WITH movie houses in the country still temporarily shut, there’s an unfortunate drought in local cinema. The silver lining, however, is that the industry is starting to adapt to current circumstances and innovate.
To the delight of film buffs, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has successfully made this year’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) happen—online, that is.
Founded in 2017, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino is a week-long celebration of Filipino films (held initially during Buwan ng Wika). Since then, it has become one of the biggest and most anticipated film festivals in the country.
Now in its fourth year, PPP brings something new to the table: the online Cinematheques.
On the FDCP channel website, there are four online Cinematheques, or virtual cinemas, named after the locations of Cinematheque Centres in the country: Manila, Davao, Iloilo and Nabunturan. Like physical cinemas, a film can only be viewed at a certain time slot before it is replaced by the next entry. Luckily though, if you missed a movie you wanted to watch, there are still repeat screenings. Simply check the schedule as there are four to six films streamed daily at each Cinematheque.
This year, there are at least 90 full-length films to watch, from classics like “Anak” and “Dekada ‘70” to contemporary blockbusters such as “A Very Special Love” and “Never Not Love You.”
There’s plenty of queer titles as well including “Billie and Emma,” “Sila-Sila,” “Esprit De Corps” and “Rainbow’s Sunset.” Of course, the real highlight of PPP is always the small-budget indie pictures, which this year is chock-full of.
To watch, go to the FDCP channel website, make an account, and select the plan you wish to avail of. There are four plans to choose from: Free, Day Pass, Half Run Pass and Premium Pass, which is a pretty sweet deal considering you’ll have full access to both the Main Feature Film and Short Film Showcases, as well as special Q & A sessions, panel discussions, masterclasses and lectures.
There’s no time more crucial to support and show up (well, virtually) for the talented individuals of our filmmaking industry than now. PPP 4 runs until Dec. 13, 2020 only. Log on to www.fdcpchannel.ph to start streaming.