiant of the Marcos dictatorship were made. Films such as Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s ''Of the Flesh, Karnal'' implicitly depicted this defiance in the film's plot, wherein patricide ended a tyrannical father's domination. In the same year, Mike de Leon's ''Sister Stella L.'', a film about oppression and tyranny was shown on the big screen. In 1985, Lino Brocka's ''This Is My Country'' depicted images of torture, incarceration, struggles and oppression. During this period, the Philippines ranked among the top 10 film-producing countries in the world, with an annual output of more than 300 movies.Filipino film industry reborn
. ''Straight website''. January 25, 2009.


Late 1980s to 1990s

By the time the People Power Revolution deposed Ferdinand Marcos from the presidency, most Filipino films were mass-produced with quality sacrificed for commercial success. Filmmaker Ishmael Bernal admitted in 1993 that his growing inactivity in filmmaking was because the national economy "went kamikaze since '86. Movie producers have since cut their budgets short, hiring quickie directors to make instant-hit ventures." Storylines were unimaginative and predictable, comedy was slapstick, and the acting was either mediocre or overly dramatic. Producers resorted to formulas that worked well in the past that cater to the standards and tastes of the masses, and story ideas were often copied from Hollywood and Hong Kong films that were successful in local cinemas. Romantic dramas, broad comedy films and soft pornographic pictures composed the majority of the genre produced, while the action genre became especially prevalent during this period; in 1992, critic Justino Dormiendo observed that "the action flick itself remains as the most abused genre in our time." In reviewing the acclaimed American drama film ''Stand by Me (film), Stand by Me'', JC Nigado of the ''Manila Standard'' stated that he was disturbed while viewing the film because "I was hard put trying to figure out what local movie could have approximated it. And it bothered me that I couldn't think of any." With the imposition of a high Entertainment tax, amusement tax, the number of films annually produced by the industry declined throughout the 1980s, although the number was still more than 200 films a year. Majority of them were ''pito-pito'' films, shot in seven to ten days and aimed at quickly recouping their minimal costs. Attendance in theaters rose and several productions became huge successes. New laws were also introduced that gave more rights to women, causing several female directors to launch careers. Aside from competition with Hollywood films, the Asian Financial Crisis, escalating cost of film production, exorbitant taxes, arbitrary and too much film censorship, high-tech film piracy,It's total war on pirates as movie industry reels
. Mocon, Claudeth. ''Business Mirror''. June 18, 2008.
and rise of cable television further contributed for the trimming down of production costs of film outfits that resulted to falling box-office receipts of domestic films, and the eventual precarious state of the local film industry. In 1993, a media conglomerate, ABS-CBN Corporation, ventured into film production when their newly established subsidiary Star Cinema produced ''Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite, Laking Tondo'' in cooperation with
Regal Films Regal Entertainment Inc. (formerly and more commonly known as Regal Films) is a Philippine film, television production and distribution headquartered in New Manila, Quezon City. It was founded by Lily Monteverde on August 19, 1962. Regal Enter ...
. Five years later, another television station, GMA Network, started producing films. GMA Films released the critically acclaimed ''Sa Pusod ng Dagat'', ''José Rizal (film), Jose Rizal'', and ''Muro-Ami (film), Muro-Ami'', which attained commercial success. In 1997, the country produced its first ever full-length theatrical animated film, ''Adarna: The Mythical Bird'', directed by Geirry A. Garccia.


