All aboard, Philippine cinema fans. This month, you might not need to crowdsource via IG stickers or ask strangers for leads. If you’ve been on the lookout for rare Filipino movies, here’s where to find them: Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s virtual cinema.
For only P99, you can access eight films from the comforts of your bedroom (with some burnt popcorn on the side). Do know that you can only stream the lineup until Jan. 31—so you better register on the site right now.
Start 2021 with these films on Fdcpchannel PH:
◘ PREMIERE
– Memoirs of A Teenage Rebel by May Pagasa◘ DOCU
– Ang…Posted by Fdcpchannel PH on Friday, January 8, 2021
Here are some of the films we can’t wait to watch. Let your friends know that the Golden Age OGs, documentaries and modern flicks are just a click away:
“Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” (1975)
Dir. Lino Brocka
Dubbed one of the best Filipino films of all time (even “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho is a fan), “Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag” is a gripping tale of poverty and injustice seen through the eyes of a poor fisherman named Julio. He flees to Manila to find a loved one, accepts a low-wage job at a construction site and experiences the fragility of human life before his very eyes.
“T’yanak” (2014)
Dir. Lore Reyes and Peque Gallaga
A reboot of the 1988 Filipino horror flick of the same name, “T’yanak” documents the transformation of Julie’s adopted baby. The infant suddenly becomes a monster and terrorizes the town of Puting Bato through—wait for it—pretty brutal murders.
“The Search for Weng Weng” (2013)
Dir. Andrew Leavold
Who loves a good local B-film? This fantasy documentary encapsulates just that. The story follows filmmaker Leavold’s path to dissecting the history of Filipino B-films with trippy energy in unearthing the charm of cult films. So, how is Weng Weng involved in this? A must-watch for movie fans out there, NGL.
The roster also includes Lauren Sevilla Faustino’s “Memoirs of a Teenage Rebel,” Manuel Conde’s “Genghis Khan,” “Ang Babae sa Likod ng Mambabatok,” Sheron Dayoc’s “Chasing Fireflies,” and Ishamel Bernal’s “Pagdating sa Dulo.” Enjoy watching, folks.
Read more:
Nick Deocampo tells us why it’s difficult to preserve Filipino films
Understanding Filipino youth culture through regional cinema
10 foreign films worth overcoming the “one-inch tall barrier of subtitles” for
Still from “Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag”
