SINGAPORE—The Philippines was the “country of focus” (CF) in this year’s Singapore Media Festival (SMF), bringing global attention to one of the region’s most dynamic film, TV and media industries.

Filmmakers, producers and media industry players led by Liza Diño of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) composed the powerhouse delegation from the Philippines.

ABS-CBN, Viva Films, GMA Worldwide and some 30 other media companies were represented. For the first time, the Philippine Pavilion was set up at SMF fair by FDCP.

In the forum “Genre and Artistry: Spotlight on the Philippines” at the Manila Bay Sands, ScreenSingapore, an SMF program, called the country “an emerging powerhouse of content creation in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Countries) with lauded filmmaking talents known across the world.”

The forum featured Malou Santos of ABS-CBN Films, Marie Roselle Y. Monteverde of Regal Entertainment Inc., “Birdshot” director Mikhail Red, Jessel Monteverde of Ursa Entertainment and Mike Hostench of the Sitges International Fanrasy Film Festival of Catalonia, Spain.

Liza Diño of Film Development Council of the Philippines

The Philippines was chosen by Singapore especially since the two countries would be marking next year the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Also next year, the Philippines would be marking the centenary of Its cinema, the oldest in Southeast Asia.

SMF, hosted by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), was on its fifth edition, and it has become the umbrella event under which older and more familiar international fairs hosted by the city-state, notably the 29-year-old Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), are organized.

SMF seeks to become “one of Asia’s leading international events, where the industry meets to discover the latest trends, talents and content in Asia for film, TV, and the digital media,” according to IMDA.

‘Incredible honor’

Liza Diño, chair and CEO of Film Development of the Philippines, said that to be chosen as CF by the SMF was “an incredible honor” for the country.

Malou Santos of ABS-CBN Films announces remake of 1996 hit Peque Gallaga fantasy movie “Magic Temple,” to be directed by “Birdshot” and “Eerie” director Mikhail Red.

She added that the 100th anniversary of Philippine cinema would be “a special milestone.

“We believe that the next best thing for our cinema is to go global and SMF is certainly a great platform… to connect Filipino filmmakers with partners and supporters … in the world.”

The special spotlight meant that the Philippines was especially represented in the SGIFF.

In the official competition, the Philippines was represented by “Season of the Devil” (“Halimaw”) by Venice grand-prize winner Lav Diaz, “The Ashes and Ghosts of Tayug 1931” by Christopher Gozum and “Nervous Translation” by Shireen Seno.

Meanwhile four Philippine short films competed; they were by Carlo Francisco Manatad, Andrew Stephen Lee, Josef Gatucan and Raymund Rivay Gutierrez.

Mike Hostench of Sitges International Fantasy Film Festival of Catalonia, Spain; Roselle Monteverde of Regal Films; Malou Santos of ABS-CBN Films

Meanwhile in SGIFF’s Southeast Asian Film Lab, which held workshops for aspiring filmmakers of the region, mentor was Raya Martin, named by Cinema Scope as one of the world’s Top 50 Filmmakers Under 50.

World premiere

SGIFF also hosted the world premiere of Mikhail Red’s horror movie “Eerie,” starring Charo Santos and Bea Alonzo.

“Eerie” was one of the projects that found co-financing last year through the Southeast Asian Film Financing (SAFF) Project Market hosted by SMF. Co-
financier was Cre8 Productions of Singapore.

US-raised, Cebu-based neophyte filmmaker Mel Allego looks at Gin Kai Chan of Singapore’s Cre8 Productions explaining to PH media the award of financial assistance to Allego’s film project, the political thriller “Filipino,”which topped the Southeast Asian Film Financing Project Market of the Singapore International Film Festival, beating proposals by more established filmmakers from Philippines and Asean.

During the SGM, signing ceremonies were held between Cre8 and ABS-CBN Films for six co-productions.

Cre8 likewise signed a three-production deal with Ursa Entertainment of the Philippines.

Underscoring Singapore’s confidence on Philippine cinematic talent, five Philippine projects, the most for Southeast Asia, were proposed for SAFF financing this year: Kristine Zuniga’s “Ani” (science fiction); Jessel Monteverde’s “Bangsa Badjao” (thriller); Gino Santos’s “Comfort” (feminist action drama); Mel Allego’s “Filipino” (political thriller); and Arden Rod Condez’s “John Denver Trending” (satire).

Trailer of Mikhail Red’s horror film “Eerie” being shown at the Singapore Media Festival

The remaining 10 other SAFF projects went to Malaysia (four), Indonesia (three), and a Singapore, Cambodia and Myanmar (one each).

After the marketing pitch, Allego’s “Filipino” won the grant, along with the projects from Singapore (Omar Dha’s “The Carjacker”) and and Myanmar (The Mae Naing’s “The Women”).

Noted Philippine filmmakers who participated in SIFF and SMF included Sharon Dayoc, Sonny Calvento, Monster Jimenez, Ina del Mundo, Sennedy Que, Ed Lejano and Ronald Arguelles.