2000s: Decline of commercial films and emergence of Philippine New Wave Cinema

An economic slump experienced by the film industry in the 2000s led to the near extinction of local action films. A new sense of excitement and trend enveloped the industry with the coming of digital and experimental cinema. Following the winning of the Palme d'Or at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
2000 of Raymond Red's short film ''Anino'' (Shadows), the 1999 digital feature film ''Still Lives'' by Jon Red pioneered this digital revolution; many other digital filmmakers soon followed suit. Cheaper production cost using digital media over film has helped the rebirth of Independent film, independent filmmaking. Hailed as the inspiration to French New Wave in digital form, this decade saw the proliferation of digital films by independent filmmakers with international reach and caliber, and the introduction of locally produced animated features.From Manila to Cannes – New Philippine cinema and the digital revolution
''CPH:DOX website''. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
It was in 1999 that digital cinema was introduced in the Philippines but by then, the film industry was already dwindling in numbers. But signs of resurgence came by way of movies with inspirational themes. In 2002, Gil Portes released ''Mga Munting Tinig (''Small Voices'')'', a subdued movie about a teacher who inspired her students to follow their dreams; the movie also implied improving the country's education system. A year later, Mark Meily's comedy ''Crying Ladies'', about three Filipinas working as professional mourners in Manila's Chinatown, Manila, Chinatown but looking for other ways to earn a living, became a huge hit. Also that same year, Maryo J. de los Reyes made a buzz at various film festivals with ''Magnifico (film), Magnifico'', a simple film with universal appeal about a boy trying to help his family survive their hardships. In 2005, the film industry saw the lowest number of films produced with only 50 films that were commercially released. However, the establishment of film festivals Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, Cinemalaya and Cinema One Originals which are dedicated to digital films, the addition of ''Digital Lokal'', a digital section, at the Cinemanila International Film Festival, and the second offering of the .MOV International Digital Film Festival helped save the Philippine Film industry. By 2006 and 2007, more Filipino filmmakers started making movies using digital media. Filipino digital films, made in almost no time and with meager budget, were strongly represented in international film festivals, including Berlin International Film Festival, Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Vienna and Rotterdam International Film Festival, Rotterdam. with several winning prizes and awards. Among the more prominent winners were ''Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros'' (2005) by Auraeus Solito, ''Kubrador'' (2006) by Jeffrey Jeturian, ''Todo Todo Teros'' (2006) by John Torres, ''Endo'' (2007) by Jade Castro, ''Tribu (2007 film), Tribu'' (2007) by Jim Libiran. In December 2009, a House Bill authored by Buhay Party-List Representative Irwin Tieng reducing the Entertainment tax, amusement tax imposed on local films from 30% to 10% was signed into law as Republic Act 9640, culminating more than two decades of attempts to lower the film tax. 2010 saw the release of an eponymous documentary film, ''Philippine New Wave: This Is Not a Film Movement'', which documented the rise of internationally acclaimed digital filmmakers from the Philippines, and widely popularized the description of this era as the "Philippine New Wave".


2010s: Box office resurgence

2011 is the most fruitful year in Philippine Cinema history as 3 films produced within the year (all from Star Cinema) landed in the top 3 of the highest grossing Filipino films of all time. Wenn V. Deramas, Wenn Deramas' ''The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin'' grossed ₱331.6 million in box office and became the highest grossing local film in the Philippines. ''No Other Woman'' grossed ₱278.39 million while 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival, Metro Manila Film Festival ("MMFF") entry ''Enteng Ng Ina Mo'', has a gross income of ₱237.89 million () and considered the highest-grossing MMFF entry of all time. However, ''Sisterakas'' , a Kris Aquino-Ai Ai delas Alas-Vice Ganda movie, replaced the title of ''Enteng ng Ina Mo'' and ''the Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin'' as it became the highest grossing Filipino film and highest grossing MMFF entry of all time. In 2013, ''It Takes a Man and a Woman'', the third film of the ''A Very Special Love'' series of Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz, made many box office records, one of which is being the current List of the highest-grossing Philippine movies, "Highest Grossing Filipino Film of All Time", replacing ''Sisterakas''. It made ₱375,024,507 during its theatrical run in the Philippines and ₱211,573,332 overseas, for a total of ₱586,597,839 worldwide until Vice Ganda's ''Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy'' and Kris Aquino's ''My Little Bossings'' (both are MMFF entries) surpassed their local box-office record and battle for the first spot . In 2014, ''The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin'', another Vice Ganda film, breaks his own record again with an estimated gross of ₱450 million. Meanwhile, the sequel of Kris Aquino's ''Feng Shui 2, Feng Shui series'' is the highest grossing Filipino horror film. In 2015, a new box-office breaking record has been set as ''A Second Chance (2015 film), A Second Chance'', the sequel of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo's ''One More Chance (2007 film), One More Chance'' earns PHP 556,000,000 worldwide surpassing Vice Ganda's ''The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin''. It is surpassed again by a film jointly produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, ''Beauty and the Bestie'', which stars Vice Ganda. The mid 2010s also saw broader commercial success of films produced by independent studios, with Antoinette Jadaone's Cinema One Originals Film Festival entry ''That Thing Called Tadhana'' achieving commercial success upon its commercial release in 2015, becoming the highest grossing independent film, independently produced Filipino film of all time in under 3 weeks despite facing Copyright infringement, piracy issues online during its run. September 2015 saw the release of Jerrold Tarog's ''Heneral Luna'', a 2015 historical film, historical biopic film depicting General Antonio Luna's leadership of the Philippine Revolutionary Army during the Philippine–American War, produced by an independent outfit called Artikulo Uno Productions. Because it was independently produced, Heneral Luna initially fell prey to the commercial theater practice of dropping films after only a few screening days on the first week. But praise from critics and audiences alike, praising the film's writing, plot, acting, and cinematography resulted in a word of mouth campaign to bring the movie back to theaters. As a result, ''Heneral Luna'' become the highest grossing Filipino historical film of all time on its third week in cinemas. Similar word of mouth campaigns would allow critically acclaimed films like Antoinette Jadaone's ''That Thing Called Tadhana'' (commercially released in 2015) and JP Habac's ''I'm Drunk, I Love You'' (2017) to achieve broad commercial success even if they did not benefit from the large promotional budget and television cross-promotion enjoyed by commercial studio films.


