Liza Diño-Seguerra, chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, is grateful for the presidential proclamation of the month of September as the Philippine Film Industry Month, signed on Feb. 3 by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It recognizes the invaluable contribution and sacrifices of all stakeholders and sectors of the film industry in emphasizing the need to showcase and celebrate the achievement and progress of the discipline of film and filmmaking,” she said during the online press conference last Thursday, Aug. 26, for the occasion.

According to Diño, the declaration proves Duterte’s support for the film sector.

“Alam naman po natin medyo may matagal din na panahon na hindi masyadong napapansin ng ating gobyerno. Medyo na-o-overlook po ‘yung mga pangangailangan ng mga kasamahan natin sa industriya at hindi masyadong na-e-empasize ‘yung support sa film industry,” Diño said.

(We all know it has been a long time that the government did not give attention [to the industry]. The needs of our colleagues in the industry have been slightly overlooked, and support for the film industry has slightly not been emphasized.)

liza dino ig fdcp ofc — Image: Instagram/@lizadino

But for her, things have changed. She noted that the government have recently been supportive about “celebrating our filmmakers, supporting our projects, our films, promoting Philippine cinema all over the world as well as finding opportunities” to help filmmakers all over the country.

She added that the FDCP as a national film agency of the country also finds opportunities to support filmmakers, for them to survive.

The Philippine Film Industry Month celebration will kick off with a one-hour virtual show to be streamed on the FDCP YouTube channel. The event includes the launch of Nood Tayo ng Sine Campaign, Relaunch of Cinematheque, announcement of Full Circle Lab 2021 Projects and MitOut announcement of #FutureSilentFilmaker. JB

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