Filipino films left an impact at the Cannes Film Festival

Creating cinematic milestones between France and the Philippines

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Last month, we were at the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival in France to meet film industry professionals from 140 countries, attend conferences, and watch films with passionate cineastes all over the world.

The highlight for us Filipinos was the co-production agreement between the Philippines and France, the world premiere of Lav Diaz’s “Magalhães (Magellan),” starring Gael Garcia Bernal, and the Filipino entry in the short film competition entitled “Agapito,” from directors Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero.

With the co-production agreement, cultural exchange and collaborative productions enable the French and Filipinos to be on equal footing. Their co-produced films are recognized as national productions in both countries, as well as qualifying for incentives from both the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’ImageAnimée (CNC).

France has been at the forefront of film preservation and heritage, and sees the Philippines as a key partner in co-production collaboration between Europe and Asia.