2020s: Centennial year of Philippine cinema and onward

On September 12, 2019, the film industry celebrated the 100th anniversary of Philippine cinema, in pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 622, S. 2018, which declares the same day up until September 11, 2020, as Philippine Cinema's Centennial Year. The COVID-19 pandemic had an enormously negative effect on the film industry. According to producer Josabeth Alonso, nearly every local film released in 2022 was not able to earn more than ₱10 million in grosses. At the same time, the resulting lack of foreign films in Southeast Asia in the early 2020s caused a major shift in the local distribution market that has yet to return to pre-pandemic status. The streaming site Netflix has grown to be influential in the market, with the 2019 film ''Dead Kids (film), Dead Kids'' becoming the first Filipino film produced as a Netflix original, while ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN later produced its first Netflix original film titled ''Sosyal Climbers'' in 2025. In 2024, Star Cinema's romantic drama film ''Hello, Love, Again'' became the first Filipino film to gross more than ₱1 billion at the worldwide box office.


Censorship


Under the Americans and the Early Philippine Republic

Censorship in the Philippines truly began under the reign of the Spaniards, who prohibited works that were deemed revolutionary. While they prohibited literary, musical, and visual forms of art, film censorship was included in the picture upon the American colonization. When the Americans took over after the Spanish–American War in 1898, a brief stint of Philippine cultural freedom after independence from Spain was halted. Arthur MacArthur Jr., General Arthur MacArthur's military censorship focused on repressing nationalism, along with the Flag Act (Philippines), Flag Act of 1907. Because film in itself was only beginning to form at the time, motion pictures brought to the Philippines were tame, and film was not yet seen as an avenue for social and cultural subversion. In 1929, the Philippine Legislature creates Act. No. 3582, titled "An Act to Create a Board of Censorship for Moving Pictures and Define Its Functions". The board consisted of 15 members that sought ''"to examine all films, spoken or silent, imported or produced in the Philippine Islands, and prohibit the introduction and exhibition in this country of films, which in their judgement are immoral or contrary to law and good customs or injurious to the prestige of the Government of people of the Philippine Islands".'' In 1930, The first meeting of the board was conducted in the office of then Secretary of the Interior Honoro Ventura, and the first president of the board was Teodoro Kalaw, Teodoro M. Kalaw. Out of the 1,249 films approved, 6 had parts cut out. Two films were banned. In 1937 the film ''Batang Tulisan'', directed by :tl:Rod Avlas, Rod Avlas and produced by Philippine Films was set to be released, and controversies arose regarding its sudden ban. The cost of production totaled 16,000 Pesos, and the film 2 and a half months to complete. Four reasons were stated as to why it was pulled-out: Three are aspects of the movie: the priest portrayed in a villainous light, the use of a hypodermic needle as a murder weapon, the amorous scenes between a 10-year-old couple, and the fact that ''"[the film] might give [the] youth certain subversive ideas".'' The production crew argued that this was an example of foreign films being given more lenience, despite being as bad (or sometimes, worse) than local cinema. The novel adaptation of ''Batang Tulisan'' which was published in ''Liwayway'' Magazine, in contrast, was not met with the same negative criticism. In 1938, the Board of Censorship was renamed the Board of Review for Moving Pictures, enabled by the amendment of the law by Commonwealth Act No. 305.


