Philippines Attracts Filmmakers

With an English-speaking population and a world-renowned sense of artistic creativity - not to mention a lush tropical landscape of unparalleled beauty - the Philippines is poised to be the next up-and-coming film industry with several films recently winning awards at independent festivals, and others promising works in the pipeline.

The Philippines has caught the attention of many filmmakers in recent years due to its competitive filming costs which negate budget restrictions, allowing for the creation of seemingly high-budget motion pictures that won’t break the bank.

“The Philippines offers state-of-the-art equipment and post-production service providers with cutting-edge technology on par with that of Hollywood,” said Digna Santiago, executive director of the

Philippine Film Export Services Office (PFESO), the division of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) which helps facilitate international filming projects.

Once pigeonholed as a set location merely for war pictures such as Apocalypse Now, Born On The Fourth Of July and Platoon, the Philippines has recently attracted a much greater variety of films from award-winning independent dramas showcased at Cannes and other key festivals to major Hollywood blockbusters including Josh Hartman’s upcoming I Come With The Rain.