GMA Pictures

GMA Network Films Inc., doing business as GMA Pictures (formerly Cinemax Studios and GMA Films), is a Philippine film, television production and distribution company based in Diliman, Quezon City. It is one of the largest film studios in the Philippines, along with Star Cinema, Viva Films and Regal Entertainment. Its notable films include ''Sa Pusod ng Dagat'' (1998), ''José Rizal'' (1998), ''Muro-Ami'' (1999), '' Deathrow'' (2000), '' Let the Love Begin'' (2005), ''Moments of Love'' (2006), ''Ouija'' (2007), ''Firefly'' (2023), and ''Green Bones'' (2024).

History

Background

GMA Network tested the movie waters by co-producing films with Viva Films. Among the movies that were co-produced were '' Ober Da Bakod: The Movie'', ''Forever'' and '' Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko''. Although not credited in the opening and closing credits of the movies, the network's logo appeared in the aforementioned movies' posters in theaters and newspaper ads.

1995–2000: Early years

In 1995, GMA Network launched its own film outfit Cinemax Studios under the supervision of Jimmy Duavit and Butch Jimenez, with '' Run Barbi Run'' (1995) as its maiden movie. Later that year, Cinemax signed a co-production deal with OctoArts Films in which OctoArts would distribute the movies in theaters nationwide, while Cinemax (through its mother network, GMA) would handle publicity and promotions of the movies for TV and radio. GMA Network holds the airing rights for those movies. Films co-produced with other production companies are distributed by Cinemax.

In 1997, Cinemax began producing and distributing its own movies, beginning with ''Mga Bangka sa Tag-araw'' (later on known as ''Sa Pusod ng Dagat'') and Indios (later on known as '' My Guardian Debil''). At this time, it partnered with sister companies Film Experts and Optima Digital for production and post-production of its movies respectively.

In 1998, it changed its name to GMA Films after HBO's sister channel Cinemax entered the Southeast Asian market. ''Sa Pusod ng Dagat'' and ''José Rizal'', both produced and directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya. GMA Films also produced ''Muro-Ami'' and '' Deathrow'', both which were entries at their respective MMFFs and also critically acclaimed.

On June 9, 1999, GMA Films locally distributed the anime film ''Voltes V: The Liberation'', produced by Carlos Agustin.

In 2000, after the departure of Butch Jimenez from GMA Network, GMA Films was placed on hiatus. ''Deathrow'' was the last film produced.

2004–2009: Comeback and Breakthrough

In late 2004, GMA Films made its comeback, with '' Let the Love Begin'' as its first production. It became the highest-grossing Valentine film in the Philippines when it released in February 2005.

It later released other films that also became hits in the Philippine Box-office.

In 2007, the award-winning film ''Ouija'' co-produced with Viva Films was supposed to be its first film to be released internationally. However, the scheduled overseas premieres in four U.S. cities (Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego) were cancelled. Only the one in New Jersey pushed through. The movie is titled ''Seance'' internationally.

In 2009, GMA Films produced the reboot of the classic ''komiks'' novel Ang Panday in partnership with Imus Productions. Starring Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. in the title role, it became the official entry of GMA Films and Imus Productions for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. It became the festival's top grosser and won 6 major awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Revilla.

2010–2012: Continued success

From then on, all films were only released nationwide while selected films had selected screenings in key points worldwide such as ''When I Met U'', starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion had various international screenings and ''You to Me Are Everything'', starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes had a New Jersey showing in 2010 and its recent film to be released at least within US borders was ''In Your Eyes'', starring Claudine Barretto, Richard Gutierrez and Anne Curtis, had an international screening in notable cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego.

During the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival, GMA Films' entry ''Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote'' became the top grosser. The film starred Vic Sotto and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and was a joint production with Imus Productions, M-Zet Production, Octo Arts Films and APT Entertainment.

On May 11, 2012, ''The Road'' was released to theaters in the U.S. and Canada.

2012 is the year that GMA Films has produced eight films in a year, the most it has ever done since its very start. This was part of GMA Films' resolution to produce one film per month. Even though that did not happen, they managed to produce eight films. On the same year, It made their own first venture for television was Cielo de Angelina on the morning slot.

2013–2014: Decline

In 2013, GMA Films produced only 2 feature film, ''Dance of the Steelbars'' and ''My Lady Boss''. Both films performed less than its previous films last year despite a star-studded cast. It distributed the Cinemalaya 2013 entry ''Sana Dati'' to theaters.

In 2014, the film outfit produced the horror-thriller ''Basement'', the action-thriller ''Overtime'' and the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival entry '' Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2'', which won 5 major awards.

2015–2016: AlDub phenomenon

With the popularity of the AlDub love team (Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza) rising to phenomenal heights in 2015, GMA Films partnered with Octo Arts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment and MEDA Productions to produce My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore as entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. The hottest love team was joined by Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas, directed by Jose Javier Reyes. The movie figured in a tight race with another MMFF entry, Beauty and the Bestie for the top spot at the box-office. The movie eventually earned P385 million, breaking box-office records. The said movie also earned 3 major awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Maine Mendoza.