The Eiga Heikusa: Under Japanese rule

In 1942, the Japanese occupation of the Philippines led to what was arguably the strictest period of censorship the country has faced. The ''Eiga Heikusa'' was established to act as a Board of Censors, and introduced Japanese films with American subtitles. In light of Japan's desire to convert the Philippines into a willing member of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, printed matter, radio shows, theater plays, and visual art were heavily monitored, leading to the hiatus of production for Philippine cinema until 1945. As a result, the country saw an increase in theatrical productions. Screen actors such as
Carmen Rosales Januaria Constantino Keller (March 3, 1917 – December 11, 1991), better known by her stage name Carmen Rosales and by her nickname Mameng, was a noted Filipina actress and World War II guerilla fighter. Her acting career spanned the decades i ...
,
Rogelio de la Rosa Regidor Lim de la Rosa"Filipinos in History Vol. 3", page 75. (November 12, 1916 – November 26, 1986), professionally known as Rogelio de la Rosa, was a Filipino actor and politician. He was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of ...
, Norma Blancaflor, Ely Ramos, Elsa Oria, Leopoldo Salcedo, and Ester Magalona, took to the ''entablado'' and were received well. Theaters showed ''bodabil'' (a malapropism of Vaudeville) shows where actors would perform a special number upon knowing that they were to be raided by the ''Kenpeitai, Kempei Tai'', signaling the viewers to flee.


Post-war censorship

Independence and the regime of then President Manuel Roxas saw the creation of a new Board of Reviews for Moving Pictures, led by Marciano Roque, who would also become Executive Secretary under President Elpidio Quirino, Quirino. In months, the board reviewed 76 films, with only 5 being locally made. Due to the non-confirmation by the First Congress of the Philippines, Congress of all 10 members of the board, it was reconstituted on October 29, 1946, with its 7 official members. The newly appointed chairman was Dr. Gabriel Mañalac, and the secretary was Teodoro Valencia. The board had grown to 12 members by 1947, having reviewed a total of 463 films for the year. 435 were foreign, and 28 were locally produced. By the time, the Philippines had 463 officially recorded theaters, with 71 of them being in Manila. ''Ako Raw ay Huk'' (Dir. Ramon A. Estella, Ramon Estrella) is one of the films that was banned at the time, due to allegations of it promoting communism. In 1950, a Code of Motion Picture Censorship was instilled, further identifying what aspects were considered censorable. Scenes that depict drunkenness as attractive, scenes that depict drug trafficking, and scenes that deal with sex and surgical subjects "when shown to selected groups" are some examples of scenes that were put under review. Foreign films banned at the time include ''The Moon Is Blue (film), The Moon Is Blue'' (Dir. Otto Preminger) in 1954, and ''Martin Luther (1953 film), Martin Luther'' (Dir. Irving Pichel) in 1953. ''Perlas ng Silangan'' (Dir. Pablo Santiago) was screened without edits, which spiked a protest from the Provincial Board of Sulu, claiming that it misrepresented Muslim culture. The Citizens Council for Better Motion Pictures was established by in 1960, as a response to a "grave concern over the general disappearance of the cherished virtues and traditions of the Christian way of life, the alarming increase in juvenile delinquency, and the deterioration of public and private morals". In 1961, they lobbied for what is presently known as the Censorship Law (Republic Act No. 3060), which was approved on June 17, 1961. The law created an Appeals Committee, composed of the undersecretaries of justice, national defense, and education. This committee could revoke the decisions of the Board of Censors. Independent from the CCBMP, the still standing Board of Censors had grown to 24 members, and could now establish a system of classification which consisted of two categories: "for general patronage". and "for adults only". Jose L. Guevara was appointed by President Diosdado Macapagal as the new chairperson in 1962, and the board members appointed by President Carlos P. Garcia were removed, on account of their positions being "midnight" extensions. In 1962, the board lifted the ban on mouth-to-mouth kissing, so long as it was deemed non-lascivious. In 1963 and after a long-pleaded appeal from the public, the board bans films that heavily play up violence and crime. ''Ang Manananggol Ni Ruben'' (Dir. Eddie Garcia) was a 1963 film heavily based on the story of Ruben Ablaza, who was convicted for the rape of Annabelle Huggins. The film was initially approved and quickly banned in September, but was screened again in December after being renamed to ''Ang Manananggol.'' In 1965, ''Iginuhit ng Tadhana'' (Dir. José de Villa, Jose de Villa) is released, and is arguably one of the most controversial films to come out of Philippine cinema, in that it was able to set the tone of Ferdinand Marcos’ entire presidential campaign. The movie, which chronicled the life of Marcos, had reached the realm of politics, ultimately leading the appointment of Marcos to presidency. In August 1965, the film was approved without change, but its premiere in September was halted on the time of the premiere itself. An ''en banc'' of the film was requested by then acting chairman Rosalina Castro, raising much suspicion from the press and the Nacionalista Party, Nacionalistas. Days after, then chairman Jose L. Guevara resigned from his spot.


