Hey! I’m Brylo, Co-Photographer/Videographer for FILMET, and I’m currently in my second year of Film Studies.
My interest in film and photography stems from my constant exposure to it growing up. My dad did photography on the side as a hobby for all our family events with his Canon EOS Rebel T5i, which has since been passed down to me and is the camera I use at FILMET events. On the other hand, my mom would always take me to the movies as a child in which I vividly remember the awe and immediate captivation I felt with the magic that movies held.
I always adored the idea of capturing each moment and being able to look back at it many years into the future. Through its narrative and creative aspects, film was my way to feel fully comfortable with expressing myself.
Realizing that I wanted to go into Film Studies from an early age, I still felt the pressure that came from certain stereotypes. Especially as a Filipino going into the arts rather than the medical or engineering field most Filipino parents would typically prefer. Luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to have supportive parents who understood how passionate I was when it came to pursuing film.
I have been exposed to many different films throughout my time in school, whether it be Hollywood, German Expressionism, French New Wave, Italian neorealism, Japanese and Korean cinema, you name it. All these different films from different cultures being taught to me left me wondering:
What about my culture? Where is the Filipino Cinema? Is it not significant enough to be discussed in class? After all, this is a film program.
I took matters into my own hands and decided to do my own research on what Filipino cinema is. With this knowledge, I intend to use this blog as a platform to share and educate you on what I have learned about my culture’s cinema. There are so many brilliant Filipino filmmakers that are overlooked, and this blog will provide me the opportunity to give them their flowers and honour them.
As an aspiring Filipino filmmaker and a student of film, I have always strived to be an advocate for my culture’s cinema, as they do not receive the proper respect and recognition within the world of cinema. I believe that Filipino cinema should be discussed more amongst the film industry as there are so many hidden gems you can easily find through our history of films.
A Brief History of Filipino Cinema
Early Beginnings & First Golden Age of Philippine Cinema
Did you know that our film industry is one of the oldest in the world? It all started with José Nepomuceno, the Father of Philippine Cinema, when he produced Dalagang Bukid (Country Maiden) in 1919, the first ever Filipino film. Unfortunately, like many older films, it no longer exists and has become a lost film.
Between the 1930s and 1940s, film in the Philippines slowly began to be recognized as a new art form. Filipino folktales, literature, and theatre were adapted into motion pictures. The war and heroism theme were major attention-drawers for audiences, as well.
The 1950s proved to be the first golden age of Philippine cinema with many more filmmakers being able to express their artistic visions through major Philippine production studios. One film in particular brought international attention to our cinema. Manuel Conde’s Gengis Khan (1952) became the first Filipino film to be screened at the Venice Film Festival, one of the most prestigious and significant film festivals in the world. 350 Filipino films were produced per year during this time, second only to Japan in films produced per year in Asia. Shown below are some of the important Filipino filmmakers that were part of this era:
Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema & the Marcos Regime
Fast forward to the 1970s to 1980s, with the Philippines under Martial Law during the Marcos regime, the film industry still saw its second golden age of Philippine cinema, arguably the most important era of Filipino cinema. Despite the propaganda films and government censorship, many filmmakers of this time sought to produce films that heavily spoke out against the Marcos dictatorship.
One of the most important directors in Filipino cinema is Lino Brocka (my personal favourite). Known for his political films that covered social issues through underclass characters, Brocka has produced some of the most significant films in the country's history. He was not afraid of using his freedom of artistic expression to make bold statements regarding the corruption of the Marcos government.
This was peak Filipino cinema. It was a dangerous period to be a filmmaker, but their heart & soul was still placed into their craft. Each film had meaning. Political tension was at an all-time high, and film was the platform used to protest against the Marcos regime.
Along with Brocka, other filmmakers that were part of this movement and are worth mentioning were: Ishmael Bernal, Mike De Leon, Kidlat Tahimik, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
Now, you may be wondering, why is film so important? Sure, it may be just movies and a form of entertainment, but it is also a billion dollar industry that would help our economy if we just utilized it properly. Not only will it bring profit, but films are another way of selling our country to the world. When we showcase the best of the Philippines, we attract people globally and bring interest towards our culture.
Look at Japan with their anime and South Korea with their K-Dramas, for example. There is a reason their industries are currently striving on the global stage, because their government supports their filmmakers and invests in the industry. One of the main reasons why our cinema can not compete with the world is because of the lack of funding, and the government needs to step in.
Filipino cinema is not dead, it is deprived.
Sure, I get it, filmmaking is a business. Major film studios and producers are not willing to risk losing money by investing in filmmakers that want to make art films. They know what appeals to the general moviegoer. Right now, the dominating genre of film in the Philippines is rom-coms. The highest grossing Filipino film ever in the Philippines is Cathy Garcia-Molina’s rom-com Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019) featuring Kathryn Bernardo & Alden Richards. The film has amassed ₱880.6 million (USD$17.4 million). A rom-com is our highest-grossing film.
I PROMISE I am not attacking rom-coms right now. If you genuinely enjoy them, good for you! That’s your preference for entertainment. I just believe that Filipino cinema today can become more than just an industry for producing low-effort rom-coms that follow the same formula, clichés, and are only produced as a cash-grab.
And you know what, it slowly has been becoming more than just a rom-com industry. Hundreds of Filipino films are being made, but the non-mainstream films still struggle. This is mainly due to the lack of funding, which means a lack of marketing, as well as no platforms or venues for these films to be shown.
Filipino filmmakers of today are slowly being recognized internationally for their films. We are upon the new and third golden age of Philippine cinema. Personally, I want to be a part of this. Notable filmmakers of today’s era include: Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, and Jun Lana.
With Hollywood being the most dominant film industry in the world, the films you watch that come out from Hollywood will alter your perception of the world. It does not allow us Filipinos to form our own identity. Growing up, besides Manny Pacquiao, there was never that global Filipino celebrity I had to see myself in, and if they were Filipino, it was always half.
This is why it is so important to see Filipino representation on the big screen. It is a projection of who we are, and ultimately, what being Filipino means.
I end this blog post with one request: watch a Filipino movie.
Even if it’s something you have already seen or a film you wish to explore more in depth, you are contributing to our cinema and supporting Filipino filmmakers who continue to make movies that bring out the best of our culture, while showcasing them to the rest of the world. In my own personal experience, I have been able to learn so much more about my Filipino roots through watching our films.
Once the support of the Filipinos transpire for Filipino films, the global audience will follow along.
*A list of 100 Filipino films I've composed for your interest: https://letterboxd.com/brylo/list/filipino-films-need-filipino-audiences/
Bryan (Brylo) Lopez
Co-Photographer/Videographer
22-23 FilMet