Philippine Contemporary Cinema

Learning Objectives
• Describe contemporary film in the Philippines
regions
• Identify the contemporary filmmakers and
determine their contributions to the development
of cinema
• Analyze a film using the typology
 1950
• The 1950s was labeled as the first golden age
of Philippine cinema. Four big production
studios (LVN Pictures, Sampaguita Pictures,
Premiere Productions and Lebran
International) were at their peak in
filmmaking. 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 in terms of film productions a year.
Famous Actors of the Golden Cinema
Amalia Fuentes and
FPJ, SUSAN ROCES Romano
Castellvi
Most Popular Stars
 The premier directors of the era
• Lamberto Avellana (1915- • Gerardo de León (1913-
1991) 1981)
Gregorio Fernández César Gallardo
Armando Garces Cirio Santiago (1936-2008)
 The Cebuano musical Honi sa
Gugma (Song of Love), topbilled
by Priscilla Cellona and Mat
Ranillo who came from Cebu.
 Post War Visayan Actors
Matt Ranillo Jr. Gloria Sevilla
Eddie Sinco Romero

• Romero was named

National Artist of the
Philippines in 2003, and
his body of work delved
into the history and
politics of his country. His
1976 film Ganito Kami
Noon…Paano Kayo
Ngayon?
Edgar Mortiz and Vilma Santos, and
Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III
 1970
• The 1970s saw the emergence of more Visayan talents in
the Tagalog film industry. Actresses such as Chanda
Romero, Caridad Sanchez, 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).
• In 1972, the Philippines was placed under the
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.
 1970s Film
Manila in the Claws of Light is a
“Insiang” is Lino Brocka's 1976 1975 Filipino drama film directed
by Lino Brocka
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.
1974
Experimental Cinema of the Philippines

• The Experimental Cinema of the Philippines

(ECP) was a government-owned corporation
of the Republic of the Philippines created to
promote the growth and development of the
local film industry. Created in 1982 after the
first Manila International Film Festival through
Executive Order 770, the ECP was primarily
known as a production company
 Experimental Cinema
Himala Oro Plata Mata
Peque Gallaga
Peque Gallaga (born Maurice
Ruiz de Luzuriaga Gallaga on
August 25, 1943) is a multi-
awarded Filipino film-maker. His
most significant achievement in
film is "Oro, Plata, Mata".

He has received an award from

the International Film Festival of
Flanders-Ghent, Belgium in 1983;
a Special Jury Award from the
Manila International Film
Festival; and the 2004 Gawad
CCP Para sa Sining.
Bagets
80S BIGGIST LOVE TEAM
 1980s to 1900
• Around this period, most Filipino films were
mass-produced with quality sacrificed for
commercial success. Story lines were
unimaginative and predictable, comedy was
slapstick, and the acting was either mediocre or
overly dramatic. Producers were antipathetic to
new ideas, or risk-taking. Instead, they resorted
to formulas that worked well in the past that
cater to the standards and tastes of the masses.
Teen-oriented films, massacre movies, and soft
pornographic pictures composed the majority of
the genre produced.
1980s Teen
 1990 Bomba Films or Pito-Pito Films

• The film industry prospered and produced

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.
Pito –Pito Films
 Historical Films
• Sakay • Jose Rizal
Comedy Film
 2000's Decline of Movies and
Emergence of Indie Films
• The dawn of this era saw a dramatic decline of the
Philippine movie industry. Hollywood films
dominated mainstream cinema even more, and
fewer than twenty quality local films were being
produced and shown yearly. Many producers and
production houses later stopped producing films
after losing millions of pesos.There after, a new
sense of excitement and trend enveloped the
industry with the coming of digital and
experimental cinema.
• Cheaper production cost using digital media over
film has helped the rebirth of independent
filmmaking.
Gay theme Films
 Philippines in the International Film
circle
• The year 2009 brought the highest
international esteem to a Filipino filmmaker
when Brillante Mendoza was judged as the
Best Director at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival
for his film Kinatay (literally "Butchered"),
about murder and police brutality. The film
was notorious for being critically panned by
Roger Ebert, a distinguished and world-
famous film critic, who declared it the worst
film ever to be shown at the Cannes Film
Festival.
 2010s: Commercial Renaissance
• In the year 2009, presence of box-office films in the Philippine Box Office
has surged, with You Changed My Life starring Sarah Geronimo and John
Lloyd Cruz generated ₱230 million, making it the first Filipino movies to
breach the 200 million pesos mark. This started the commercial box office
success trend in the Philippine Cinema.

• In 2011 is the most fruitful year in Philippine Cinema history as 3 of its

films (all from Star Cinema) landed in the top 3 of the highest grossing
Filipino Film of All-Time. Vice Ganda's The Unkabogable Praybeyt
Benjamin grossed ₱331.6 million in box office and became the highest
grossing local film in the Philippines.[65] No Other Woman grossed
₱278.39 million while 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival ("MMFF") entry
Enteng Ng Ina Mo, has a gross income of ₱237.89 million (as of January 7,
2012) and considered as 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.
Commercial Renaissance
 Regional Influence
• Bohol • Tawi Tawi
Pampanga Palawan
Iloilo Dumaguete
Thank you so much