Bomba films

1967 onwards saw a relaxing of rules by the Board of Censorship, who started allowing more nudity and explicit sex. This led to the rise of commercial, pornographic ''bomba'' (taken from the term "bombshell", which normally included a scandal in Political public office) films, which persisted despite heavy criticism from Catholic groups. These films usually depicted outright nudity and sexual scenes, cut portions from previously banned films, or the entire prohibited films themselves. The rise of ''bomba'' films was attributed to the fact that movies tackled more adult, realistic themes. The ideal of a "true Filipino" was introduced. These films also brought in a new audience for Philippine film; the usual filmgoers, the teenagers who saw the films as "hip", and the youth, who used these films as a means for their own sexual awakenings, the educated, collegiate, and the working-class crowd. On another side, the larger audience of these films were the male devotees, who came to see the sex scenes and left as soon as the last one finished airing. Some films from this era include ''Ang Saging ni Pacing, Dayukdok'' (Dir. Luis San Juan; the movie was only approved by the board upon being renamed to ''Ang Magsasaing ni Pacing), Ang Batuta ni Drakula'' (Dir. Luis San Juan)'', Gutom'' (Dir. Danny Zialcita)'', Sabik'' (Dir. Angelito de Guzman)'', Laman sa Laman'' (Dirs. Lauro Pacheco, Jose Sibal)'','' and ''Hayok'' (Dir. Ruben Abalos) among many other titles. While the non-ban of these kinds of films led to the liquidation of censorship committees for most countries, this was not the case for the Philippines, likely due to the demand in box office. On February 22, 1970, the theaters ''Pablace'' and ''Mayfair'' are picketed by protesters who went against ''bomba'' movies. In 1972, the Board begins its anti-sex policy, which was backed by the general public who deemed the films as "attributing to the upsurge of crimes by minors and loose morality of youth".


The martial law era

Film censorship under the martial law dictatorship was undertaken as part of the stifling of free expression and civil rights, during which artists, journalists, activists, and members of the opposition were under threats of sanctions or arrest. Prior to the administration of Ferdinand Marcos and the declaration of Martial law in the Philippines, Martial Law in 1972, policing films had been a matter which only went as far as censorship and the non-distribution of movies in the country. The Board of Censorship then had no right to take legal action against any film, director, actor, producing company, or theater that had violated any of its mandates. Cases like these were to be brought up to the local government, who had jurisdiction over legal matters. On September 27, 1972, Marcos issued Letter of Instructions No. 13, which he claimed would "uphold morality in the youth". However, the ban was instead used to stifle dissent and to maintain the Ferdinand Marcos's cult of personality#Control of mass media, propaganda of the government at the time. Among the films banned were ''Hubad na Bayani'' (1977), ''Manila by Night'' (1980), ''Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim'' (1984), among many others. The letter stated 7 kinds of films that were not to be exhibited in any local theater: # ''Films which tend to incite subversion, insurrection or rebellion against the State;'' # '' Films which tend to undermine the faith and confidence of the people in their government and/or duly constituted authorities;'' # '' Films which glorify criminals or condone crimes;'' # '' Films which serve no other purpose but to satisfy the market for violence or pornography;'' # '' Films which offend any race or religion;'' # '' Films which tend to abet the traffic in and use of prohibited drugs;'' # '' Films contrary to law, public order, morals, good customs, established policies, lawful orders, decrees or edicts; and any or all films which in the judgment of the Board are similarly objectionable and contrary to the letter and spirit of Proclamation No. 1081.'' What made this proclamation different from those appointed by the board was that the government now had jurisdiction over bodies that were at fault. It was proclaimed in coordination with the Department of National Defense (Philippines), Department of National Defense. In fear of legal action and prosecution, the board tightened their rules, banning 148 imported movies and 50 local movies which displayed negative acts. Films were expected to uphold objectives of the The New Society, New Society through upholding moral values and ensuring that the ideologies shown did not subvert the peace of the nation and the mind. Aside from the Letter of Instructions, the board had assumed three more rights apart from the right to cut scenes from movies: the right to (1) encourage, (2) warn, and (3) be consulted. Taking from the British Board of Film Classification, British Board of Film Censors, the board started requiring submission of the full script of a movie before it was slated to begin production. This allows the board to warn the producers of possible issues within the script. Due to this, there have been fewer portions cut out of local movies, with 163 of 173 films being approved for general audiences from September 21, 1972, to September 21, 1973. This also resulted in longer, more sophisticated films that wasted less shooting time and production cost. The divide between the government and filmmakers (and in result, the viewing public) became smaller as national responsibility was imbibed in the art of filmmaking in itself. Filmmakers and other artists protested censorship and the suppression of civil rights. For example, Lino Brocka and other artists organized protests against "arbitrary, senseless censorship" in 1983. They organized the Free the Artist movement, which led to the founding of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines. By 1985, Imee Marcos' Experimental Cinema of the Philippines re-released ''City After Dark'' in its original title, ''Manila by Night'', at the Manila Film Center.