In 2016, GMA Films partnered with APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions for the movie ''Imagine You and Me'', which marked the second team-up of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza. Shot mostly in Como and Verona in Italy, the movie was directed by Mike Tuviera. It was also one of the only two films (the other one is the film adaptation of Angels & Demons by Dan Brown) permitted to shoot in Verona.

Upon the movie's release on July 13, 2016, the film grossed over ₱12.8 million on the first six hours of opening day and it went on to gross over ₱21.5 million at the end of the day. It was 2016's highest opening gross for a Philippine film until it was surpassed by the Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla starrer Barcelona: A Love Untold, which grossed ₱23 million according to Star Cinema. Overall, ''Imagine You and Me'' was a big box office hit and had a successful four-week run in Philippine cinemas nationwide.

After ''Imagine You and Me'', GMA Films took another hiatus as parent GMA Network focused on its migration to digital TV.

2019–2024: Second comeback with GMA Public Affairs

After a 2-year hiatus, in 2019, GMA revived its film outfit as GMA Pictures. They also signed a co-production deal with Mic Test Entertainment, starting with ''Family History''. It also co-produced the Cinemalaya 2019 entry ''Children of the River'' with Spears Films and Luna Studios.

GMA Pictures also created a new division called ''Backyard Productions'', with ''Kiko en Lala'' as its first release.

On April 29, 2022, GMA Pictures signed a joint venture agreement with Viva Films.

In November 2022, GMA Pictures became active once again, in cooperation with GMA Public Affairs. Among its films released the following year were ''The Cheating Game'' and ''Firefly'', which was one of the entries of the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival, in which it won as Best Picture.

On July 1, 2023, GMA Network appointed Nessa Valdellon as Senior Vice President for GMA Pictures. Valdellon later promoted as Executive Vice President for the film studio on April 1, 2024.

On August 7, 2024, GMA Pictures has successfully completed its digitally restored and remastered version of the 1998 movie ''José Rizal'' and was shown at Cinemalaya Festival 2024.

2024-present: Collaboration with Star Cinema, Columbia Pictures and Sony International Releasing

On May 19, 2024, ''Deadline Hollywood'' confirmed that GMA Pictures and ABS-CBN's film outfit, Star Cinema would collaborate on a film together with Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards reprising their respective roles as Joy and Ethan from the film ''Hello, Love, Goodbye''. The film's sequel titled ''Hello, Love, Again'' was released on November 13, 2024 in the Philippines and has become the highest grossing Filipino film of all time. GMA Pictures and Columbia Pictures signed a distribution deal on September 5, 2024 to distribute films: '' Balota, Green Bones'', and ''KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie''. The deal marks Columbia Pictures' return to distributing local films in the Philippines after an eight-year hiatus.

''Green Bones'', an entry of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival, won the festival's Best Picture award, marking the first time that GMA Pictures achieved back-to-back wins for the award (following their win at the previous year's edition with ''Firefly'') since both ''José Rizal'' and ''Muro-Ami'' did in 1998 and 1999 editions respectively.

GMA Home Video

GMA Home Video (formerly known as GMA Records Home Video) is the home video distribution arm of GMA Pictures. It is the exclusive home video and DVD distributor of films produced by GMA Pictures, as well as programs from GMA Network and films from select production companies. Nonetheless, some movies are released with GMA Films partners (most being Regal Entertainment or Viva Films).

Filmography

GMA Films on Television production

*''Cielo de Angelina''
*'' Love Is... (film)''

GMA Films Distribution

GMA Network's film distribution activities are managed by the GMA Films department, a subsidiary of the network. The department oversees the distribution of both domestic and international films, operating under the leadership of Joey Abacan, the Senior Vice President for Film Production and Programming at GMA Network. Abacan also serves as the executive producer for GMA Films (formerly known as GMA Pictures). He is supported by Annette Valdes, the current President of GMA Films, and Nessa Valdellon, the Senior Vice President of GMA Films.

Under Abacan’s leadership, GMA Films has gained recognition for distributing a wide range of internationally acclaimed films, both for television and theater releases. Notable films distributed by GMA Films locally include Titanic, Voltes V: The Liberation, A Moment to Remember, Train to Busan, The Shutter (a Thai horror film), Pee Mak, 7 First Kisses, Uncharted, and Insidious: The Red Door. GMA Films has also collaborated with major studios such as Columbia Pictures to distribute their films in territories outside the Philippines.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gma Pictures

Philippine film studios
Entertainment companies of the Philippines
Film production companies of the Philippines
Television production companies of the Philippines
Mass media companies established in 1994
Companies based in Quezon City
Philippine companies established in 1994
1994 establishments in the Philippines
Film distributors of the Philippines
Home video companies of the Philippines
Home video companies established in 1994
Home video distributors