Movie and Television Review and Classification Board

On October 5, 1985, Executive Order No. 876-A was created to reformat the Board of Review for Motion Pictures, leading to the creation of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). The board was created only for the purpose of classifying cinematic films and television shows. The board holds 30 members at any given time, with the first chairman after the Executive Order being Manuel Morato, Manuel "Manoling" Morato, who took office in 1986. The board classifies movies into 6 categories, listed below:


Notable directors

Although foreign films were shown in the Philippines since the Spanish period, interest in the creation of local films was not given much attention by the Filipinos. However, the advent of Hollywood films during the American period sparked the interest of Filipinos and eventually led to the boom of filmmakers in the country. *Jose Nepomuceno is known as the Father of Philippine Movies, and is considered one of the pioneers of Filipino cinema. His first movie entitled ''
Dalagang Bukid ''Dalagang Bukid'' (English: ''Country Maiden'') is a 1919 Filipino silent film. Directed by José Nepomuceno, it is recognized as the first full-length Filipino-produced and directed feature film. An adaptation of the Tagalog sarsuwela of t ...
'' (1919), a stage play turned movie, is the first movie produced by a Filipino filmmaker. Along with his brother Jesus, they founded the film company ''Malayan Movies'' which later produced over a hundred movies. Some of the titles include ''La Venganza de Don Silvestre'' (1920), ''La Mariposa Negra'' (1920), and ''El Capullo Marchito'' (1921) among others. *Lino Brocka was a prominent Filipino director who received fame in the 1970s. Growing up, he gained interest in American film which led him to pursue a career in the film industry. Most of Brocka's films revolve around the issues faced by the common Filipino such as poverty, discrimination, and politics. He is also known to be anti-Marcos and created films to protest against Martial Law. Some of his films include ''Ora Pro Nobis'' (1989) and ''Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak'' (1990) among others. He is a recipient of five Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) best director in 1970, 1974, 1975, 1979, and 1990. *Marilou Diaz-Abaya was a multi-awarded film and TV producer and director who gained fame for her film ''José Rizal (film), Jose Rizal'' (1998). This film also earned her a Best Director Award from the Metro Manila Film Festival. Diaz-Abaya claimed that she used her films and shows as a way to promote social issues in the Philippines, such as the state of the country's democracy. Some of these films include ''Brutal, Karnal'', and ''Ipaglaban Mo!, Ipaglaban Mo.''


Notable categories


Independent Filipino cinema

Independent Filipino cinema has existed for almost as long as commercialized cinema, but this type of cinema has not been recognized as much, and thus has few historical accounts. Many of the independent films show actual happenings in the society using authentic voices of the people, but oftentimes, these films have been suppressed due to its revelations about social and political realities or marginalized due to its cinematography. These films also sometimes offer valuable historical content. In its early beginnings, alternative cinemas were documentaries about the Philippines. Jose Nepomuceno was first commissioned to make documentaries about the richest industries in the Philippines, and his most famous one was about the hemp industry. Other alternative films made during 1920–1955 include Old Manila, Tres Sangganos, Intramuros, Jose Rizal, March of the Time Series: The Philippines, and Woodcarving in the Philippines. All of the films above were destroyed during World War II. However, in the film archives in Washington DC, only the old film titled ''March of Time Series: The Philippines'' by Louis de Rochemont survived. Film making halted during the Japanese occupation however, some documentaries and newsreels were made such as ''Laurel Review His Troops (1943), First Session of the National Assembly (1943), New Cabinet Organized (1943),'' and ''What Do You Think? (1943).'' The 1950s to 1970s saw the rise of the First Independent Film Movement when the production of short films had a substantial increase, and these short films were garnering awards locally and internationally. Furthermore, several film organizations were formed during this time such as the Film Institute of the Philippines, Film Society of the Philippines. Some of the alternative films produced during this time include ''El Legado'', ''Soul of a Fortress'', ''Mangandingay: A Place of Happiness'', ''The Wall'', Perfumed Nightmare, ''Mababangong Bangungot'', ''Masinloc'', and ''The Survivor''. The 1970s to 1980s saw the rise of the Second Independent Film Movement where the films produced contained more of the personal creativity of the filmmakers, and films became more ideological. Independent films became highly politicized in the 1980s with the Marcos dictatorship and the People Power Revolution. The filmmakers of that time sought to innovate ways of expression for their political films as they deal with social reality. Some of the famous independent films of that time include ''Ang Magpakailanman'', ''Children of the Regime'', ''Revolutions Happen like Refrains in a Song'', ''A Legacy of Violence'', ''And Rain Fell in July, Sugat sa Ugat'', ''The Arrogance of Power'', ''Signos (film), Signos'', ''Kalawang'', ''Sa Maynila'', ''Ynang Bayan: To be a Woman is to Live at a Time of War'', ''Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?, Why is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow'', ''Perfumed Nightmare'', ''Isang Munting Lupa'', and ''Bayani''. Currently, there are a few Filipino film festivals that support independent Filipino films such as Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, Cinemalaya and CineFilipino. These are annual film festivals that screens, invests, promotes, and awards independent Filipino films.


Animation

Filipino animation, is a body of original cultural and artistic works and styles applied to conventional Philippine literature, Filipino storytelling, combined with talent and the appropriate application of classic animation principles, methods, and techniques, which recognizes their relationship with Filipino culture, Philippine comics, comics, and Philippine cinema, films. It also delves into relying on traditional and common Filipino "sense of going about things" or Filipino psychology, manner of coping with Filipino values, Filipino life and environment.Pinoy animation defined
, Animation Council of the Philippines, Animationcouncil.org
One of the early pioneers of Filipino animation was Nonoy Marcelo, Severino "Nonoy" Marcelo, a cartoonist who is responsible for creating various animation works under Marcos' presidency in the 1970s and 1980s, most notably the 1978 television film ''Tadhana (film), Tadhana'', the first-ever full-length animated film produced in the Philippines. Two decades later, Geirry A. Garccia's ''Adarna: The Mythical Bird'' became the Philippines' first feature-length theatrical animated film upon being released at the 1997 Metro Manila Film Festival. After ''Tadhana'' and ''Adarna'', several Filipino animators continued to create their own feature-length works such including Reggie Entienza's ''Urduja (film), Urduja'', Robert Quilao's ''Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia'' (both 2008), and Luis C. Suarez's ''RPG Metanoia'' (2010), the latter being the first feature-length computer-animated film produced in the country. Later animated films include Carl Joseph Papa's ''Manang Biring'' and ''The Missing (2023 film), Iti Mapukpukaw'', Avid Liongoren's ''Saving Sally'' and ''Hayop Ka!'', and Frederick C.G. Borromeo's ''Distortion (film), Distortion''.


Historical epics

Another staple of the Philippine film industry, historical dramas where part of the mainstream genres of the Philippine cinema, the deep history of the Philippines where the filmmakers are constantly inspired by it. Over the years, there have been many films based on history or on historical figures that not only captivated audiences with their powerful and enriching stories, but have also taken viewers back in time with the detailed costumes, sets, and atmosphere. Be it based on real people – like the biographies of José Rizal (1939, José Rizal (film), 1998), Andrés Bonifacio (1995, 2010, 2012, Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, 2014), Lapulapu (1955, 2002), Antonio Luna (Heneral Luna, 2015) and Gregorio del Pilar (Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, 2018); or set during a certain time period – ''Teniente Rosario'' (1937), ''Banaue: Stairway to the Sky'' (1975), ''Dugo sa Kapirasong Lupa'' (1975), ''Oro, Plata, Mata'' (1982), ''Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos'' (1976) and ''Quezon's Game'' (2018).


Internationally acclaimed films

Over the years, Filipino films have been recognized not only in their own country, but also globally in different countries. Competing with international films, Filipino films have earned many different rewards such as the Golden Lion in the 2016 Venice Film Festival won by ''The Woman Who Left, Ang Babaeng Humayo'' (The Woman Who Left) by Lav Diaz, the Audience Choice Award in the Tokyo International Film Festival won by ''Die Beautiful'' by Jun Lana, or the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival won by ''Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis, Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis'' (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery) also by Lav Diaz. All these films were granted these awards in the year of 2016 among many other Philippine films. In the years before, other films equally gaining recognition internationally include ''Pamilya Ordinaryo'' by Eduardo Roy Jr.; ''Toto'' by John Paul Su; Trap (2015 film), ''Taklub'' by Brillante Mendoza; Metro Manila (film), ''Metro Manila'' by Sean Ellis; Foster Child (2007 film), ''Foster Child'' by Brillante Mendoza and ''Closer_to_Home_(film) , Closer to Home by Joseph Nobile ''


Film associations and organizations

Notable local film associations and groups include: *Metro Manila Film Festival The Metro Manila Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Metro Manila, Philippines. The festival takes place from Christmas Day (December 25) and concludes at the first weekend in January of the following year. The MMFF has taken place every year since its inception in 1975. The 2016 event was the 42nd festival in its history. Throughout the festival, only Filipino Films, which are approved by the jurors of the MMFF, are shown in cinemas. No foreign films are shown in Metro Manila cinemas during the festival (except IMAX, 4DX, and select 3D cinemas). This has been a tradition ever since the establishment of the festival's precursor, “Manila Film Festival” in 1966 by former Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas. The festival is accompanied with an awards ceremony. Over the years, films such as Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure, One More Try (film), One More Try, WalangForever, Walang Forever, and Sunday Beauty Queen have received the Best Picture Award. *Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino The Pista ng Pelikulang Filipino (or PPP) is a film festival held in theaters nationwide. Its inaugural season was held on August 16–22, 2017, coinciding with the Buwan ng Wika. Similar to the Metro Manila Film Festival, foreign movies will not be shown in theaters (except IMAX, 4DX, VIP (starting from 2nd edition), and large format 3D theaters) and films approved by the jury will be shown. It is organized by the
Film Development Council of the Philippines The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is the national film agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines responsible for film policies and programs to ensure the economic, cultural and educational development of ...
in association with theaters nationwide. The inaugural awardees in the competition include: Mikhail Red's ''Birdshot (film), Birdshot'' (Critic's Choice), Victor Villanueva's ''Patay na si Hesus'' (Jury's Choice) and Jason Paul Laxamana's ''100 Tula Para Kay Stella'' (Audience Choice). *Film Academy of the Philippines The Film Academy of the Philippines was established in 1981 and is considered the Philippine counterpart of the United States' Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It serves as the general organization of the various film-related guilds in the country that help in the organizing and supervising of film activities. *Filipino Society of Cinematographers Established on February 27, 1970, it serves as an "educational, cultural and professional organization of cinematographers". *
Film Development Council of the Philippines The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is the national film agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines responsible for film policies and programs to ensure the economic, cultural and educational development of ...
Formed on June 7, 2002, the Film Development Council of the Philippines can be found under the Office of the President. It ensures that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are represented locally and internationally. *National Film Archives of the Philippines The National Film Archives of the Philippines houses the history of Philippine Cinema and protects the country's cultural legacy in film through the preservation, retrieval, and restoration of film negatives, prints and other film related material and promotes these to provide a wider appreciation of the cinema history by making them available to the public. *Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc. The Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc. or MOWELFUND was organized and established in 1974 by former President Joseph E. Estrada who was then president of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association (PMPPA). Its primary purpose is to provide aid to movie workers such as medical, livelihood and housing benefits.


Yearly revenue


See also

*ABS-CBN Film Archives *Asian cinema *Cinema of the world *East Asian cinema *Film awards bodies in the Philippines *History of cinema *List of Filipino actors *List of Filipina actresses *List of films about Martial Law in the Philippines *List of films banned in the Philippines *List of highest-grossing films in the Philippines *List of highest-grossing Filipino films *List of Philippine co-produced films and television series *List of Philippine film studios *List of Philippine films *Metro Manila Film Festival *Southeast Asian cinema *World cinema


Notes


References


External links


''Acquiring Eyes: Philippine Visuality, Nationalist Struggle and The World Media-System''
PDF Jonathan Beller (Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2006)
Philippines' Brillante Mendoza scoops Best Director at CannesFilipino-language titles
at the Internet Movie Database
Tagalog-language titles
at the Internet Movie Database *
Criticine Philippines
– Philippine page of Southeast Asian Cinema journa
Criticine


*[http://www.listal.com/list/50-greatest-filipino-films-all 50 Greatest Filipino Films]
Filipino Movies
at GMOAT
Philippine Cinemas
at Flixseats *Talaan ng mga Artista sa Pilipinas {{Navboxes , title = Philippine Cinema related topics , list = {{Philippines topics {{Years in the Philippines {{World cinema {{Asia in topic, Cinema of Cinema of the Philippines,